Google’s LG-designed Nexus 4 smartphone will return to Australia after a long period of unavailability, at a 25 percent mark-up.
The Nexus 4 first arrived in Australia last November and was sold solely through Google’s Play store. It sold out in minutes and has been unavailable since, with Google declining to comment on how much stock it had moved and when it would go back on sale.
LG today announced the phone would land in Harvey Norman’s physical retail stores on Optus mobile plans and for $496 outright – an almost $100 mark-up from the Nexus 4’s $399 Play store price.
LG said the change in price reflected the added costs required to sell a product in store, citing staffing, distribution, point of sale and marketing.
The phone will also be offered on an Optus 12 month contract ranging from $35 to $130 per month, through Harvey Norman. It will not be available through Optus retail stores.
The 4.7in Nexus 4 houses a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 chip, 2GB RAM, 8MP back and 1.3MP front camera, a 2100mAh battery and runs on the latest version of Android, Jelly Bean.
It is available for pre-order now.
Related: Hands on with the Nexus 4
Updated 11:50 24/1/13 to include LG comments.
-1.jpg&w=100&c=1&s=0)
.png&w=100&c=1&s=0)
