Nexus 7 is still the budget tablet to beat
Google's updated tablet adds a rear-facing camera, stereo speakers and a faster processor. At $229 to start, there's a lot to like here if you're in the market for a handy tablet.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
NEW YORK — Last July I declared Google's $199 (on up) Nexus 7 tablet the "budget tablet to beat." A year later there's a thinner, lighter, zippier and, at $229 to start, more expensive Nexus 7. Despite the somewhat higher tab and a battery I found disappointing under a harsh test, it's still the tablet you're going to want to buy for the price. That is at least until it is pre-empted by the next hot young thing that comes along in an industry that fairly regularly produces hot young things.
If rumors are to be believed, you'll hear from the usual suspects in the coming weeks and months, a list sure to include Apple (iPad Mini) and Amazon (Kindle Fire HD).
If you're in the market today there is a lot to like in Google's latest tablet, which as with the original Nexus 7 is made by Taiwanese manufacturer Asus. The differences between the first and second generation are evident once you place one right next to the other and before you even turn them on. The new model is an edge taller than its predecessor but noticeably thinner, and it weighs in at just over 10 ounces vs. about 12 ounces before. It has a smooth back compared with a rubberized back with small dimples on the original. And it has a more solid feel. Alas, my test unit on the latest Nexus already shows a nasty scratch on the rear.
Held straight up, the Nexus name is etched onto the back of the tab, vertically this time compared with last year's tablet where the name appears horizontally.
You'll also notice a rear-facing (5-megapixel) camera on the new Nexus to complement the front-facing 1.2-megapixel camera. The earlier Nexus only had a front camera.
The latest model also adds stereo speakers (also visible on the rear) that were missing on version No. 1. And the new Nexus incorporates surround-sound technology that is powered by Fraunhofer, the folks responsible for creating the MP3.
The speakers and sound, while certainly good enough for listening to music or watching a movie, did not blow me away. They pale next to the louder and sweeter-sounding speakers on the similar-size Amazon Kindle Fire HD.
What I did find impressive on the Nexus 7 is the high-definition screen, which in techie terms provides a resolution of 1920 by 1200 with 323 pixels-per-inch, a measure of sharpness. It also has excellent viewing angles. Previously, the Nexus numbers were 1280 by 800 with 216 ppi, same as the Kindle Fire HD.
Meanwhile, the screen on Apple's iPad Mini, while nice, is no match for the new Nexus, either. It has a 1024 by 768 resolution, with 163 ppi. And the Mini still commands a $100 premium. I would expect Apple to counter with a better screen Mini to come in the fall, perhaps a model with the company's ballyhooed Retina display.
Nexus 7 has beefed up other specs. Inside is a fast quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor. The entry-level $229 Nexus 7 comes with 16 gigabytes of internal storage and 2GB of memory, double the originals. A step-up $269 model gives you 32 GB of storage. Neither comes with expandable storage. A third $349 version, expected in the coming weeks, adds 4G LTE wireless to a model with 32GB of storage. What's more, you'll be able to choose your cellular provider among AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless, and if you decide to switch along the way, you don't need to buy a new device. By contrast, a 32 GB iPad Mini with LTE commands $559.
Out of the gate, the Nexus 7 became the first Android device to run version 4.3 of the operating system, which still is known by its nickname Jelly Bean. The first Nexus 7 ran a slightly older version of Jelly Bean, but anyone who bought that device has since been able to update to version 4.3 for free.
The latest version of Jelly Bean represents a fairly modest upgrade, but it does bring better graphics, support for Bluetooth LE (low energy), and a catch-up feature parents will appreciate called "restricted profiles." That means Mom and Dad can cherry-pick the apps that the kids can use within their own profile areas and restrict in-app purchases. But parental controls have already been a staple feature on Kindle Fire and Barnes & Noble Nook tablets.
Android still is behind iOS when it comes to tablet-specific apps, but has it made great strides on that front.
Google says you'll get about nine hours of battery life under normal usage. But the results weren't good in a rigorous test in which I cranked up the brightness all the way and streamed video over Wi-Fi. The battery pooped out after just 4½ hours. You should do better under less harsh circumstances.
