Key difference: The Nexus 4 is Google's fourth Nexus-branded Android smartphone. It was produced in collaboration with LG Electronics. The phone runs on the Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) operating system, which was launched with the phone. The Samsung Galaxy Note II is a smartphone manufactured by Samsung featuring Android 4.1. The Note II is known for its large display of 5.5 inches (141 mm), as well as its integral use of a stylus, called the S pen. The Galaxy Note II is marketed as a ‘phablet’, a phone and a tablet, a hybrid or sorts.

With the constant upgrade in technology these days, new models of smartphones as well as upgraded models of smartphones with new features are being constantly launched in the market. Smartphones have become a way of life for many people, allowing them to do anything and everything on the go. This includes typing up a document, chatting with friends, video conferencing, writing up reports, checking e-mails, etc.

One of the most popular operating systems for smartphones and tablets is Android. Android is a Linux-based operating system owned and operated by the Open Handset Alliance, a consortium of 84 leading firms, which includes mobile handset makers, application developers, some mobile carriers and chip makers. The consortium is lead in part by Google, as well as HTC, Sony, Dell, Intel, Motorola, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments, Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, T-Mobile, Sprint Nextel, Nvidia, and Wind River Systems.

A number of these companies’ smartphones and tablets run on Android. Android is an open source software, which means that the code is freely available for modification and distribution by device manufacturers, wireless carriers and enthusiast developers. Among the number of various companies, Google has also launched its own line of smartphones based on Android, called the Google Nexus. Each device in the Nexus line is produced via collaboration between Google and a leading original equipment manufacturer (OEM) partner.

The Nexus devices in general have an advantage over other devices in that the Android in the Nexus devices is pure. I.e. the Android does not have any manufacturer or wireless carrier modifications to it, such as a custom graphical user interface. The Android also has an unlockable bootloader to allow further development and end-user modification, all of which is usually blocked on other Android smartphones.

The Nexus 4 is Google's fourth Nexus-branded Android smartphone. It was produced in collaboration with LG Electronics. The phone features a 1.5 GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, 2 GB of RAM, 8 or 16 GB of internal storage, front facing 1.3 megapixel camera and an 8 megapixel rear camera and a micro-SIM card tray. The phone runs on the Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) operating system, which was launched with the phone. The phone also features a new camera technology, called the Photo Sphere. This allows one to take 360 deg Panorama shots.

An OEM which also had Android based devices in the market is Samsung. Samsung Group is a South Korean chaebol, the largest in South Korea. A chaebol is basically a conglomerate. A popular smartphone in the market is Samsung’s Galaxy Note and Note II. The Note II (also at times called the Samsung Galaxy Note 2) is the successor to the previous Galaxy Note.

The Samsung Galaxy Note II is a smartphone manufactured by Samsung and is an Android based device. The Note II is known for its large display of 5.5 inches (141 mm), as well as its integral use of a stylus, called the S pen. The beauty of a Galaxy Note II is that it falls between the categories of a smartphone and a tablet. It is hence marketed as a ‘phablet’, a phone and a tablet, a hybrid or sorts.

In terms of hardware, the Note II features a 1.6 GHz quad-core processor, 720p resolution display, and 2 GB of RAM. The Note II is available in a variety of colors and in storage capacities of 16 GB, 32 GB and 64 GB. The phone also has an external expandable memory of up to 64 GB. The Galaxy Note II was launched with Android 4.1 (also called Jelly Bean) and at the time of its launch was the first phone to feature Android 4.1. Now, the phone is upgradeable to Android 4.1.2.

The information for the detailed table about the two phones has been taken from the Google Nexus website, Samsung website and GSMArena.com.

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