CNET Review:
The good: The Nexus 7's
quad-core Tegra 3 processor delivers fast performance and a beautiful
and responsive screen. At only $200, the Nexus 7 is a
steal.
The bad: The
lack of built-in expandable storage and omission of HDMI are
disappointing, and the design follows the plain, black tablet mold. The
top and bottom bezels are a bit too thick.
The bottom line: With
a beautiful screen, fast performance, a comfortable design, and overall
great media options, the Nexus 7 is easily the best 7-inch tablet
available and one of the top tablets on the market. Full Review at CNET
TechRadar Review:
For
- Quality hardware
- NFC support
- Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
- Bundled Google Play freebies
- Weak IPS display contrast
- Limited storage options
- Too few Android tablet apps
- Some content hard to read (magazines)
Peter Ha, editor at TechCrunch, said Android tablet fans – and those looking for a 7-inch tablet – would have a hard time finding one better than the Nexus. According to his review:
Pros: Good performance: frame rates, app switching, navigation and viewability, thanks to Google’s Jelly Bean (NASDAQ:GOOG). Chrome browser is a positive and updated Google apps come preloaded. Games also play well on the device, the screen is “vibrant” and the Nexus is lighter than the Kindle Fire. Screen touch response is an improvement over previous Android version.
Cons: No expandable memory. No way to send content to a larger screen. Lack of an ‘assistant’ which, apparently, had been expected by some, though voice dictation for basic search is there. Reading magazines a hardship on the Nexus, as it is on the Kindle Fire. Bad speaker placement (get headphones). There is no dedicated camera app built in.
Bottomline:
"Nexus 7 is a no compromise Android tablet that’s designed to go wherever
you go. With a stunning 7” display, powerful quad-core processor and up
to 8 hours of battery life during active use, Nexus 7 was built to
bring you the best of Google in a slim, portable package that fits
perfectly in your hand." - Google Nexus 7 website
Google Nexus 7 is a worthy challenger in the Android marketplace. It is winning over critics, and making new fans. It is a lot of fun to use. It is also off to a fast start and selling really well. Would Google alienate its partners such as Samsung? It's too early to tell. How would the Nexus 7 compete against the newly announced Amazon Fire HD? Can Nexus 7 challenge the mighty Apple iPad? The most interesting part: It is Made in USA.