Nexus 7 Hands-On Reviews - Nexus 7 General

Pocket-Lint (June 27, Updated content & pics June 29)
From our quick play it looks like an impressive tablet from Google. The quad-core Tegra 3 processor with 12 core GPU is astounding on a device that costs £159, offering class-leading performance for Android. Just like the Kindle Fire in the US, this device could very well be the one that takes another bite out of Apple's rather large share of the tablet market pie.
Engadget (June 27) (Updated June 28)
That IPS panel looks great from all angles, showing good brightness and good contrast even in a brightly lit room. We'll need some more time to see how that compares to other competing 7-inchers, but it's certainly a screen that is aiming higher than its price point.
The Verge (updated June 29)
The speaker isn't bad: a Verge editor who will go unnamed had Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" ready in a Google Music account, and it blasted out of the slit in back of the device fairly crisply and loudly considering that we were in a large conference hall, and bounced nicely off a table when we set it down. We'll have to see how it fares in a real-world environment. The placement of the speaker slit at the bottom of the back of the device does mean that you can block it and muffle the audio with your hand if you're holding it low, though.
ABC News (June 27)
Jelly Bean — the nickname for the new Android 4.1 operating system — sails along on the tablet and the new notification tray and Chrome browser are very nice additions. But Google made a big push at the announcement today about its Google Play store and how the device was built for reading magazines, watching TV or video, and playing games. I can attest that videos on the screen look great and magazines, like Men’s Fitness, are visually appealing. But Google simply doesn’t provide the same selection as Amazon; I came up empty handed when looking for US Weekly and People Magazine. (Don’t judge me on my magazine choices.)
SlashGear (June 27)
What you’ve got here is a fun machine. Google worked with ASUS and NVIDIA here to bring on a media beast like no other, offered at a price that, sold exclusively through the Google Play store online (for now), is almost undeniable. Even those who want a tablet just to fiddle with should and probably will be considering this device first in the near future – unless they want an iPad.
The Guardian (June 27)
The Nexus 7 is impressive, though: a valuable addition to the tablet market. Google's challenge now is to put some real welly behind getting the device into people's hands, securing more innovative, high-quality apps for its store, and ensuring that its music, films, TV shows, e-books and magazine offering is good around the world, not just in the US.
AnandTech (June 27) (Check the benchmarks)
Honestly I think ASUS and Google have really done an excellent job here with the Nexus 7. The combination of a quad core SoC, IPS panel, solid construction, and the latest version of Android all for such a killer price point pretty much make it hard to really find any faults. Sure, it'd be useful to have a full size USB host port, microSD slot (though no Nexus has shipped with one since Nexus S), 5 GHz WiFi (Nexus 7 is 2.4 GHz only), or cellular, but the tablet wouldn't be $199 anymore. I also really feel like the 7 inch diagonal form factor is an ideal one, and the Nexus 7 is quickly growing on me.
Gizmodo (June 27) (Thanks jonnyg1097); (New Review, July 2 - Thanks Eclair~)
Google just let attendees to today's hardware-filled I/O conference love up on the new Nexus 7 tablet. It's light, it's compact, and holy crap, it's faster than hell. In short, you won't believe this is a $200 tablet.
Mashable (June 30)
The Nexus 7 may not be the best tablet ever built, but its media savviness and low price make it a crowd-pleaser. For the vast majority of people, it’s more than good enough, and if you aren’t yet married to the Apple platform, you should be pre-ordering one now.
Ubergizmo (June 30)
A key component of a tablet is the display, and when manufacturers take the affordable route, usually they have a hard time to provide a decent display. The Nexus 7 features a 1280×800 IPS display covered with scratch-resistant Corning FIT Glass. I played the same video both on the iPad and the Nexus 7 and the image quality was similar. See the display comparison in the photo above (iPad latest edition on the right).
PCMag (June 30) (Thanks yerand)
Meanwhile, our large-screen Editor's Choice, the New Apple iPad, is a totally different beast. It's much bigger, heavier, and more powerful with a cellular option, and a much wider array of apps. And it costs more than twice as much as the Nexus 7. Think of the iPad as a better replacement for another home PC, while the Nexus 7 is for toting around wherever you go.
Technology Review (July 1)
The Nexus 7's display is slightly higher-resolution than the Fire's—1,280 by 800 pixels, or 221 pixels per inch. It's impressive, given the tablet's price. An episode of the TV show Smash that I downloaded from the Android app and digital content store Google Play looked excellent on the Nexus 7's screen, with rich colors, high levels of detail, and good viewing angles. Videos streamed via Wi-Fi from YouTube looked great, too.
Betanews (July 1)
My Galaxy Nexus outperforms Pad 300 in just about every way, and Nexus 7 more so -- in part benefiting from Tegra 3 quad-core processor and superior graphics. This tablet is a screamer, which is part of the allure over 10.1-inchers -- then there is price-for-performance consideration. You get all this buttery smoothness for $199 -- $200 less than Transformer Pad and Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 or $300 less than entry-level new iPad. Anyone dissatisfied with performance at this price needs a brain scan.
Business Insider (July 2)
Should You Buy It?
Yes, but there are a few caveats here.
First of all, if you can afford the extra $200 or $300 for an iPad 2 or third-generation iPad, you should buy that instead. The iPad is still the best tablet on the market.
TechCrunch (July 2)
The Nexus 7 lacks expandable memory and only comes in 8GB ($199) and 16GB ($249) trim, which explains why video content is streamed by default. There’s also no way to output any content to a larger screen, so you’re stuck with whatever content you download to the 7-inch display. Luckily the screen is vibrant and offers pretty decent viewing angles but it definitely reflects a lot of light. Compared to the Kindle Fire, the 1280 x 800 screen on the N7 is much, much better. The display is listed as having Corning Glass. Whether that means it’s sporting Gorilla Glass or GG2 is anyone’s guess.
Associated Press (July 2)
In the 1982 sci-fi movie "Blade Runner," there are hints that the hero, played by Harrison Ford, is an artificial human — an "android" or "replicant." His job is to go out and kill other, rogue androids.
If he's an android, he's of the latest model, Nexus 7. That's also the name Google Inc. has picked for the first tablet to bear the Google brand. Clearly, its mission is to go out and kill rogue tablets running Google's Android software.
Android Police (July 5)
Here at Android Police, we look at the benchmark as one of those occasionally useful tools for certain scenarios, and rarely as good overall indicators of performance. However, they're a widely requested feature in our reviews (who doesn't like seeing something you bought beat something somebody else bought at numbers?), so I'm going to provide you a few.
Android Central (July 6)
The Nexus name means one thing to some of us -- wide-open, balls-to-the-wall-hacking. The Nexus 7 is no different. Unlock the boot loader with a single command, then have your way with the system, flashing any image your heart desires. It's not yet widely available, but we already have a custom recovery and developers are champing at the bit for the day they can order one. Development and custom ROMS are going to explode on the Nexus 7. It's going to be a ton of fun.
Ars Technica (July 8) (Thanks revmra)
Movie watching: WiFi on, 100 percent brightness, 100 percent volume
From playing that modern cinema classic Transformers: Dark of the Moon, we found that the Nexus 7 got a solid nine hours and 15 minutes of battery life. This is 15 minutes longer than Google estimates even with the most taxing settings. We love a high and honest battery estimate, but we love a high and modest one more.

Thanks for taking the time to put all of these reviews in one place

Just a heads up, gizmodo did one also. http://gizmodo.com/5921827/nexus-7-tablet-hands-on-brave-new-world/gallery/1?tag=nexus-tablet
Long story short, they recommended the tablet.

You're welcome. Since I pre-ordered one I'm out looking anyway.

New reviews added.

Added new 5 hour old review from Betanews
Google Nexus 7 is a joy to use. I can't yet comment whether it meets the stated, 8-hour battery life. But based on preliminary usage, the claim looks pretty good.
The tablet is the Kindle Killer and is sure to woo people who want an exciting tablet that offers curated content without spending $300 or more -- $499 to $829 for new iPad.
Some recommendations. If you:
Want a rear-facing camera, choose another tablet. You won't get it from Nexus 7.
Plan to create content on a tablet, choose iPad. Nexus 7 is more for consumption.
Use more than, say, three or four different Google services, Nexus 7 is best choice.
Are looking to buy a 7-inch tablet, choose Google's. I wouldn't recommend any other over Nexus 7.
Want to always have the newest version of Android, without skins or other enhancements, choose Nexus 7.
Long for Apple's Siri on a tablet, choose Nexus 7 -- and right now Google's assistant is better than Apple's.
Nexus 7 isn't for everyone, but it is for anyone looking to spend $249 or less on a tablet or one that offers sound performance and 7-inch display.

