The HTC Google Nexus One arrived in January 2010 as Google’s first self-branded flagship, built by HTC and sold directly to early Android adopters. With a 3.7-inch AMOLED display, a 1.0 GHz Snapdragon S1 processor, and stock Android 2.1 Eclair, it set the template for the “pure Google” experience that later evolved into the Pixel line.
Today the Nexus One is a discontinued classic rather than a daily driver, and at an estimated 120 EUR on the second-hand market it appeals mostly to collectors and Android history enthusiasts. This guide breaks down what made it special, how its hardware holds up, and who should still consider tracking one down.
Full Specifications
Network
| Technology |
GSM / HSPA |
| 2G bands |
GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands |
HSDPA 900 / 1700 / 2100 |
|
HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 – for AT&T, Rogers Wireless |
| Speed |
HSPA 7.2/2 Mbps |
Launch
| Announced |
2010, January. Released 2010, January |
| Status |
Discontinued |
Body
| Dimensions |
119 x 59.8 x 11.5 mm (4.69 x 2.35 x 0.45 in) |
| Weight |
130 g (4.59 oz) |
| SIM |
Mini-SIM |
|
Trackball |
Display
| Type |
AMOLED |
| Size |
3.7 inches, 39.0 cm2 (~54.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Resolution |
480 x 800 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~252 ppi density) |
Platform
| OS |
Android 2.1 (Eclair), upgradable to 2.3.6 (Gingerbread) |
| Chipset |
Qualcomm QSD8250 Snapdragon S1 |
| CPU |
1.0 GHz Scorpion |
| GPU |
Adreno 200 |
Memory
| Card slot |
microSDHC (dedicated slot), 4 GB included |
| Internal |
512MB RAM, 512MB |
Main Camera
| Single |
5 MP, AF |
| Features |
LED flash |
| Video |
480p@24fps |
Selfie camera
Sound
| Loudspeaker |
Yes |
| 3.5mm jack |
Yes |
Comms
| WLAN |
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g |
| Bluetooth |
2.1, A2DP |
| Positioning |
GPS, A-GPS |
| Radio |
Factory locked by default, can be enabled |
| USB |
microUSB 2.0 |
Features
| Sensors |
Accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| Browser |
HTML |
|
Dedicated search key MP3/eAAC+/WAV player MP4/H.264 player Voice memo Predictive text input |
Battery
| Type |
Removable Li-Ion 1400 mAh battery |
| Stand-by |
Up to 290 h (2G) / Up to 250 h (3G) |
| Talk time |
Up to 10 hours (2G) / Up to 7 hours (3G) |
| Music play |
Up to 20 hours |
Misc
| Colors |
Brown (teflon coating) |
| SAR |
0.37 W/kg (head) 0.74 W/kg (body) |
| Price |
About 120 EUR |
Our Tests
| Camera |
Photo |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 69dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 79dB |
| Audio quality |
Noise -86.1dB / Crosstalk -85.2dB |
Price and Availability
The HTC Google Nexus One offers a compelling combination of features and performance. While the base price is around €120, the actual cost may vary depending on your location and retailer. Below, you’ll find the approximate price of the HTC Google Nexus One converted into various currencies. Please note that these are estimates based on recent exchange rates as of June 24, 2026 and may not reflect the exact price you’ll find at a retailer.
- United States: $137
- Japan: ¥22,080
- United Kingdom: £103
- Australia: A$197
- Canada: C$194
- Taiwan: NT$4,329
- Denmark: kr896
- Saudi Arabia: ﷼513
- South Korea: ₩209,943
- Germany: €120
- Brazil: R$707
- Vietnam: ₫3.589.569
- Kenya: KSh 17,731
- India: ₹12,945
- Indonesia: Rp 2.436.782
- Nigeria: ₦186,130
- Pakistan: ₨38,053
- Philippines: ₱8,358
- Bangladesh: ৳১৬,৭৯৫
Why the Nexus One Still Matters
The Nexus One is best understood as a milestone rather than a modern purchase. It was the device that introduced the “Nexus” concept: a reference phone running unmodified Android, updated directly by Google, free of carrier skins. For roughly 120 EUR today, its value is historical and educational, letting enthusiasts hold the phone that bridged the early G1 era and the polished flagships that followed. As a comparison point against contemporary 2010 rivals, it remains one of the most influential Android handsets ever shipped.
