Nexus 4 on backorder for 3 weeks

Google's latest Nexus devices, the Nexus 4 smartphone and the Nexus 10 tablet, are proving to be hot items. We knew that the Nexus 4 sold out within a half-hour of being released on Tuesday, and that the Nexus 10 sold out shortly afterward. Today, we just received an email saying that the Nexus 4 has been put on backorder for three weeks.

Frankly, we're not surprised by this, but it appears that Google actually oversold the Nexus 4, meaning that those who ordered one and were given a delivery date of just a few days away are now being sent emails that say their shipment has been delayed. However, Google notes that many people who purchased the device in the first several minutes of it being available will receive their unit on time.

"Thank you for your recent purchase on Google Play. Due to overwhelming demand, your Nexus 4 is on backorder and is expected to ship within three weeks. We'll send you a notification when your order has shipped and will credit the shipping charges."

It's disappointing indeed, especially if you were originally told a delivery date of just a few days from now, but that's the nature of the beast when it comes to hot items. For those who were able to be some of the first ones through the door, consider yourselves the lucky ones. The not-so-lucky ones get to wait a whole three weeks before they get to enjoy some Nexus love.

The Nexus 4 features a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor with 2GB of RAM and either 8GB or 16GB of internal storage. There's also an 8MP rear camera with a 1.3MP front-facing shooter. The screen is a 4.7-inch WXGA IPS display covered in Gorilla Glass 2. The phone sells for $299 unlocked for the 8GB option, and $349 for the 16GB option.