Washington Post's is same as Verge's. Verge licenses its content to WP's tech section.
You should specify those that aren't full reviews, such as Anandtech.
Secondly, most of these aren't reviews per se, but more of "detailed hands-on," without usability or benchmark testing. IMO, calling these "reviews" discredits the term, and potentially misleads the buyer into an overly rosy outlook. That said, I recognize that many who read these cheery pieces are early adopters who've already pre-ordered, and are looking more for confirmation of their buy.

New Review from Business Insider
You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll fall to your knees in gratitude for confirming pre-ordering the Nexus 7 will set things right in the universe and stop the Mayan calender from ending.

Atmazzz said:
Quoting Joe Wilcox (betanews):
Plan to create content on a tablet, choose iPad. Nexus 7 is more for consumption.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How many folks agree with the above comment?

Define content...
I certainly would not use the 7 as a replacement for my laptop.
I would not even code applications for the 7 ON the 7...
I would not use it for creating documents and spreadsheets.
So I guess I will use it for consumption...
Qualifier: I sure would not use the IPad for those things - for the same reasons.

Atmazzz said:
Plan to create content on a tablet, choose a laptop. Nexus 7 is more for consumption.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hashibahoohaa said:
How many folks agree with the above comment?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I fixed it.

hashibahoohaa said:
How many folks agree with the above comment?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What kind of content? What kind of content does someone create on the iPad?

As an owner of an N7 I/O device, you can create content on the N7 but you are limited due to storage space. I already ran into storage issues with 2 nandroids, FF3, ME:I & a bunch of apps.
If you were to get the 16gb then yes, create content to your hearts desire.

RMXO said:
I already ran into storage issues with 2 nandroids,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How big is a nandroid on the N7?

Atmazzz said:
How big is a nandroid on the N7?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Opps, hit thanks instead of Quote.
to answer your question all my nandroids ranged from 1-1.5gb & a bad nandroids ran to 3gbs for some reason but I just deleted it. I'm currently performing a nandroid now & will report back once its done.
EDIT:
The nandroid I just did was 1.58gb

Updated Gizmodo Review
Gizmodo has released an official review of N7. :fingers-crossed: Can't post the link, sorry, but it should be on the front page.

WindyCityRockr said:
Gizmodo has released an official review of N7. :fingers-crossed: Can't post the link, sorry, but it should be on the front page.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Gizmodo's Full Review
You can argue that the iPad is a better tablet, but is it really $300 better? As useful as tablets are, they're still kind of luxury items. $200 for a full-fledged, seriously-spec'd, fully-capable tablet is an absolute steal. Get it. Seriously.

Read the Gizmodo review - and make sure you follow the Matias Duarte interview link. If you like the 7 - you owe him a lot.

Has anyone done a teardown yet?
I'm secretly hoping there is a sdcard inside lol, or a way to attach one.
If not I'm going to order a mini Wifi drive.

timskyline86 said:
Has anyone done a teardown yet?
I'm secretly hoping there is a sdcard inside lol, or a way to attach one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haven't seen one but I share your hope. :laugh:

Related

Horrable rumor

Does Apple have any interest in buying Barnes & Noble?
We received a tip from an unproven source claiming to have knowledge of discussions within Apple to possibly purchase Barnes & Noble. While this might seem like a strange move at first, it actually makes a whole lot of sense. Apple would be able to take Barnes & Noble’s vast digital library of books and publications, and fold them into Apple’s own iBooks store. Apple would have no use for the NOOK, and that would likely be discontinued in this scenario. Apple could then convert some of the brick and mortar Barnes & Noble stores into Apple stores and close the rest. It’s out there, and with a price most likely around $1 billion to $1.5 billion, it might be a stretch (though it would barely make a dent in Apple’s giant pile of cash). It also almost makes too much sense for Apple to do this, said another source of ours, mentioning that Apple doesn’t make moves that appear logical to most outside observers at the time. This unproven source also said that iTunes 11 would be released in September along with iOS 5 and iCloud, and will support reading iBooks on computers as well as textbook purchases and rentals.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We'll get a better tab. If it happens. (Better processor, Retina Display, circle shaped home button, etc.)
Or we'll be screwed. They might trash the NC, or install *gasp* iOS on it.
Speaking of possible better tabs:
http://www.techonia.com/cordia-open-tablet
http://cordiatab.com/hardware/specs
At $300, this looks like a very competitive tab for this end of the market...and being able to boot Ubuntu, MeeGo, Android and Cordia HD right off the bat is nice. The specs look to be spot on as good or better than the Nook.
Flyer is THE BEST, IMHO.
This whole thread is "horrable". Nonsense.
what a horrable thing to say.
seems like borders would be a better choice for purchase. since they are already desperately looking to sell.
that would not be too horrable
ikingblack said:
We'll get a better tab. If it happens. (Better processor, Retina Display, circle shaped home button, etc.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That would simply be "Horrandous".
oh the horra!
ikingblack said:
We'll get a better tab. If it happens. (Better processor, Retina Display, circle shaped home button, etc.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The whole point of purchasing the Nook is the low price. Upgrading to meet Apple's price gouging would be positively "horrable."