Design and Build
Measuring 119 x 59.8 x 11.5 mm and weighing just 130 g, the Nexus One feels remarkably compact by today’s standards. HTC finished it in a brown shade with a teflon coating for grip, and fitted a trackball below the screen for navigation, complete with a multicolor notification light. A removable 1400 mAh battery and a dedicated microSDHC slot reflect a more user-serviceable era, and the Mini-SIM tray rounds out a body designed for one-handed use long before large phones became the norm.
Display Quality
The 3.7-inch AMOLED panel runs at 480 x 800 pixels for roughly 252 ppi, which was sharp and vibrant for its time. AMOLED gave the Nexus One deep blacks and punchy colors that LCD competitors struggled to match in early 2010. The 54.8% screen-to-body ratio and large bezels look dated now, but the contrast and saturation still convey why AMOLED quickly became a flagship selling point.
Performance and Software
Inside sits Qualcomm’s QSD8250 Snapdragon S1 with a single 1.0 GHz Scorpion core and Adreno 200 graphics, paired with 512MB of RAM and 512MB of storage. That was strong silicon for 2010 and made the Nexus One one of the fastest Android phones at launch. It shipped with Android 2.1 Eclair and was officially upgradable to 2.3.6 Gingerbread, a meaningful update window that demonstrated the appeal of receiving software straight from Google rather than waiting on carriers.
Camera Capabilities
A single 5 MP rear camera with autofocus and an LED flash handled imaging duties, recording video at 480p and 24fps. There is no front-facing selfie camera, consistent with phones of this generation. By modern measures the output is modest, but for casual snapshots and the occasional video clip the Nexus One was competitive among 2010 smartphones.
Battery and Endurance
The removable 1400 mAh Li-Ion battery is rated for up to 10 hours of 2G talk time, up to 7 hours on 3G, and around 20 hours of music playback, with standby reaching up to 290 hours on 2G. Real-world endurance depended heavily on signal and screen use, as it does today, but the swappable design meant owners could carry a spare and effectively double their uptime without a charger.
Connectivity and Network
The Nexus One supports GSM and HSPA with HSDPA speeds up to 7.2 Mbps down and 2 Mbps up. Connectivity covers Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g, Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, GPS with A-GPS, and microUSB 2.0, plus a welcome 3.5mm headphone jack. An FM radio is present but factory-locked by default. Note that these are 2G/3G-era radios, so the phone cannot connect to modern 4G or 5G networks, an important caveat for anyone considering active use.
Who Should Buy It
This is not a phone for everyday communication in 2026, given its aging 3G radios and small storage. Instead, it suits collectors, retro-tech hobbyists, and Android developers studying the platform’s origins. If you want the device that defined the pure-Google philosophy and you value history over headline specs, the Nexus One is a rewarding, affordable piece to own.
Conclusion
The HTC Google Nexus One remains a landmark in Android history, combining a vivid AMOLED screen, capable 2010-era Snapdragon performance, and the clean, Google-updated software that paved the way for the Pixel family. As a modern daily phone its 3G-only connectivity and limited storage rule it out, but as a roughly 120 EUR collector’s item it is hard to beat. Recommendation: buy it for nostalgia, study, or display rather than active use, and treat it as the influential reference device it was always meant to be.
References
- Archived Google Nexus One product page – Archived copies of Google's official Nexus One product/specifications page are the best primary anchor for the device's core specifications.
- Google Nexus One Owner's Manual NOOGG-220-101 (google.com) – Official user manual from Google for confirming hardware details such as controls, ports, battery, dimensions, and included features.
- Federal Communications Commission Equipment Authorization Database (fcc.gov) – Official regulatory records for HTC Nexus One FCC IDs, useful for verifying radio bands, SAR, wireless certifications, and model variants.
- GSMArena HTC Google Nexus One specifications – Established mobile specifications database for cross-checking the full spec sheet, including display, chipset, memory, camera, battery, and network bands.
- Engadget Nexus One review – Launch-era hands-on review from a reputable technology publication, useful for corroborating specifications and real device details at release.
