Going by the early reviews about Samsung's new Galaxy Nexus handset, some of the most notable things that make the smartphone extremely attractive include its open design, its pleasing appearance, a stunningly bright screen, and a comfortable "hyperskin" soft-touch back cover.

The Galaxy Nexus - the US release of which has run into delays - is the first handset which boasts the latest Android iteration, the 4.0 `Ice cream Sandwich' (ICS) version, which has reportedly been an encouraging experience for most of the handset's early users.

The Android ICS is apparently the most important as well as a highly powerful addition in the Galaxy Nexus as it gives the handset a chunk of its character, bringing along the advantage of snappy graphics and a horde of new features.

The ICS is undoubtedly the most noteworthy enhancement over its predecessor, Android `Gingerbread' version, and it offers a much-expected visual revamp. While most of the improvements in the OS may initially appear superficial and organizational, the software is notably abound when it comes to new functionality.

Other than the ICS, some of the other notable specifications of the Galaxy Nexus include a 4.65-inch Super AMOLED HD screen; 1.2GHz dual-core processor; 32GB on-board storage; 5-megapixel rear camera; 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera; and support for `near field communications' (NFC) technology.

Moreover, with Google's own sanctioned `Nexus' brand being deemed the purest form of Android available in the market, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus is, speaking in overall terms, a very good specimen of an ICS handset