Nexus 7. Review and testing of the tablet

The second generation of Google Nexus 7 was expected to be out 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.

However, many hope that the Nexus 7 will at least be slightly updated. The original device caused a stir in the tablet market primarily because of its low price. And this despite its latest build features and specifications, because of which experts began to suspect that Google would subsidize the release of the gadget in order for more people to choose Android and acquire more apps, books, music and movies in their respective digital stores.

The updated Nexus 7 went on sale in the summer of 2013 and was better in many respects than the original version. Despite the fact that it costs more, it justifies its price even now, almost two years later.

Nexus 7 - Appearance

The design and assembly of the device of both generations did not change. The new Nexus 7 looks very similar to the original version, but if you compare both models to each other, within a few seconds after being removed from the box, you can tell that the differences are obvious. The new device is thinner and lighter, its thickness is only 8.7 mm, and weight - 290 grams.

Ironically, a few millimeters are much more important, which have been reduced in width. Thanks to this change in size, the new tablet is much easier to hold in one hand. The vast majority of competing 7-inch tablets, including TescoHudl, Amazon Kindle and Advent VegaTegra, are much wider when they are in an upright position. This is enough to make the gadget uncomfortable when you want to draw a thumb and grab both sides.

Unlike the above devices, the Nexus 7 tablet is higher, and this makes it look more like an oversized smartphone. In fact, the device is only slightly larger than the popular Nokia Lumia 1520 or Sony Xperia Z Ultra phones.

In addition, Google Nexus 7 has a silver band running along the edge of the tablet, the rest of the design is made 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 seems soft to the touch. It is not very convenient - it can get very dirty after a while, and it's not particularly easy to clean.

Two major design changes that immediately catch your eye - stereo speakers, which are now placed at the edges of the tablet to improve sound, and adding a notice LED under the screen.

Excellent build quality has been preserved - there are not any undesirable spaces in the case or shaky buttons. The only thing that can be noted as a drawback - the absence of such high-quality materials as aluminum in the structure of the hull. However, this is normal for a device of this price category.

Nexus 7 - screen and control

The highlight of the Nexus 7 is its amazing screen. The 7-inch IPS display is slightly curved upwards and has a resolution of 1280x800 to 1920x1200 pixels, which allows a maximum density of 323 ppi. Thanks to such characteristics it can be called the best device with a seven-inch screen, available at the moment. For example, the RETINA display in the iPad Mini 2 has more pixels, but they spread over a larger area, so their density is less.

The tablet is equipped with a quad-core processor Krait, which has a frequency of 1.5 GHz (Snapdragon S4 Pro), and RAM is doubled and is 2 GB.

Users may be disappointed that Android Nexus 7 still has a built-in 16 or 32 GB memory and still does not have a microSD card slot (thus, there is no room for memory expansion). This is one of the few drawbacks of this tablet, but you still get twice as much memory than the first-generation iPad Mini (which is much higher in price).

Despite the fact that additional 16 GB of memory will have to be paid, it's worth it, especially if you plan to install many 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 not have an IR port, and you will not be able to use the Nexus 7 as the remote control for the TV. However, you will get dual-band 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 LE (low-power consumption), GPS, NFC and wireless Qi charging (for this you will need to buy a separate compatible wireless charger). If all of the above characteristics suit you, the price available on the Nexus 7 - about $ 200 - should not become an obstacle to buying a device.

In addition, the gadget is equipped with front and rear cameras - the first is a 1.2-megapixel webcam with autofocus, the second is similar to a 5 MP camera. Also available in Nexus 7 LTE.

Software

Nexus 7 was originally released with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean software, and then received an upgrade to 4.4 KitKat (a few months later). Many users expected to see Android 5.0 ("lime pie") on this device, but at the moment this did not happen. It is possible that Google will make such an update for 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 the tablet, which gives users great opportunities.

