The second generation of Google Nexus 7 was expected to be released for about a year. The updated version of this gadget, which appeared on sale in 2013, is still one of the best Android 7-inch tablets in this price category.
At the same time, many hope that the Nexus 7 will be at least a little updated. The original device caused a stir in the tablet market primarily because of its low price. This is despite its latest build and specs, which have led experts to suspect that Google is subsidizing the release of the gadget to encourage more people to opt for Android and purchase more apps, books, music, and movies from their respective digital stores.
The updated Nexus 7 went on sale in the summer of 2013 and proved to be better in many ways than the original version. Although it costs more, it still justifies its price even now, almost two years later.
Nexus 7 looks
The design and assembly of the device of both generations has not changed. The new Nexus 7 looks very similar to the original, but if you compare both models, within seconds of taking them out of the box, you can tell that the differences are obvious. The new device is thinner and lighter, its thickness isonly 8.7 mm, and the weight is 290 grams.
Oddly enough, much more important are the few millimeters that have been reduced in width. This change in size makes the new tablet much easier to hold in one hand. The vast majority of competing 7-inch tablets, including TescoHudl, Amazon Kindle and Advent VegaTegra, are noticeably wider when held upright. This is enough to make the gadget uncomfortable when you want to stick out your thumb and grab both sides.
Unlike the above devices, the Nexus 7 tablet is taller, which makes it look more like an oversized smartphone. In fact, the device is not much larger than the popular Nokia Lumia 1520 or Sony Xperia Z Ultra phones.
In addition, the Google Nexus 7 has a silver stripe running along the edge of the tablet, while the rest of the design is in black. Buttons and ports are placed on the device in the same way as on the previous model, but the back of the case has a smooth surface that feels soft to the touch. This is not very convenient - it can become significantly dirty after a while, and it is not particularly easy to clean.
Two major design changes that stand out right away are the stereo speakers, which are now placed around the edges of the tablet for better sound, and the addition of an LED notification below the screen.
Excellent build quality has been maintained - there are no unwanted gaps in the case or wobbly buttons. The only thing that can be noted as a disadvantage -the absence of such high-quality materials as aluminum in the composition of the case. However, this is normal for a device in this price range.
Nexus 7 - screen and controls
The highlight of the Nexus 7 is its amazing screen. The 7-inch IPS display is slightly curved at the top and has a resolution of 1280x800 to 1920x1200 pixels, which can reach a maximum density of 323 ppi. Thanks to these characteristics, it can be called the best device with a seven-inch screen currently available. For example, the RETINA display on the iPad Mini 2 has more pixels, but they spread over a larger area, so they are less dense.
The tablet is equipped with a 1.5GHz quad-core Krait processor (Snapdragon S4 Pro) and doubled RAM to 2GB.
Users may be disappointed that the Android Nexus 7 still has 16GB or 32GB built-in storage and still doesn't come with a microSD card slot (thus no room for storage expansion). It's one of the few downsides to this tablet, but you'll still get twice as much storage as the first generation iPad Mini (which is vastly superior in price).
While you have to pay extra for the extra 16 GB of storage, it's worth it, especially if you plan to install a lot of applications, record a lot of photos and videos, and store a collection of music and movies on the Nexus 7.
Unlike some Android devices, this tablet does nothas an infrared port and you won't be able to use the Nexus 7 as a TV remote control. However, you get dual-band 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 LE (Low Energy), GPS, NFC, and Qi wireless charging (you'll need to buy a separate compatible wireless charger for that). If all the above characteristics suit you, the Nexus 7's affordable price - about $ 200 - should not be an obstacle to buying a device.
In addition, the gadget is equipped with front and rear cameras - the first is a 1.2-megapixel autofocus webcam, the second is similar to a 5-megapixel camera. Also available on Nexus 7 LTE.
Software
Nexus 7 was originally released with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean software and then received an update to 4.4 KitKat (a few months later). Many users expected to see Android 5.0 ("lime pie") on this device, but at present this has not happened. It is possible that Google will make such an update for the Nexus 7, even if it improves the Nexus 8 and subsequent models. At the same time, the KitKat version is a completely modern and perfect OS for a tablet, giving users great opportunities.
So the KitKat distribution brought some pretty significant differences with it - Nexus 7 now doesn't have a transparent status bar or opaque background on the Apps screen.
Most of the updates are for Android solutions that make the platform easier to use. For example, you can now access settings from the quick launch bar when you swipe down from the top right corner. Another addition is the Pay feature, which uses built-in NFC to make purchases.
Many of the features of the OS are designed for developers, so the new full-screen mode only works in applications that have been updated. For example, Google apps use the entire screen, while Kindle and similar products work the old way. Therefore, in some cases, a new Nexus 7 firmware may be required.
With the advent of Android 4.3, user profiles have been introduced. This extension allows you to have multiple user accounts on the same device. From each of the user profiles, you can autonomously manage the applications and content that is available in your account. This innovation will certainly be appreciated by those who allow children to use the tablet, as it will avoid accidental purchase, use of paid applications or access to content with inappropriate content.
As you'd expect, factory reset will get you all Google apps preloaded and activated, including the branded online store.