While I'd like to see better juice, it's hard to knock the Nexus 7 under most other aspects. Google's terrific budget 7-inch tablet has just gotten better.
NEW YORK — Last July I declared Google's $199 (on up) Nexus 7 tablet the "budget tablet to beat." A year later there's a thinner, lighter, zippier and, at $229 to start, more expensive Nexus 7. Despite the somewhat higher tab and a battery I found disappointing under a harsh test, it's still the tablet you're going to want to buy for the price. That is at least until it is pre-empted by the next hot young thing that comes along in an industry that fairly regularly produces hot young things.
If rumors are to be believed, you'll hear from the usual suspects in the coming weeks and months, a list sure to include Apple (iPad Mini) and Amazon (Kindle Fire HD).
If you're in the market today there is a lot to like in Google's latest tablet, which as with the original Nexus 7 is made by Taiwanese manufacturer Asus. The differences between the first and second generation are evident once you place one right next to the other and before you even turn them on. The new model is an edge taller than its predecessor but noticeably thinner, and it weighs in at just over 10 ounces vs. about 12 ounces before. It has a smooth back compared with a rubberized back with small dimples on the original. And it has a more solid feel. Alas, my test unit on the latest Nexus already shows a nasty scratch on the rear.
Held straight up, the Nexus name is etched onto the back of the tab, vertically this time compared with last year's tablet where the name appears horizontally.
You'll also notice a rear-facing (5-megapixel) camera on the new Nexus to complement the front-facing 1.2-megapixel camera. The earlier Nexus only had a front camera.
The latest model also adds stereo speakers (also visible on the rear) that were missing on version No. 1. And the new Nexus incorporates surround-sound technology that is powered by Fraunhofer, the folks responsible for creating the MP3.
The speakers and sound, while certainly good enough for listening to music or watching a movie, did not blow me away. They pale next to the louder and sweeter-sounding speakers on the similar-size Amazon Kindle Fire HD.
What I did find impressive on the Nexus 7 is the high-definition screen, which in techie terms provides a resolution of 1920 by 1200 with 323 pixels-per-inch, a measure of sharpness. It also has excellent viewing angles. Previously, the Nexus numbers were 1280 by 800 with 216 ppi, same as the Kindle Fire HD.
Meanwhile, the screen on Apple's iPad Mini, while nice, is no match for the new Nexus, either. It has a 1024 by 768 resolution, with 163 ppi. And the Mini still commands a $100 premium. I would expect Apple to counter with a better screen Mini to come in the fall, perhaps a model with the company's ballyhooed Retina display.
Nexus 7 has beefed up other specs. Inside is a fast quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor. The entry-level $229 Nexus 7 comes with 16 gigabytes of internal storage and 2GB of memory, double the originals. A step-up $269 model gives you 32 GB of storage. Neither comes with expandable storage. A third $349 version, expected in the coming weeks, adds 4G LTE wireless to a model with 32GB of storage. What's more, you'll be able to choose your cellular provider among AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless, and if you decide to switch along the way, you don't need to buy a new device. By contrast, a 32 GB iPad Mini with LTE commands $559.
Out of the gate, the Nexus 7 became the first Android device to run version 4.3 of the operating system, which still is known by its nickname Jelly Bean. The first Nexus 7 ran a slightly older version of Jelly Bean, but anyone who bought that device has since been able to update to version 4.3 for free.
The latest version of Jelly Bean represents a fairly modest upgrade, but it does bring better graphics, support for Bluetooth LE (low energy), and a catch-up feature parents will appreciate called "restricted profiles." That means Mom and Dad can cherry-pick the apps that the kids can use within their own profile areas and restrict in-app purchases. But parental controls have already been a staple feature on Kindle Fire and Barnes & Noble Nook tablets.
Android still is behind iOS when it comes to tablet-specific apps, but has it made great strides on that front.
Google says you'll get about nine hours of battery life under normal usage. But the results weren't good in a rigorous test in which I cranked up the brightness all the way and streamed video over Wi-Fi. The battery pooped out after just 4½ hours. You should do better under less harsh circumstances.
While I'd like to see better juice, it's hard to knock the Nexus 7 under most other aspects. Google's terrific budget 7-inch tablet has just gotten better.
0 comments:
Post a Comment