I love the effect that google has created with the N7

Google...basically gently rose up from the Shadows. Flexed it's muscles. And instantly KO'd every company making ****ty small tablets.
In one move. One fell swoop.
Speak softly and carrying a big stick. Well Played Google.
While I know we are a bit upset over the sd slot, and hdmi. You've got to admit, this makes pretty much any other 200 tablet a piece of garbage now.
Thoughts?
Lawyers everywhere are celebrating the arrival of the Nexus 7.
Google represents deep pockets, and every two-bit company with ripped-off patents will be looking to cash in.
Nah, they just like to set the price and standards on each subsequent generation of android devices. Asus was going to release it regardless, Google just changed the standard of such devices taking out what we would call standard features that most people won't need and lowing the price on said standard while keeping the same performance.
gotta give google some credit... they have the technology and know how to use it
While I was hoping it would have the original features of the memo pad as revealed as ces I'm thrilled by this tablet. I think having its software come directly from Google and carrying the nexus moniker more than makes up for the hardware changes.
This tablet was an excellent move by Google because not only is it great hardware wise, but the 7 inch market is where they can build a foothold on the tablet market.
I'm happy it is priced so competitively but to scoff at other companies giving less for more money bothers me. Google isn't making profit off this tablet. They hope to raise revenue from play store purchases, etc, but other companies that produce these need to make money off what they build. I don't begrudge them for that. In the end it would be nice for other stockish android tablet makers to either commit to keeping devices on the latest OS, or release source for drivers, etc when they discontinue support for them so that unofficial builds could continue.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Cel1084 said:
Nah, they just like to set the price and standards on each subsequent generation of android devices. Asus was going to release it regardless, Google just changed the standard of such devices taking out what we would call standard features that most people won't need and lowing the price on said standard while keeping the same performance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Let's just hope other oems will follow this standard of pure android and follow the supposed 5 nexus devices this fall. I love my phone but I love pure Google also
Locklear308 said:
Google...basically gently rose up from the Shadows. Flexed it's muscles. And instantly KO'd every company making ****ty small tablets.
In one move. One fell swoop.
Speak softly and carrying a big stick. Well Played Google.
While I know we are a bit upset over the sd slot, and hdmi. You've got to admit, this makes pretty much any other 200 tablet a piece of garbage now.
Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They bought the rights to sell the ASUS ME370T rebranded as the nexus 7 with features removed.
They didn't KO ASUS.
That being said, I'm praying to Moore that their 10" nexus 10 is a rebranded infinity pad from ASUS.
jptech said:
That being said, I'm praying to Moore that their 10" nexus 10 is a rebranded infinity pad from ASUS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no way at the rumored $300 price point. plus infinity is already released. no way you will get true HD 1080P nexus tablet with most powerful tegra3 variant(highest clocked, higher voltage, higher clocked gpu, bandwidth on controller increased) for that cheap. we can dream though..lol.
I see a nexus 10 model being closer to transformer 300 minus some features to lower price point. nexus 7 already uses exact same tegra3 chipset as in transformer 300, which is the T30L variant. So Asus/Google could build a Nexus based on that design. minus some features. corners have to be cut to make the cheaper price point.
Cel1084 said:
Asus was going to release it regardless, Google just changed the standard of such devices taking out what we would call standard features that most people won't need and lowing the price on said standard while keeping the same performance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, google's only real contribution here was the hype (not insignifigant). And it's price for meddling was removal of features (like sd card) Asus was probably willing to include.
To be honest, I'm not sure it was worth it. And we can never really know, short of travelling to that alternate reality where Asus did release that $250 memo.
sent from my Terran Command Center.
thebobp said:
Yeah, google's only real contribution here was the hype (not insignifigant). And it's price for meddling was removal of features (like sd card) Asus was probably willing to include.
To be honest, I'm not sure it was worth it. And we can never really know, short of travelling to that alternate reality where Asus did release that $250 memo.
sent from my Terran Command Center.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
More realistic for it to have been $350 and have ICS instead of Jelly Bean.
thebobp said:
Yeah, google's only real contribution here was the hype (not insignifigant). And it's price for meddling was removal of features (like sd card) Asus was probably willing to include.
To be honest, I'm not sure it was worth it. And we can never really know, short of travelling to that alternate reality where Asus did release that $250 memo.
sent from my Terran Command Center.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
MWBehr said:
More realistic for it to have been $350 and have ICS instead of Jelly Bean.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm pretty sure his 250 quote came directly from Asus back when they announced they where releasing it.
I think N7 is the best move that Google could make with Android tablets. With N7, Google can
1. increase the market share, which is lagging iPad.
2. preempt the 7" iPad mini
3. kill cheap android tablets
4. set a standard to avoid fragmentation
5. diminish perception of android tablet = kindle fire
6. stepping stone for play store's long term success
anything I missed?
It might also bring down the price of some of the higher end tablets (are people really willing to pay an extra $xxx just to get feature xxx?)
Please don't think I'm defending lower hardware specs, but the truth is that Nexus devices are great for their SOFTWARE. Other than the Nexus One, these devices have been great, with good hardware but typically not bleeding edge. They contain enough to do what Google sets out to do. I used to be mad about this but now I'm quite happy. There's more to having a great device than the absolute edge of technology. When I got the Nexus S it was the best Gingerbread phone until Google release the next phone... the Galaxy Nexus. I have the GSM Galaxy Nexus now (ordered int'l in Jan) and though it wasn't the end all of hardware when it came out on paper... it is STILL the best ICS device as well. Now on JB, it simply flies. Why is this?
Simply, the way software and hardware are integrated, it's at Apple levels, dare I say. If you look at superior hardware phones like the One X and SGS III, there are hiccups and hangups or other things created by their custom UI's, etc. Plus, the software is written by Google for the Nexus devices to run well.
I'm not saying the galaxy nexus or other nexus device will have the highest benchmarks or play Temple Run the best, but they tend to function as a whole better than their brethren.
The Nexus 7 seems to be the same way. Jellybean is amazing. As Morfic stated, it makes ICS seem like Vista to Jellybean's Windows 7. It may be basically the same kernel, but it does everything it's predecessor does, better and more. Since they hired Mathias Duarte, I believe Android has not just the most functional OS of mobiles, but also the most cohesive and sharpest looking. All of this is my opinion of course, but I remember when GB came out and compared my Nexus S to the iPhone 4 and thought it still LOOKED a little rough. Now, in addition to it doing more, it looks and feels better as well.
My hope is that the Nexus 7 and Google's focus on this device will bring better Tablet UI apps and allows them to take market share from Apple the way they have done the past few years with their phones.
I think they killed all competition in the 7" Android market entirely I'm guessing, and maybe will do the same to the bigger Android tablets if the rumored 10" is released.
Unfortunately, I think this will cause other companies to not build 7" tablets with better specs since most people aren't going to pay much more to have them.. (Like video out, micro sd, haptic feedback, etc.)
The Toshiba Excite 7.7 16gb @ $500? Dead, dead, dead. Only big difference is microsd and AMOLED. And timely updates from Toshiba? Not likely.
Galaxy Tab 7.7? Hard to say. Only the Verizon model is available directly in the US, so maybe it will hang on since it has cell radio, MHL, haptic feedback, microsd, AMOLED, etc. But then again it's over DOUBLE the price. (Disclaimer: I love mine. Verizon, where is my ICS update????)
There are 10" tablets out there for about the same price as the N7, running ICS, with SD cards etc. And they'll sell about 3 of them - because 'joe public' doesn't buy noname chinese hardware that's (in their mind) 'too cheap'.
A google tablet, on the store shelves next to everything else, with google's name on it - they'll buy that. Then you start to shift a few. Then other manufacturers can start to shift a few, too, because suddenly people have friends with an android tablet and they want one too. 'Not an ipad' ceases to be the death blow that it is currently.
acegolfer said:
I think N7 is the best move that Google could make with Android tablets. With N7, Google can
1. increase the market share, which is lagging iPad.
2. preempt the 7" iPad mini
3. kill cheap android tablets
4. set a standard to avoid fragmentation
5. diminish perception of android tablet = kindle fire
6. stepping stone for play store's long term success
anything I missed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
a slap in apples face for their overpriced ipad and marketing condescending commercials :good:
TonyHoyle said:
There are 10" tablets out there for about the same price as the N7, running ICS, with SD cards etc. And they'll sell about 3 of them - because 'joe public' doesn't buy noname chinese hardware that's (in their mind) 'too cheap'.
A google tablet, on the store shelves next to everything else, with google's name on it - they'll buy that. Then you start to shift a few. Then other manufacturers can start to shift a few, too, because suddenly people have friends with an android tablet and they want one too. 'Not an ipad' ceases to be the death blow that it is currently.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But these cheap tablets... The usually have no support, and no software updates, etc. That's also a huge reason ppl don't go buy them.
Sent from my Incredible S using xda app-developers app
Jayrod1980 said:
Please don't think I'm defending lower hardware specs, but the truth is that Nexus devices are great for their SOFTWARE. Other than the Nexus One, these devices have been great, with good hardware but typically not bleeding edge. They contain enough to do what Google sets out to do. I used to be mad about this but now I'm quite happy. There's more to having a great device than the absolute edge of technology. When I got the Nexus S it was the best Gingerbread phone until Google release the next phone... the Galaxy Nexus. I have the GSM Galaxy Nexus now (ordered int'l in Jan) and though it wasn't the end all of hardware when it came out on paper... it is STILL the best ICS device as well. Now on JB, it simply flies. Why is this?
Simply, the way software and hardware are integrated, it's at Apple levels, dare I say. If you look at superior hardware phones like the One X and SGS III, there are hiccups and hangups or other things created by their custom UI's, etc. Plus, the software is written by Google for the Nexus devices to run well.
I'm not saying the galaxy nexus or other nexus device will have the highest benchmarks or play Temple Run the best, but they tend to function as a whole better than their brethren.
The Nexus 7 seems to be the same way. Jellybean is amazing. As Morfic stated, it makes ICS seem like Vista to Jellybean's Windows 7. It may be basically the same kernel, but it does everything it's predecessor does, better and more. Since they hired Mathias Duarte, I believe Android has not just the most functional OS of mobiles, but also the most cohesive and sharpest looking. All of this is my opinion of course, but I remember when GB came out and compared my Nexus S to the iPhone 4 and thought it still LOOKED a little rough. Now, in addition to it doing more, it looks and feels better as well.
My hope is that the Nexus 7 and Google's focus on this device will bring better Tablet UI apps and allows them to take market share from Apple the way they have done the past few years with their phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with you on some of the points but One x and SGSIII are not hick ups. One x might had some problems earlier but SGSIII never had any problem and it is the best ICS phone not Galaxy Nexus. I sold my Galaxy Nexus 2 weeks back and this was the first phone which does not make me feel wow about anything at all. It was doing everything at acceptable level but best at nothing. I agree that at $350 price tag it is a nice phone but I bought this phone only because I was short of money. Google did well with Nexus one, Nexus S and they were indeed best phones but Galaxy Nexus was just okay sort of phone even when it was released last year. I think the new Nexus would be much better which hopefully would be released later this year.
On the other hand what you have said about Nexus 7 on the other hand is true. Even though I have iPad 3 64GB with 4G but I understand what google is trying to do with Nexus 7 and I love what they did. I was looking for a good 7 inch tablet and there was nothing good in the market in 7 inch beside toshiba 7.7 but it was too pricey. Who is going to pay more than 500 for a 7.7 inch android tablet? Google on the other hand done very well by introducing Nexus 7 only for 200 and nothing can beat it at this price point or even nothing with 300 more price tag can beat it. It is even better than Asus Pad TF300 which cost way more than Nexus 7. The 7 inch form factor is also great and google made a very good choice.

