New Nexus 7 is the best 7-inch tablet that money ... - PC World

Thinner, lighter and more powerful than its predecessor unit easily outperforms direct competitors like the iPad Mini, and costs less.

The first

Nexus 7 was a good deal: a tablet good enough for a great price. But the new Nexus 7 is a real “business in China.” It is the best tablet with 7-inch screen, period. A Google redefined what a tablet low cost, a term no longer refers only to devices of less than $ 200 and dubious quality. Now it is possible for a sophisticated tablet with a high-definition screen, wireless charging, quad-core processor and 2 GB of RAM for only $ 229 (U.S. price, the Wi-Fi model 16GB).

The new Nexus 7 is more than just the next “standard Android” Google. It is a new attempt to do what should have been done right the first time. The search giant, with its nearly ubiquitous Android ecosystem, finally entered the tablet market “Premium”.

Easier to handle, faster than ever before

The first thing I noticed on the new Nexus 7 is that, despite it sharing the name with its predecessor, is a completely different product. The old model looks “old fashioned” when placed next to this new “toy”.

The new Nexus 7 is easier to hold, thanks to edges that are thinner 3 mm on each side of the screen, so you can hold it comfortably in one hand while you use the other to keep standing in the subway on the way to work. And thanks to improved ergonomics, it is also much easier to use it with one hand.

Google abandoned the Nvidia Tegra 3 processor, replaced by a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core processor running at 1.5 GHz If the name sounds familiar, it’s because it’s the same processor used in the Nexus 4, a smartphone produced for Google by LG. The Nexus 7 certainly seems much faster than its predecessor, games and apps open quickly and switch between apps, or between Google Now and the home screen is instantaneous.

^{The new Nexus 7 is thinner and lighter than the previous model.
design is more sober, without the chrome border}

According to the new Google Nexus 7 has a battery life of up to 9 hours of continuous use with one battery charge. In our tests we managed 8 hours and 47 minutes with a load continuously playing a video in high definition. It is a little less than advertised by Google, but much less than the 10 hours and 12 minutes to the “old” Nexus 7 managed. Although the results are the average of tablets of the same size, it is difficult to make a direct comparison because its main competitors, the Mini iPad and Kindle Fire with 7 “screen is not HD screens.

Finally

Google added a camera to the Nexus 7. And though it is equipped with a 5 MP sensor and certainly capable, you will not want to rely solely on it to record your vacation. The pictures taken with the default camera app in poorly lit environments were too dark, even using the proper way. Made in the best-lit places are good enough to put on the internet but not to record the best days of your life.

^{Photos made with the Nexus 7 look good, but if you look at the details (click to enlarge
) will see a lot of noise, especially dark areas}

Nexus 7 has some other cool features like a USB port supporting SlimPort (allowing direct connection to TVs using an HDMI adapter sold separately), supports wireless charging and NFC to facilitate the exchange of information with other equipment or accessories. The new stereo speakers are also a dramatic improvement. But if you have large hands and secure the device in landscape mode can end up drowning out the sound with his hands, which can be an inconvenience when you’re trying to play a game or watch a movie without headphones.

One annoyance in the new Nexus 7 is that the memory is not expandable, so you will have to opt for the more expensive model, or invest in an online storage service, if you are a fanatic multimedia.

Look this screen

Whether your home is dark or too bright on the train, the LCD IPS 1200 x 1920 pixels (323 ppi) is impressive. I was amazed to see a screen of this caliber on a device that costs less than $ 250. The resolution provides crystal-clear text in apps like the Kindle and the screen brightness is higher than the last model, although the colors are a bit over-saturated.

^{The screen of the new Nexus 7 is exceptional, no matter from which angle you look at it}

Overall, thanks to design slimmer and brighter and crisper screen, liked to read more on the new Nexus 7 than the previous model.

Better than all the others.

If you take into account only the technical specifications, the iPad Mini will have much work ahead. Your processor is less powerful than the one used in the Nexus 7 and it has only 512 MB of RAM, 2 GB device against Google, a major difference in the time of multitasking. The Mini’s screen is larger than the Nexus 7 and has a different ratio but has lower resolution, which gives the advantage to Google. And while an iPad Mini 16GB costs $ 329, the Nexus 7 costs $ 239, and the version with 32 GB of memory costs only $ 30 more. The only advantage of Apple in this comparison is a superior collection of apps optimized for tablets. The Google Play store is full of apps, but few are made to take advantage of screens 7 “or more.

^{comparison screens: iPad Mini (left), the original Nexus 7 (center) and new Nexus 7 (right)}

first with Android 4.3

Nexus 7 is the first device family Nexus launched with Android 4.3, a version of “incremental” system with features such as OpenGL ES 3.0 (for more sophisticated graphics in games), Bluetooth 4.0 LE (with accessories for communication with low power consumption) and the ability to restrict the apps and features available to the user accounts. This feature can be especially useful for those who want to share a single tablet with multiple family members.

Google is trying to remedy the situation of apps for tablets with a dedicated section for them on Google Play. And as the Nexus 7 is a “Nexus” will be among the first to receive OS updates, then you do not need to worry about fragmentation or “get back” to the extent that the Android evolves.

Verdict

Nexus 7 second generation offers good features at an affordable price. If you’re already a user “veteran” of tablets, the decision to buy or not this device depends on how you’re built to the Google ecosystem. Still, this tablet can face any other tablet with 7-inch screen currently on the market and will not weigh heavily in your pocket. If you’ve been looking for an Android tablet with 7-inch screen, just to find what I wanted.