Does this apply to their small phones? Perhaps it is because of reading HN that I am of the perception that only the larger more feature-full phones are maintained well (or perhaps just that my friends who have bought these just got the big version, having large male rucksacks). The Nexus that I am aware of doesn't fit in my purse.

I can't even think of a good Android phone out on the market today that anyone would consider small. These days decent Androids generally range from 4.3'' screens to the 5.3'' found on the Galaxy Note.

Right, so that effectively keeps me out of the good-phone market. It really is a shame that they can't make a smaller phone (iPhone size is ok but smaller would be better). I'd be a customer for life.

I'm thinking about the Nexus but the reviews have all slated the camera which is putting me off a bit

> The Nexus line of phones have the latest software directly from Google, and no carrier bloat

With the caveat that only some Nexus Ses have received ICS.