Nexus 7 16Gb vs Ipad 2 16gb

Or ... in the UK £210 vs £329 - both list price and shipped. What is the price difference in the US ?
So for the extra £119 you get 3" of screen, a rear facing camera and better audio quality and the legendary Apple returns policy. Which is not so bad...
Everyone is saying that the Nexus 7 is a bargain but I don't see it as being so clear cut.
( Not trying to troll ... or start an IOS vs Android thread... but I am just genuinely on the fence as to where to spend the proceeds of my HTC flyer sale ).
It all comes down to preference..
Do you want a bigger heavier form factor but with a larger screen? Then get the iPad.
Do you want something smaller and lighter? The get the Nexus 7.
Do you want to mess around with it such as rooting, custom ROMS? Nexus 7.
Do you want (even need?) a better FFC or a rear camera? iPad.
The nexus 7 comes in a bargain for it's a fully featured tablet with a base price of 200$ (or 250$ in this case) that is going to be supported throughout it's life by Google (latest updates, great development scene).
So the real question is, if you're to get a tablet.. what are you going to be using it for? What would you like to do with it? what would you like it to be able to do? GPS in car? custom ROMs? Jailbreak for custom Apps? Apple's great App selections? Play Stores app selections?
---
Personally for MY personal use. I'd go with the nexus 7 just because I love messing with gadgets and the Nexus 7 is easier to toy with. I'm planning on using it as an eReader and I always import my books in .epub format. To me, it's easier to drag epubs from computer to device (HATE iTunes). I also want to install emulators and play old games on it as well as the new games found in the App store. When the time comes I'll probably have Ubuntu inside as well so I can dual boot Android/Ubuntu or some distro just to have that computer on the go. I also like trying out developer ROMs and kernels that add more functionality usually like USB OTG. Just some ideas as what you want to do.
deaglecat said:
Or ... in the UK £210 vs £329 - both list price and shipped. What is the price difference in the US ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here in the states the 16 GB Nexus 7 is $249.99 while a 16 GB iPad 2 is $529 (without shipping costs, and sales taxes). So, that is a price difference of $279.01. I can buy two 16 GB Nexus 7s for the price of one iPad 2.
Now, if you were to buy an iPad 2 over an iPad 3 you're only saving $70... now that's a no brainier.
Check out this review where they compare the nexus 7 to the IPad 2 and 3. http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2012...fantastic-200-tablet/?comments=1#comments-bar
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using xda app-developers app
But youre also paying £119 extra for a slower processor, a dual core compared to quad core.
Also, according to gsmarena, a lower res screen with 132ppi compared to 216.
Depends if you care about these features really
Also, whether you prefer iOS or android...
Bigger screen but lower resolution & considering Apple have aren't releasing iOS 6 for the original iPad, I wouldn't bet on the iPad 2 being supported in iOS 7, whereas the nexus 7 is going to keep getting updates.
Also bear in mind that although it's close to £210 on Google play at other retailers such as PC World do free delivery so it's only £199. It's only £10 but it makes a difference.
N7 is intended for content consumption, whereas the the app store for the iPad has productivity apps that are more developed than Android. Which one do you want to do more?
hyperdude111 said:
Also bear in mind that although it's close to £210 on Google play at other retailers such as PC World do free delivery so it's only £199. It's only £10 but it makes a difference.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, but don't you get £15 play store credit when you order directly from Google - plus, Googles return policy has to be better than PCWorld. Lol
As for the original question, I'll take the faster cpu, GPU, higher res screen and the much cheaper device over an ipad2 - doh!
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2
Fair comments and thanks for the input.
In the US the price difference is compelling.
I guess the tegra 3 is faster than the A5X.
Plus the Nexus gets the play store credit (though I don't place any value on transformers movie because I wouldn't purchase it).
I just got my fingers burnt with the HTC flyer due to lack of O/S upgrades but I think this will not be the case with the Nexus 7.
If nothing else it will make the other Android tablet makers up their game. I would like a premium Android tablet with decent O/S updates and audiophile sound quality at an ipad price.
LonelyTV said:
Here in the states the 16 GB Nexus 7 is $249.99 while a 16 GB iPad 2 is $529 (without shipping costs, and sales taxes). So, that is a price difference of $279.01. I can buy two 16 GB Nexus 7s for the price of one iPad 2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You've got your prices wrong. 16GB iPad 2 w/Wifi only is US$399 minus tax and shipping. The US$529 you're talking about is the 16GB iPad 2 w/Wifi+3G. (Source: Apple's website)
@OP: As others have stated, it really just comes down to preference. I tend to like the 10 inch form factor for use at home, while the 7 inch form factor is better for on the go.
clearly they are not directly comparable, if you want 10" then its the ipad if want 7" then its the nexus7. If you want productivity then its the ipad, if you want some fun then the nexus7. If your worried about bang for buck then in my opinion dont buy any of them if moneys not an issue then buy both:laugh:
I don't think the decision between N7 and iPad2 comes down to hardware, but rather iOS vs. Android.
I don't like iOS, because I don't like being nearly forced into iTunes. So for me, it's a really easy decision. I do have an iPad 1, which was a free gift from one of my business technology vendors. I like it for web browsing and streaming NetFlix. Fortunately, I can do these things just as well on an Android device, plus be able to stream Google music, and much more easily load content onto the device.
It is absolutely true that the Apple App Store has many more apps available - however, I don't care much because I don't use any of them. I use NetFlix, Hulu Plus, HBO Go, and the web browser. Again, all work just as well on an Android device.
I sold my iPad 2 32GB for £255 and bought a 16GB Nexus 7. I just got bored of iOS, it felt stale in the end. And I wont miss iTunes at all.
Also I think the 7" form factor will work better as the iPad just felt a little too heavy and cumbersome at times.
After debating back and forth for over a week, I finally bit the bullet and ordered the 16GB. 8GB storage in 2012 just isn't reasonable for me. I have way too much media.
Some good advice. Thanks.
I too find IOS constraining.
7" is more portable but without 3G, I can't just bring it out and have it working - and I know that I can tether but it is a hassle which reduces its utility.
"buy both" is an option. I just like shiny gadgets and so that is a good solution... if only I could grow some more arms then I could use multiple devices at once !
deaglecat said:
"buy both" is an option. I just like shiny gadgets and so that is a good solution... if only I could grow some more arms then I could use multiple devices at once !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This would be my preferred option too:good:
I will have both An iPad2 16GB and Nexus 7 16GB. They'll each have their purposes. I will love them both equally
I can't get an iPad. I don't look good in a mock turtleneck.
And you'll look good with big glasses instead?

