It's not hard to love Google at this particular moment in time. Behind some of the most consistently-fascinating software (Android, Google Maps, Google.com itself), the company's recent foray into hardware is a tantalising prospect. With Nexus 7 being joined by 10-inch iPad rival the Nexus 10, Google today also took to lifting the curtains on a brand-new smartphone, the Nexus 4.

Google today also announced iTunes rival 'Google Play Music' which will allow users to upload 20,000 of their own tracks to the service to play from the cloud on any Internet-connected device, while new tracks can be bought direct from the store too.Developed together with LG – itself having been behind some of the year's best handsets – the awkwardly named Nexus 4 packs into its frame a display at the very top-end range for phone displays, both in terms of size and resolution. At 4.7”, this is just shy of the Samsung Galaxy S3's display, though at a resolution of 1,280 x 768 (compared to the 1,280 x 720 of the S3) does boast a slightly better pixel density at 320ppi. Fine margins, sure, but specs which will help boost the Nexus 4's appeal for savvy smartphone consumers.

Also featuring a 1.5Ghz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor – which Google claims is the fastest on the market, no less – and 2Gb of RAM, it's also a phone that can compete at the very highest level in terms of performance, running the cutting-edge of Android with 4.2 Jellybean, like the Nexus 10. An 8-megapixel camera on the back and a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera also lends Google the opportunity to feature the “reinvented” photo experience with the Nexus 4 in the form of 'Photo Sphere', which lets you create 360-degree panoramic straight from the phone (see the below video). Near-field communications capability and support for wireless charging fill out the package.

Available in the UK from 13 November, the remarkably fully-featured Nexus 4 isn't going to break the bank either. At £239 for the 8Gb version and £279 for the 16Gb, this also happens to be one of the most affordable smartphones currently on the market. Tempted yet!?

Richard Birkett