Operating System: iPhone 4S: iOS 5 vs. Galaxy Nexus: Android 4.0 ‘Ice Cream Sandwich’

Apples iOS 5 is undoubtedly the best version of the mobile platform ever launched. The software, which is running on the iPhone 4S, comes with improved usability, the Notification Center, which provides application alerts on the iPhone, and a host of other improvements. However, the Galaxy Nexus is running Android 4.0 (“Ice Cream Sandwich”). That operating system is widely considered the best option for Android customers. Which one is better? Time will tell. But it looks like the mobile OS battle is heating up.

The nice thing about the iPhone 4S Retina Display is that it delivers much higher quality than any other screen on the market. However, its only 3.5 inches in size. The Galaxy Nexus, on the other hand, will not be able to show the same quality, but it has a 4.65-inch display, offering more screen real estate. Customers will need to decide which is most important to them before choosing either device.

Apples App Store is loaded with worthwhile applications for consumers and enterprise users, alike. But so is the Android Market. Thousands of developers have flocked to both marketplaces over the past couple of years to deliver their applications. Its hard to choose a winner in this category, but since Android applications have a tendency to be less secure, Apples App Store might get the nod.

The issue with the Galaxy Nexus is that it only offers a single storage option-32GB. The iPhone 4S, on the other hand, comes with between 16GB and 64GB of storage to serve different customer needs. The iPhone 4S 16GB option might not be best, but a 64GB option is a winner.

Apples decision to bring an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera to the iPhone 4S was an important one. Not only does it allow for better pictures, but it trumps many other devices on the market. The Galaxy Nexus, for instance, has just a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera. Thats an issue.

Apple has been criticized for failing to bring 4G connectivity to the iPhone 4S. Instead, the companys handset supports WiFi and 3G. The Galaxy Nexus, on the other hand, supports WiFi, 3G and 4G. So, if youre looking for faster speeds, opting for the Galaxy Nexus might be a good choice.

Near-Field Communication (NFC) is the future. Samsung seems to have realized that by supporting NFC in the Galaxy Nexus. With that feature, users will be able to share content wirelessly from one Android device to another, as well as make payments with Google Wallet. The iPhone 4S, on the other hand, doesnt come with NFC support.

Although both the iPhone 4S and Galaxy Nexus support video calling, its worth noting that Apples option comes with the companys popular FaceTime software. So iPhone 4, iPod Touch and Mac owners can all hold video chats with folks on the iPhone 4S through FaceTime. Galaxy Nexus owners will need to use third-party applications to do that.

On mobile devices, reading e-books is becoming increasingly important to consumers. Apples iPhone supports its iBooks application on the iPhone 4S for this purpose. The Galaxy Nexus comes with support for Google Books. However, both devices, thanks to applications in their respective software markets, support e-books from Amazons Kindle and the Barnes & Noble e-book store. So, when it comes to reading, the smartphones appear to be at a deadlock.

Apples decision to bring a dual-core processor to the iPhone 4S was a good one. Not only did it improve performance, but it ensured that the company wouldnt lose ground to competing smartphones that had dual-core processors. Samsungs Galaxy Nexus also has a dual-core processor, which puts both devices even when it comes to performance.