[REVIEW] My quick review of the Nexus 7

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Disclaimer: You are going to see me mention the iPad a LOT here, and that's because I have been an iPad user since day 1 when the first iPad came out. I have HATED every single Android tablet up till the N7. My hatred for Android tablets was exacerbated by the fact that I love Android and so dearly wanted one that could compete with the iPad and they all just fell short. Now that I have my N7, I am THRILLED with it, and haven't touched my iPad once since getting it. So you may think from reading this that I am an iPad fanboy, which I most definitely am not. I have just been patiently waiting for a comparable Android tablet to come to market and now one finally has. Happy day.
Read on.
Those that know me know that I just don’t like Android tablets. They have never appealed to me. I have always found many things wrong with them (both hardware and software), and have always preferred the iPad for my on-the-go digital consumption and gaming needs. Even the highest end Android tablets have always left something to be desired- from the terrible screen, weight and heft of the Motorola Xoom all the way to the Transformer Prime which while being the best Android tablet ever when it arrived on the scene, failed to live up to the hype. Android just wasn’t quite ready for the tablet scene and the iPad always overshadowed even the best Android tablets. Argue with me all you want about how much better your Prime is than the iPad but the fact is (yes, I said FACT), it’s not. The iPad has better hardware, better software, better build quality, and MUCH better apps. Because of this, there was no reason whatsoever to buy any Android tablet over the iPad- until now.
In comes the Nexus 7, the second Android tablet I have owned (the first being the Samsung Galaxy tab 7.0 Plus that was returned after 4 hours), and easily the best Android tablet ever made. Now when I say that, I don’t mean that it has the best specs, the best screen, the slimmest profile, or the sexiest looks. What I mean is the package as a whole is the best Android has to offer, and for the price you just can’t beat it. In fact, after owning one for about 24 hours now, I’d be hard pressed to try to come up with a better way to spend $250. Pretty much all the complaints I have had about Android tablets in the past are completely moot now with the Nexus 7.
Lets start with the hardware. For $250 ($200 if you got the 8gb version), Google has managed to squeeze incredible performance out of this thing. The Tegra 3 processor just screams here. Now, the Tegra 3 is not the most powerful SOC (system on a chip) out there, but it is definitely a respectable powerhouse, and Google has clearly optimized Jelly Bean to run on it and that makes all the difference in the world. Apps open fast, games run flawlessly with nary a frame rate stutter, and scrolling is buttery smooth (more on the butter later). The 1280x800 screen on it isn’t the greatest. In all honesty, it is the N7’s biggest shortcoming. It feels rather outdated, especially coming from an iPad 3 and an HTC One XL, but for the price, you just can’t beat it. It’s an IPS LCD that has decent color reproduction, acceptable indoor brightness levels, and a great viewing angle. At the most extreme angles the blacks do get washed out but hey, who uses tablets from the side? At every USABLE viewing angle however the screen is great, as long as you don’t use it side by side with the previously mentioned devices. My only real complaint about it is its outdoor performance. Maybe the breathtaking SLCD2 on my AT&T One XL (best phone ever, shut up about your plasticky SGS3 already) has spoiled me, but I was very disappointed with the way the screen looks outside. Even at its maximum brightness it is barely viewable even on an overcast day like today. But the good thing is that disappointment was quickly diminished when I reminded myself how much I paid for this thing.
Build quality is superb, but that shouldn’t be a surprise considering ASUS manufactured this thing for Google. The front is a solid slab of Corning scratch resistant glass (not Gorilla Glass), it is bound by a very tasteful silver frame, and the dimpled rubberized back is a joy to behold. This thing is absolutely solid, not a creak or squeak anywhere, and it feels like a much more expensive device than it is. I expected decent build quality but what I got was way beyond whatever preconceived notions I had had. Seriously, the craftsmanship on this thing is belied by its diminutive price tag. I think all other Android tab manufacturers need to take note here (*cough*Samsung*cough*)- THIS is how you build an Android tablet. I have played with practically every other major Android tablet on the market and none of them conveyed a sense of quality that could hold its own against the build of an iPad. This bad boy right here goes toe to toe with Apple’s offering in this regard. They have completely different design aesthetics but there is no denying that Google and ASUS meant business here.
On to the software. The Nexus 7 is Google’s first device to ship with its latest version of Android, version 4.1 Jelly Bean. It isn’t a major leap forward from Ice Cream Sandwich but more of an evolutionary step. They have optimized the performance of it so it feels a lot faster, and added quite a few features such as Google Now which I haven’t really played with all too much so I’m not going to comment on it further. The biggest change to me, at least from a users perspective, is what Google calls Project Butter. This is Google’s attempt to finally match the “buttery” smoothness of the UI and other operations of the iPad. Whenever any Android device is compared to an iOS device, be it a phone or a tablet, one cannot deny that Apple’s offerings offer a MUCH smoother experience across the UI. People who love their Android devices will surely say that their Galaxy S2s are as smooth as the iPhone and that their Transformer Primes are just as smooth as the iPad- well I don’t care what you say because they aren’t. There just is no argument. Sure they are smooth as hell compared to other Android devices but iOS smooth they are not. That is because Apple sets the UI animation renderings as the priority for the CPU/GPU which makes them incredibly smooth. That smoothness conveys quality. Project Butter is Google’s answer to that and while I can’t quite say that they have matched that smoothness, they definitely succeeded in conveying that same finished product level of UI quality that iOS devices have. They do this with a combination of significantly smoother scrolling, great app opening animations, and various other tweaks throughout the system. Couple all the software tweaks with the single most responsive touchscreen on any Android device to date and you have one incredibly fluid experience. Bottom line- it’s awesome.
Now a lot of people, myself included, complained about Google’s choice to use more or less a phone UI for the Nexus 7 instead of the standard ICS tablet UI. I was very disappointed when I found out, that’s for sure. But I decided that Google made a conscious decision to do this, and that I needed to trust them so I went into it with an open mind. Now, my biggest complaint about the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus was the UI. I absolutely hated it. I’m not referring to the Touchwiz modifications that they made, but the actual Honeycomb UI design choices that still showed through. It just didn’t work on the 7” form factor, at least not for me. I am happy to report that the hybrid phone/tablet UI that Google decided to use on the Nexus 7 not only works, but does so famously. Long story short, any disappointment I had about it was quickly washed away when I started using it. It just makes sense to me now to use the phone UI here. Everything is within reach, nothing is cluttered, no buttons are too small making them hard to press, and I think it looks beautiful. My only complaint is that Google locked the homescreen UI to portrait mode only, but that is easily remedied by installing a 3rd party launcher like Nova which I use and recommend.
Now, where I think Android really needs to pick up the slack is with their tablet-optimized app selections. iOS simply blows Android out of the water here. A tablet is really only as good as the apps that can run on it and the apps alone make the iPad the best tablet out there. The nice thing here, is that since the Nexus 7 is a 7” tablet, it can handle tablet optimized apps AND phone apps and make it seem like they were all designed specifically for this size screen. Apps of both varieties feel right at home here. Quite frankly, it’s awesome and it makes a HUGE difference. When I am using an app that was only designed for a phone on the N7, it doesn’t feel like there is any compromise. This right here opens up a whole world of apps that while are a pain to use on a 10” tablet, they are great on the 7” one. With the N7 we get the best of both worlds.
The main reason why I got this thing was for gaming. Aside from browsing the web whilst sitting in the throne room, my iPad is used almost exclusively for games. The problem is, it’s just way too big for some. Playing a first person shooter like NOVA 3 or Modern Combat 3 is just way too cumbersome on a 10” tablet. On a 7” tablet, it’s flat out perfect. I have been waiting for a great 7” gaming tablet to come along and I couldn’t be happier with this thing. Right now, some of my favorite games just don’t run on it, like NOVA 3, but others do and they are AWESOME to play on this bad oscar. The Tegra HD games like Shadowgun look flat out gorgeous here and the fact that the screen isn’t massive makes them a joy to play. I haven't spent too much time yet with emulators, but I can say that N64oid works great and Starfox 64 is a blast to play on it. Most of the games I have played so far have run incredibly smoothly here, and it is obvious that the Tegra 3 was built with gaming in mind.
One thing I haven’t touched on so far is the battery life. I’m on the fence with it. It seems like the battery drops faster than I was expecting it to, but I have only had it for 24 hours and that just isn’t long enough for me to give an accurate review of it. If I am just swiping through the screens it seems to hold pretty well, but as soon as I start browsing the web or playing games the battery seems to drop fairly quickly. I have yet to run this thing through a complete cycle so I dunno. Google states that we should be getting about 8 hours out of it with “active use” and that seems fairly accurate, as long as that “active use” isn’t 8 hours of straight Shadowgunning because I promise you it won’t make it that long.
