Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean now being tested on the Samsung Galaxy Nexus?

There was a time when the Samsung Galaxy Nexus was one of the most popular Android-powered devices in the smartphone market. This is due to the fact that the handset was released to coincide with the unveiling of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, then the latest version of the Android operating system. In addition to that, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus was also used as the platform to showcase the goodies and treats that Ice Cream Sandwich brought to the tablet. Also, the handset was for the longest time the only handset running ICS for its operating system because other OEMs took quite some time before they rolled out the ICS update to their respective devices.

The Samsung Galaxy Nexus is available for just the change in your pocket now starting at $0.01.

All of this was made possible because the Samsung Galaxy Nexus is a Google developer device. This simply means that the handset runs a pure, untouched version of the Android operating system with no customer user interface overlaid atop the OS itself to further complicate and unnecessary delay the whole update process. Not only that, the innards of the handset at that time was also top of the line making it possible for the Samsung Galaxy Nexus to run ICS with no issues at all.

In today’s smartphone world however, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus has already retired because its successor and the current Google flagship device, the LG Nexus 4, has already landed on the shelves. Despite being shown the door and take early retirement, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus is still alive and kicking, so to speak.

In fact, word on the street is that the Samsung Galaxy Nexus is now being used to test Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean before it is rolled out. These speculations come from a leaked mug shot of the handset’s “About phone” screen where its Android version is coming up as Android 4.2.2. Or, the handset could also be running a ROM that is identified as Android 4.2.2. Whatever the case may be, this ties in nicely to the rumors that Google is about to release the Android 4.2.2 update and rumors have it that the update could hit the airwaves in “mid-February” – which is just a couple of days from now. As for the Android 4.2.2 update, there is not much to be expected with this version but one of the more notable treats that it brings is that it is expected to fix the “stuttering” audio issue on the Nexus 7 when paired with a Bluetooth headset.

As for the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, the handset is still impressive despite its aging status. It has its circuitry revolving around a Texas Instruments OMAP4460 chipset which comes with a dual-core 1.2 GHz ARM Cortex-A9 processor and a full gigabyte of RAM. The storage space onboard the device comes up to a very generous 32GB while its Contour Display is a 4.65-inch SuperAMOLED panel with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels. Its camera department however is a bit mediocre for a flagship device with only a 5MP shooter at its back panel and a 1.3MP snapper at its front bezel.

You can purchase the Galax Nexus at a discounted price tag now starting at $0.01.