Picture Features
Any data looks great on a Full HD screen. Since the gadget has an IPS panel, all viewing angles are excellent, the contrast is quite sharp, and the colors are vibrant. The screen surface is presented in the form of a Corning Gorilla Glass coating, which is very durable and reliable, allowing it to withstandprolonged daily use of the device. In practice, the six-month-old device still looks like new.
The touch screen is very easy to operate and responsive. There are no delays when clicking on buttons or links. In addition, the click response is very accurate - you can click on the links in the list without making them larger. The screen is also ideal for watching videos thanks to its wide aspect ratio.
Dynamics and sound quality
A quad-core processor coupled with the latest version of Android means the Nexus 7 tablet is extremely fast and accurate. It loads faster than most similar devices, in about 30 seconds.
Web browsing is very fast and without delay. Any content from the Internet loads very quickly, even if several windows are open. In addition, by default, the Chrome browser installed on the device usually loads the second page in the background (if you open the contents of several websites at the same time). Thus, when moving from one window to another, you do not need to waste time waiting for loading, everything happens synchronously.
Battery and run time
Oddly enough, the Nexus 7 version has a smaller battery than its predecessor, 3,950 mAh compared to 4, 326 mAh (and 15 Wh versus 16 Wh, respectively). However, Google claims an additional hour of "heavy use", which means the tablet is expected to workmore than nine hours without recharging. In testing, the Nexus 7 (device charging) runs smoothly for 8 hours and 47 minutes on a single charge while watching locally stored HD video. This is a good result, especially compared to other 7-inch devices.
Like most tablets, this gadget charges very quickly even if you use it while charging. When powered off, it takes just over 3.5 hours for a full charge (from fully discharged to 100 percent charged).
However, the Nexus 7 has one major downside in terms of battery power - if you leave it on standby for a few days, it runs out pretty quickly. This will happen even if the device is only receiving emails and other notifications using Wi-Fi.
Nexus 7 camera and photography specs
Nexus 7 comes standard with two cameras instead of just one. The front one has a capacity of 1.2 MP (as in the previous version of the device), the newly introduced rear camera with a capacity of 5 MP is equipped with autofocus, but does not have a flash. While tablets aren't ideal for use as cameras, the small size of the Nexus 7 makes it easy to capture photos and videos.
However, the quality of the photos will be far from ideal. It is possible to successfully take photographs outdoors and in good light - the resulting images willgood enough to share online. However, high-quality collages are unlikely to be created. When trying to process photos in Photoshop, the images will contain a lot of noise. For example, in a landscape photo, the blue sky will be clearly visible, while at the same time, the shadow areas will have many color defects and blackouts.
Autofocus and white balance do not always work 100%, especially with moving subjects (eg children) - such images are almost always blurry. Also, the camera is not equipped with an HDR option.
Video quality and features
Videos can be shot at up to 1080p resolution for crisp, clear videos, especially if you hold your Nexus 7 firmly and steadily while shooting. However, panning the footage can create unwanted "jerky" effects in the image. Brightness and sharpness settings are perfectly acceptable as long as you keep your tablet in a comfortable position and don't change it while shooting. In addition, you can simultaneously create photos while recording a video by tapping the screen.
The tablet has two additional functions - "Panorama" and "Photosphere". The former lets you capture a panoramic image if you rotate your tablet slowly, while the latter lets you capture a full 360-degree picture that you can scroll (including up and down) in the saved video. However, to use these functions, you must hold the device in one position, nottilting and not moving it in your hands, and the distance to the subject must be at least a meter (to obtain acceptable results).
Conclusion and summary
Even though Nexus 7 was released a long time ago, it remains a very popular device. Of course, there will be users who are not happy with the use of this device and its features. But it is worth noting that all the main and additional functions that the gadget is equipped with work in full force and provide extensive opportunities.
The tablet has a great screen, long battery life (with the caveat that if you leave it idle it will last 2-3 days), excellent performance and high build quality.
It's not the cheapest device, but you get exactly what you pay for. If you want to save money, you will become the owner of a device with much fewer features and capabilities. Compared to the Nexus 7, whose price in Russia does not exceed $200, Chinese knockoffs may be cheaper.
The tablet is ideal for reading books and working with applications in a new full-screen mode. This means the status bar won't distract you from playing, working or reading. In addition, the screen of the device is ideal for watching videos and TV programs, both online and saved files. Other than that, the stereo speakers produce decent sound quality.
Because the weight of the device is 290 grams, you can freely hold it inhand for a couple of hours without feeling tired. Also, the tablet has a very modest size, allowing it to fit in the pocket of a backpack or a small bag. Since the device is compact, you can easily pick up a stylish Nexus 7 case.
Flaws
The disadvantage of the device is the lack of a microSD slot for adding memory and storing large amounts of content. However, the microUSB port used for charging can be used in conjunction with a USB cable. This means that you can attach a flash drive with the content you want (for example, high quality movies). This method may not seem very convenient, but this is the only way to use bulk data. Similarly, you can purchase a compatible cable to provide HDMI output, which will also solve the problem of connecting additional drives.
Another point of disappointment with the Nexus 7 is the camera capabilities. It produces acceptable photos and videos, but is nothing special and won't achieve excellent photo quality. Another circumstance to keep in mind is that Nexus 7 repairs can be difficult, especially if you live in a small city, since this model is not widely used in Russia. For this reason, specialists may not have information regarding the gadget device and may not have replacement parts available.