So that about sums up what I have taken from this thing in the 24 hours that I’ve owned it. I am thoroughly impressed with what Google and ASUS have done here and I am FINALLY a fan of Android in the tablet world. One thing I know for absolute certain is that my iPad will see a significant drop in usage now that I have my Nexus 7. I think used to think 10" was the perfect size for a tablet but the Nexus 7 has me convinced otherwise. The 7" form factor is SIGNIFICANTLY more comfortable to hold and use. I am in absolute love with the Nexus 7 and I know it is not just a honeymoon thing. Do I think it is better than the iPad? Nope, not really. Do I think it is as good as the iPad, in an apples to oranges sort of way? Absolutely. Do I think it is the best Android tablet to date? Without a doubt. Is it worth the $200-$250? Don’t be stupid, of course it is. The bottom line is, if you have been waiting to pull the trigger on an Android tablet like I was, this is the tablet to get. It simply cannot be beat for the price.
I know I left some things out here so feel free to ask any questions that you may have.
EDIT: It's official, I have decided to sell my iPad 3. The N7 is everything I ever wanted in a tablet, no need to hang on to the iPad if it's just going to be collecting dust.
whoa.. such a big review with such small fonts on my pc. i'll read it only on my GN7
for the time being, you should upload a video review on youtube. I'd love to see that dude.
_MetalHead_ said:
Those that know me know that I just don’t like Android tablets. They have never appealed to me. I have always found many things wrong with them (both hardware and software), and have always preferred the iPad for my on-the-go digital consumption and gaming needs. Even the highest end Android tablets have always left something to be desired- from the terrible screen, weight and heft of the Motorola Xoom all the way to the Transformer Prime which while being the best Android tablet ever when it arrived on the scene, failed to live up to the hype and left much to be desired. Android just wasn’t quite ready for the tablet scene and the iPad always overshadowed even the best Android tablets. Argue with me all you want about how much better your Prime is than the iPad but the fact is (yes, I said FACT), it’s not. The iPad has better hardware, better software, better build quality, and MUCH better apps. Because of this, there was no reason whatsoever to buy any Android tablet over the iPad- until now.
In comes the Nexus 7, the second Android tablet I have owned (the first being the Samsung Galaxy tab 7.0 Plus that was returned after 4 hours), and easily the best Android tablet ever made. Now when I say that, I don’t mean that it has the best specs, the best screen, the slimmest profile, or the sexiest looks. What I mean is the package as a whole is the best Android has to offer, and for the price you just can’t beat it. In fact, after owning one for about 24 hours now, I’d be hard pressed to try to come up with a better way to spend $250. Pretty much all the complaints I have had about Android tablets in the past are completely moot now with the Nexus 7.
Lets start with the hardware. For $250 ($200 if you got the 8gb version), Google has managed to squeeze incredible performance out of this thing. The Tegra 3 processor just screams here. Now, the Tegra 3 is not the most powerful SOC (system on a chip) out there, but it is definitely a respectable powerhouse, and Google has clearly optimized Jelly Bean to run on it and that makes all the difference in the world. Apps open fast, games run flawlessly with nary a frame rate stutter, and scrolling is buttery smooth (more on the butter later). The 1280x800 screen on it isn’t the greatest. In all honesty, it is the N7’s biggest shortcoming. It feels rather outdated, especially coming from an iPad 3 and an HTC One XL, but for the price, you just can’t beat it. It’s an IPS LCD that has decent color reproduction, acceptable indoor brightness levels, and a great viewing angle. At the most extreme angles the blacks do get washed out but hey, who uses tablets from the side? At every USABLE viewing angle however the screen is great, as long as you don’t use it side by side with the previously mentioned devices. My only real complaint about it is its outdoor performance. Maybe the breathtaking SLCD2 on my AT&T One XL (best phone ever, shut up about your plasticky SGS3 already) has spoiled me, but I was very disappointed with the way the screen looks outside. Even at its maximum brightness it is barely viewable even on an overcast day like today. But the good thing is that disappointment was quickly diminished when I reminded myself how much I paid for this thing.
Build quality is superb, but that shouldn’t be a surprise considering ASUS manufactured this thing for Google. The front is a solid slab of Corning scratch resistant glass (not Gorilla Glass), it is bound by a very tasteful silver frame, and the dimpled rubberized back is a joy to behold. This thing is absolutely solid, not a creak or squeak anywhere, and it feels like a much more expensive device than it is. I expected decent build quality but what I got was way beyond whatever preconceived notions I had had. Seriously, the craftsmanship on this thing is belied by its diminutive price tag. I think all other Android tab manufacturers need to take note here (*cough*Samsung*cough*)- THIS is how you build an Android tablet. I have played with practically every other major Android tablet on the market and none of them conveyed a sense of quality that could hold its own against the build of an iPad. This bad boy right here goes toe to toe with Apple’s offering in this regard. They have completely different design aesthetics but there is no denying that Google and ASUS meant business here.
On to the software. The Nexus 7 is Google’s first device to ship with its latest version of Android, version 4.1 Jelly Bean. It isn’t a major leap forward from Ice Cream Sandwich but more of an evolutionary step. They have optimized the performance of it so it feels a lot faster, and added quite a few features such as Google Now which I haven’t really played with all too much so I’m not going to comment on it further. The biggest change to me, at least from a users perspective, is what Google calls Project Butter. This is Google’s attempt to finally match the “buttery” smoothness of the UI and other operations of the iPad. Whenever any Android device is compared to an iOS device, be it a phone or a tablet, one cannot deny that Apple’s offerings offer a MUCH smoother experience across the UI. People who love their Android devices will surely say that their Galaxy S2s are as smooth as the iPhone and that their Transformer Primes are just as smooth as the iPad- well I don’t care what you say because they aren’t. There just is no argument. Sure they are smooth as hell compared to other Android devices but iOS smooth they are not. That is because Apple sets the UI animation renderings as the priority for the CPU/GPU which makes them incredibly smooth. That smoothness conveys quality. Project Butter is Google’s answer to that and while I can’t quite say that they have matched that smoothness, they definitely succeeded in conveying that same finished product level of UI quality that iOS devices have. They do this with a combination of significantly smoother scrolling, great app opening animations, and various other tweaks throughout the system. Bottom line is- it’s awesome.
Now a lot of people, myself included, complained about Google’s choice to use more or less a phone UI for the Nexus 7 instead of the standard ICS tablet UI. I was very disappointed when I found out, that’s for sure. But I decided that Google made a conscious decision to do this, and that I needed to trust them so I went into it with an open mind. Now, my biggest complaint about the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus was the UI. I absolutely hated it. I’m not referring to the Touchwiz modifications that they made, but the actual Honeycomb UI design choices that still showed through. It just didn’t work on the 7” form factor, at least not for me. I am happy to report that the hybrid phone/tablet UI that Google decided to use on the Nexus 7 not only works, but does so famously. Long story short, any disappointment I had about it was quickly washed away when I started using it. It just makes sense to me now to use the phone UI here. Everything is within reach, nothing is cluttered, no buttons are too small making them hard to press, and I think it looks beautiful. My only complaint is that Google locked the homescreen UI to portrait mode only, but that is easily remedied by installing a 3rd part launcher like Nova.
Now, where I think Android really needs to pick up the slack is with their tablet-optimized app selections. iOS simply blows Android out of the water here. A tablet is really only as good as the apps that can run on it and the apps alone make the iPad the best tablet out there. The nice thing here, is that since the Nexus 7 is a 7” tablet, it can handle tablet optimized apps AND phone apps and make it seem like they were all designed to specifically for this size screen. Quite frankly, it’s awesome and it makes a HUGE difference. When I am using an app that was only designed for phone on the N7, it doesn’t feel like there is any compromise. This right here opens up a whole world of apps that while are a pain to use on a 10” tablet, they are great on the 7” one. With the N7 we get the best of both worlds.
The main reason why I got this thing was for gaming. Aside from browsing the web whilst sitting in the throne room, my iPad is used almost exclusively for games. The problem is, it’s just way too big for some. Playing a first person shooter like NOVA 3 or Modern Combat 3 is just way too cumbersome on a 10” tablet. On a 7” tablet, it’s flat out perfect. I have been waiting for a great 7” gaming tablet to come along and I couldn’t be happier with this thing. Right now, some of my favorite games just don’t run on it, like NOVA 3, but others do and they are AWESOME to play on this bad oscar. The Tegra HD games like Shadowgun look flat out gorgeous here and the fact that the screen isn’t massive makes them a joy to play. Most of the games I have played so far have run incredibly smoothly here, and it is obvious that the Tegra 3 was built with gaming in mind.
One thing I haven’t touched on so far is the battery life. I’m on the fence with it. It seems like the battery drops faster than I was expecting it too, but I have only had it for 24 hours and that just isn’t long enough for me to give an accurate review of it. If I am just swiping through the screens it seems to hold pretty well, but as soon as I start browsing the web or playing games the battery seems to drop fairly quickly. I have yet to run this thing through a complete cycle so I dunno. Google states that we should be getting about 8 hours out of it with “active use” and that seems fairly accurate, as long as that “active use” isn’t 8 hours of straight Shadowgunning because I promise you it won’t make it that long.
So that about sums up what I have taken from this thing in the 24 hours that I’ve owned it. I am thoroughly impressed with what Google and ASUS have done here and I amn FINALLY a fan of Android in the tablet world. Do I think it is better than the iPad? Nope, not at all. Do I think it is as good as the iPad, in an apples to oranges sort of way? Absolutely. Do I think it is the best Android tablet to date? Without a doubt. Is it worth the $200-$250? Don’t be stupid, of course it is. The bottom line is, if you have been waiting to pull the trigger on an Android tablet like I was, this is the tablet to get. It simply cannot be beat for the price.
I know I left some things out here so feel free to ask any questions that you may have.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nusairh said:
whoa.. such a big review with such small fonts on my pc. i'll read it only on my GN7
for the time being, you should upload a video review on youtube. I'd love to see that dude.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm planning on doing a video review later. Too hungover to do it now lol
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium
Excellent review! I also have always known that Android has had a tough time competing with the iPad which has definitely dominated the market for multiple reasons. I still have my iPad 2 and will use the Nexus 7 solely for the week and if I don't miss the iPad it will be sold at the end of the week. Right now after having it for around 8 hours I couldn't be happier, but I will see if I miss any iOS apps.
Screen is great and really loving the 7" form factor. I use my iPad exclusively in portrait mode and do so with the Nexus as well and it works great!
Sent from my Nexus 7
Haha thnx for the review bud, I pre ordered from play store so lord knows when I'll see mine lol
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium
Skillz1318 said:
Excellent review! I also have always known that Android has had a tough time competing with the iPad which has definitely dominated the market for multiple reasons. I still have my iPad 2 and will use the Nexus 7 solely for the week and if I don't miss the iPad it will be sold at the end of the week. Right now after having it for around 8 hours I couldn't be happier, but I will see if I miss any iOS apps.
Screen is great and really loving the 7" form factor. I use my iPad exclusively in portrait mode and do so with the Nexus as well and it works great!
Sent from my Nexus 7
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
One thing I know for sure is that my iPad will se a significant drop in usage now that I have the Nexus 7. I used to think that the iPad was the perfect size for a tablet, now I'm not so sure. I am in absolute love with the N7 and I know it's not just a honeymoon thing. The size of the N7 is sooooo much more convenient than the iPad and is way more comfortable to hold. Like you said though it's all those awesome iOS apps that I will probably miss and for that reason I will not get rid of my iPad (especially because of Land Sear Air Warfare, what an AMAZING game) but for sure the N7 is going to become my primary tablet.
Wait no pics?
Sent from my EVO 4G LTE
Excellent review, awaiting for mine to arrive and stalking these threads to assure me that my purchase is justified.
Sent from my GT-P7510 using xda app-developers app
david279 said:
Wait no pics?
Sent from my EVO 4G LTE
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pretty sure everyone knows what they look like by now.
_MetalHead_ said:
One thing I know for sure is that my iPad will se a significant drop in usage now that I have the Nexus 7. I used to think that the iPad was the perfect size for a tablet, now I'm not so sure. I am in absolute love with the N7 and I know it's not just a honeymoon thing. The size of the N7 is sooooo much more convenient than the iPad and is way more comfortable to hold. Like you said though it's all those awesome iOS apps that I will probably miss and for that reason I will not get rid of my iPad (especially because of Land Sear Air Warfare, what an AMAZING game) but for sure the N7 is going to become my primary tablet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I definitely prefer 7", but like you said will see if the iOS apps sway me back to the "dark side".
Any issues with dead pixels or screen flicker? Others are having some complaints
AtropineNa said:
Any issues with dead pixels or screen flicker? Others are having some complaints
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, aside from the minor complaints I talked about in the review, the screen is perfect. No image retention "problems" either.
Nice review
I'm trying to decide between the Xoom and the Nexus 7.
Both are the same price and each have their pros and cons so not an easy decision. Especially since I already have a 5.3" Note in my pocket.
Decisions, decisions.
Any advice?
Cheers
K1LLER HORNET said:
Nice review
I'm trying to decide between the Xoom and the Nexus 7.
Both are the same price and each have their pros and cons so not an easy decision. Especially since I already have a 5.3" Note in my pocket.
Decisions, decisions.
Any advice?
Cheers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Honestly, I really don't like the Xoom in the slightest. I played with one again today and it reminded me about how much I hated it. The screen is pretty crappy, the thing is heavy as hell, and performance is terribly sluggish by today's standards. As far as I'm concerned, if you want to go with a 10" tab, the iPad is the only option worth considering. If you want a 7" or just any Android tablet in general, the only one that I can comfortably recommend is the Nexus 7 and that is a wholehearted recommendation. At this point, I don't think anybody should consider buying an Android tablet unless it's an N7 and even then they shouldn't consider it- they should stop wasting time and buy it already
Go with the Nexus 7 man, guaranteed you are going to love it.
_MetalHead_ said:
Honestly, I really don't like the Xoom in the slightest. I played with one again today and it reminded me about how much I hated it. The screen is pretty crappy, the thing is heavy as hell, and performance is terribly sluggish by today's standards. As far as I'm concerned, if you want to go with a 10" tab, the iPad is the only option worth considering. If you want a 7" or just any Android tablet in general, the only one that I can comfortably recommend is the Nexus 7 and that is a wholehearted recommendation. At this point, I don't think anybody should consider buying an Android tablet unless it's an N7 and even then they shouldn't consider it- they should stop wasting time and buy it already
Go with the Nexus 7 man, guaranteed you are going to love it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cheers, thanks for the info.
I recently sold my 64GB iPad 2.
Won't be going back to Apple. Good app selection but can't stand how they operate.
Just seen a review of the the Xoom's screen, pretty poor to say the least. Simply terrible viewing angles.
I think I'll take your recommendation and stick with my N7 pre-order :good:
Can't wait.
Thanks again
K1LLER HORNET said:
Cheers, thanks for the info.
I recently sold my 64GB iPad 2.
Won't be going back to Apple. Good app selection but can't stand how they operate.
Just seen a review of the the Xoom's screen, pretty poor to say the least. Simply terrible viewing angles.
I think I'll take your recommendation and stick with my N7 pre-order :good:
Can't wait.
Thanks again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I hate the way Apple operates but I love the hardware and the game selections. No way can I get rid of my iPad.
No review can fully convey just how bad the Xoom's screen is. Especially if you are coming from an iPad, you will HATE it.
Picked mine up & am VERY happy w/ every aspect of this device. Hopefully the Dev community embraces the N7 and pump out ROMs / kernels etc
Good read OP. Just pre ordered from gamestop earlier.
Sent from my PG86100 using xda app-developers app
I'll add that the Nexus 7 will be a secondary tablet for me. The lack of an internal memory card slot, hdmi port, a rear camera (with flash), and other things relegate this to a part time toy. My Acer A500 is my workhorse. It has 80gb memory, reads barcodes, has the real estate big enough to read schematics at work, and has 2 USB ports... one full-size.
Don't get me wrong, I'll get a LOT of use from my Nexus, but not for work, not for on a trip where I want to display media on a projector or flatscreen... essentially, not for serious use. It's going to be a great reader, great for streaming, great for browsing, etc.
I now have a choice of viewing options- a 4.3" screen on my Razr Maxx, a 7" screen on my Nexus 7, and a 10.1" screen on my Acer A500. There's been times I wanted a larger second device with me, but the Acer (especially with the case) was just too damned bulky. This opens a lot of options. And, yes, it does fit in a pocket when you're wearing cargo pants
I don't know dude, almost sounded like the only thing you liked about it is the price (and the form factor, but that will be a non issue once iPad mini comes out).
Most of the time your review almost sounded sarcastic, like your using this review to reiterate how awesome your iPad is ..."Yeah, I like so and so about n7, it still sucks compared to my glorious iPad, but it's cheaper, so I'll pretend it's fine".
As for your so-called "facts" about one thing being better than another, you might wanna start substituting "facts" with "in my opinion", coz there is such a thing as personal preference.
Sent from my Full AOSP on Toro-VZW using xda app-developers app

Should I buy this tablet?

I have been contemplating buying this tablet for a couple days after a friend suggested it to me. I have been doing extensive research on the tablet and quite like it as whole but, some things that annoy be about the tablet is:
- Colour Saturation
The colours just aren't as lively as I would like but I guess you could get used to that..still quite a disappointment.
- Up scaled games and apps
Games and apps on the playstore are up scaled for the resolution of the tablet obviously...and this really annoys me because the quality goes down and also a lot of the apps aren't well optimised for the android OS and such.
I have been doing a lot of comparisons between the iPad mini and this tablet and I am mostly leaning towards this tablet but at the same time I think I would probably get the iPad mini if it had the retina display or had a much tighter price gap between the nexus and itself.
The main thing that annoys me is the colours, if that wasn't a problem then I wouldn't even be making this thread, is there any hack or something that a dev created that could possibly tweak these things and make it better?
Basically, the main thing I want to gain from this thread is making a decision to get the nexus 7 or the iPad Mini..
I want to make this decision based on your opinions and experiences and your own decision on which one you think would be better...money aside.
Also, I want to ask as a last question if you think I should wait for the nexus 7" 2 that is rumored to be announced at the dev conference somewhere in may...also do you think there will be a big price difference between the nexus 7" 2 and the normal one.
Thanks.
tl;dr
iPad mini or Nexus 7 or wait for the Nexus 7" 2 to be rumored to be coming out in may. Some problems with the nexus is colours and proper app support and optimisation which could be annoying. Give your opinion on the matter...money aside.
Well honestly, colour saturation on this device isn't to bad. I've had no complaints with the screen at all. And from what I know, the nexus 7 is closer to retina display than the iPad mini. There are actually a lot of apps that look very nice on this device. I'd really recommend getting an Nexus 7. As I made the same decision between iPad mini and n7, I do not regret it
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
I also holded back with buying it.
I'm happy that I did in the end!
Go for it.
You need to stop listening to and believing everything Apple say. It's rarely true.
Games and apps certainly aren't all upscaled phone versions. The majority of the popular apps you will use all have tablet layouts in them.
The bit that Apple don't mention, is that this means you only buy the app once, not twice... I wonder why they forgot to mention that........
Colour saturation is also another myth spread about to try and discredit the Nexus7, which spanks the iPad Mini on specs, performance features and price... If you really want a differentiator, then look at the screens between the ipad mini and the N7. The N7 is miles better, not only in resolution.
The iPad Mini is an out of date shrunk down iPad2, a rushed out answer to the N7, still hobbled by Apple's fixed ratio 4:3 fat panel format.
CrazyPeter said:
You need to stop listening to and believing everything Apple say. It's rarely true.
Games and apps certainly aren't all upscaled phone versions. The majority of the popular apps you will use all have tablet layouts in them.
The bit that Apple don't mention, is that this means you only buy the app once, not twice... I wonder why they forgot to mention that........
Colour saturation is also another myth spread about to try and discredit the Nexus7, which spanks the iPad Mini on specs, performance features and price... If you really want a differentiator, then look at the screens between the ipad mini and the N7. The N7 is miles better, not only in resolution.
The iPad Mini is an out of date shrunk down iPad2, a rushed out answer to the N7, still hobbled by Apple's fixed ratio 4:3 fat panel format.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well said that man.:good:
Go for it, you wont be dissapointed
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
I honestly haven't noticed anything bad about the screen.
Sent from my MB612 using xda app-developers app
I know people...a few....that after owning an ipad.....got the nexus 7 next. They were very happy!
Tho.....Steve job's ghost haunts them now and won't leave them alone!!!!!
Sent from my cell phone telephone....
I have no idea what kind of unbiased answers you're looking for from a N7 enthusiast forum... These kinds of threads are stupid. Just compare the two devices yourself to make your own judgement.
I like technology, and although I can't be unbiased (I have nexus 7), I'll try to give my as-fair-as-possible opinion here:
Reasons I would go for nexus 7 and not iPad mini:
- ecosystem - if you already have android phone, all those apps will simply work
- great bang for the buck - you get a lot for your 250
- amazing high res. screen with 16:10 aspect ratio. And as soon as you disable the stupid "tegra dimmer battery saver", the colours are as good as on any other high end tablet. Aspect ratio great for movies/TV shows.
- android is really good at being the latest in terms of software. There is always something new happening: new roms, new updates, new cool apps.
- Google now, notifications, multitasking.. as mentioned, android feels fresh while iOS is pretty much outdated by today's standards.
Reasons I would go for iPad mini and not nexus 7:
- gaming. The combination of pretty average gpu (tegra 3) and lack of proper optimization from many games (all gameloft, many ea games) makes nexus 7 only an average gaming machine. iPad mini, on the other hand, runs everything with full graphics and much higher framerate, despite being "iPad 2" hardware.
- larger screen and 4:3 aspect ratio. Yes, it has lower resolution, but larger size. This works well for things like reading or browsing, esp. if you are comfortable holding the tablet further away from face. Also 4:3 is, imo, better for these things. However, movies and TV shows will be significantly worse due to lower resolution and 4:3 aspect ratio.
- Apple ecosystem - if you already have an iphone, many apps will simply work.
- looks. iPad mini is honestly the sexiest tablet I've ever held. It is much thinner and lighter than Nexus 7. And the smaller bezel size looks really good. I'm not saying nexus 7 is ugly - but iPad mini is much better looking. (also don't listen to ppl claiming that the small bezel makes it impossible to hold the device in one hand without touching the screen. I tried it a lot, and never had a problem with accidentally touching something with my thumb.)
\\edit:
BTW, in CNET's prize fight of Nexus 7 vs iPad Mini, Nexus 7 won. I was shocked, CNET was always very biased towards Apple products..
Just go a buy the damn thing you want!!
If you want an ipad mini made from ipad 2 junk scraps it's up to you but i got a nexus 7 and am the happiest guy there is (tablet speaking ).
Yes it's an awesome tablet.
I bought it as a stop gap till the nexus 10 showed up, now I don't feel like I need a nexus 10 no more.
The nexus 7 is so handy size wise. It's perfect.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Nexus 7
The iPad mini does have better color saturation and the most apps. It also probably has better gaming performance. If those things matter to you then get the mini and pay about $100 more.
If open source software and the idea that software should be free as in free to use it how you see fit then I think the Nexus 7 is it. The screen is awesome. I have seen the two side by side and the apple looks better color wise but the resolution on the N7 is awesome. Also looking at it daily I have never thought the colors were bad.
The amount of things you can do and the amount of customization you get is unequal to anything else. Updates are super fast as well. For the price I simply do not see any reason to own anything else. The apps on android work great and most have updated to tablet scaling. There is an app for everything I need and google navigation is the best.
I think Google is a better company than apple for several reasons. They sold this device at cost and develop their software in an open source ecosystem not locked down and proprietary. Sure they want your personal data but rooting and custom roms will solve that. The other thing is the hardware is the best you can get for the cost while Apple sells it's hardware for a premium and usually cripples the device or gives outdated hardware so as soon as you buy your device is outdated forcing you to continually upgrade and buy a new device. Designed obsolescence is Apple's business model. They certainly make good products and good software but their business tactics are worse than Microsoft.
I guess I still have a bad taste from buying a powerpc iBook right before the intel versions came out and the salesperson telling me that they will support powerpc for years and at least two OS versions. Not even a month later intel came out and my iBook was junk. Sure a few months it was good but after that, after Leopard I was stuck with a perfectly good machine but no support. Flash forget it. Oh well that was then. Now I want hardware that is not tied into software. I will only buy Nexus tablets from now on because of the updates and mods. I will only buy Windows pc's so I can choose windows or Linux. I have a friend with a mcbook pro from 08 and no hdmi?? A macbook pro!! My old $500 2007 gateway laptop has an hdmi output??
Enough of my rant. I like Apple products but I just know it is a money drain and no freedom. Other than that they just work great
R
Without a doubt.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD
iPad mini is good...for sheeple
Just kidding about the Sheeple comment. I like Apple hardware, just not their software and proprietary, curated ecosystem.
The Nexus 7 is thicker and heavier than an iPad mini, and the colors aren't as bright, but I like it a lot compared to an iPad mini because:
1. It's something different than what other people around me already have (apple devices).
2. I prefer to support free or ad-supported software. Google Play seems a bit less commercial than the iTunes store, and that appeals to me somehow.
3. Better customization with android over iOS, ability to root, try different ROMS
4. Much less expensive than iPad mini. I won't be out a lot of cash when/if I upgrade in a year or so
5. I hate iTunes. iTunes is bloatware that never does what I want: simply move files back and forth and organize them how I want. Lock me out of my own device, and move and rename all 1,500 of my music files without warning? I don't like being locked into one single software option for managing my own data files.
6. Works great as an eReader with the Calibre desktop program and a lot of eReading software like Moon+reader, FBreader, Kindle reader, Aldiko, etc., and I can also sync my books and comics between Android devices with these programs. Calibre works so much better than other programs I've tried.
7. My whole life is on Gmail, Google calendar, and so on. Why not go all in with Google?​
To me, it feels like Apple and it's flunky iTunes is like some kind of bandit gang guarding the bridge to the internet and customer data, shaking down travelers.
Apple makes excellent, although overpriced hardware, and then tries to restrict how I use it with iTunes, and that doesn't even do what I want. Android offers way more options.
I've had The N7 for about a week now and it's been great, I haven't come across one app that didn't have a tablet UI. Of course the extent of my testing with it was downloading a bunch of free games and playing them for a few minutes. On the color saturation note, i don't see anything wrong with it, I watch quite a bit of anime and colors look vibrant.
robbbzilla said:
I think Google is a better company than apple for several reasons. They sold this device at cost and develop their software in an open source ecosystem not locked down and proprietary. Sure they want your personal data but rooting and custom roms will solve that.
R
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The main thing about this quote that I noticed is how you said that google takes my info. I wanted to ask you about in rooting and custom roms would I need to customise a setting of some sorts to enable that or does it do it automatically?
I am getting a nexus 7 guys btw. Made my final decision and I think it is a pretty good one, so yeh haha
The main thing I dislike about my Nexus 7 is the colors being too bright.
For instance, the Tapatalk app has a tan/yellowish background with black text. On my iPad and other Android devices it's a medium shade of tan/yellow. Fairly easy to read text. On my Nexus 7 it's a very light tan/yellow, and also the text does not seem to be a dark black. Very difficult to read text. I rarely use the TapaTalk app on my Nexus 7 because of this. I wind up using my other devices.
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 2
cdf3 said:
The main thing I dislike about my Nexus 7 is the colors being too bright.
For instance, the Tapatalk app has a tan/yellowish background with black text. On my iPad and other Android devices it's a medium shade of tan/yellow. Fairly easy to read text. On my Nexus 7 it's a very light tan/yellow, and also the text does not seem to be a dark black. Very difficult to read text. I rarely use the TapaTalk app on my Nexus 7 because of this. I wind up using my other devices.
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oo I don't have that. the colours are really nice here..
I'm using the N7 especially for reading and xda. Since I have it, I'm using the phone only for texting and messaging..
I love everything about this tab x)
Sent from my Nexus7.
Buy it. I bought it twice because a month after selling it for the N10 I missed its small form factor when I'm out on the road. For the price and size it is the perfect take a long planner, gps, mp3 player, gaming device and movie player etc. I love my N10 but it is awkward to carry along to appointments, use in the car, train etc.
Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk HD

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