For example, KitKat has brought with it some quite significant differences - now Nexus 7 does not have a transparent status bar or an opaque background on the application screen.

Most of the updates relate to Android solutions that make this platform easier to use. For example, you can now access the settings from the Quick Launch bar when you navigate down from the top right corner. Another addition is the Pay function, which uses the built-in NFC to make purchases.

Many of the features of the OS are designed for developers, so the new full-screen mode works only in applications that have been updated. For example, programs from Google use the entire screen, and Kindle and similar products work the old way. Therefore, in some cases, you may need a new Nexus 7 firmware.

With the advent of Android 4.3, user profiles were introduced. This extension allows you to have multiple user accounts on the same device. With 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 using the tablet to children, since it will avoid accidental purchase, use of paid applications or access to content with inappropriate content.

As you might expect, in the factory settings you will get all the Google applications pre-loaded and activated, including a branded online store.

Image Features

Any data looks great on the Full HD screen. Since the gadget has an IPS panel, all viewing angles are excellent, the contrast is very clear, and the colors are bright. The surface of the screen is presented in the form of Corning Gorilla Glass, which is very durable and reliable, allowing you to withstand the long-term everyday use of the device. As practice shows, the six-month device still looks like new.

The touch screen is very easy to operate and "responsive". There is no delay when clicking on buttons or links. In addition, the click response is very accurate - you can click on the links in the list without increasing them. The screen is also ideal for viewing video due to its wide aspect ratio.

Dynamics and sound quality

The quad-core processor in combination with the latest version of Android means that the Nexus 7 tablet is very fast and accurate. It loads faster than most similar devices - in about 30 seconds.

Web browsing takes place very quickly and without delay. Any content from the Internet is loaded very quickly, even if several windows are open. In addition, by default, the Chrome browser that is installed on the device usually downloads the second page in the background (if you open the content of several websites at the same time). Thus, when going from one window to another, you do not need to waste time waiting for the download, everything happens synchronously.

Battery and running time

Ironically, the Nexus 7 version has a smaller battery than its predecessor, 3.950 mAh compared to 4.326 mAh (and 15 Wh vs. 16 Wh, respectively). Nevertheless, Google announces an additional hour of "active use", that is, it is assumed that the tablet works more than nine hours without recharging. As the testing shows, Nexus 7 (charging device) works smoothly 8 hours and 47 minutes from one charge while watching locally stored high-definition 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. In the off mode, the full charge time is just over 3.5 hours (from the fully discharged battery to 100 percent charge).

Nevertheless, the Nexus 7 has one significant drawback with respect to the battery power - if left in standby mode for several days, it quickly discharges. This will happen even if the device only receives e-mail messages and other notifications via Wi-Fi.

Nexus 7 - the characteristics of the camera and photography

Standard equipment "Nexus 7" now has two cameras, not just one. The front has a capacity of 1.2 megapixels (as in the previous version of the device), the new rear camera 5 megapixel is equipped with autofocus, but does not have a flash. Despite the fact that the tablets, in principle, it is not very convenient to use as a camera, the small size of Nexus 7 allows you to easily take photographs and videos.

However, the quality of photos will be far from ideal. It is possible to successfully take pictures in the open air and in good light - the images obtained will be of sufficient quality for exchange on the Internet. 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, a blue sky will be clearly visible on a landscape photo, and at the same time, shadow areas will have a lot of color and obscuration defects.

Autofocus and white balance do not always work 100%, especially for moving objects (for example, children) - these images are almost always blurred. In addition, the camera is not equipped with the HDR option.

Video Quality and Capabilities

Video can be shot with a frequency of up to 1080p resolution - the videos will be clear and quality, especially if you keep Nexus 7 firmly and steadily during shooting. However, panning the shots can create the effect of unwanted "jerks" in the image. The brightness and sharpness settings are acceptable if you keep the tablet in a convenient position and do not change it during shooting. In addition, you can simultaneously create photos during video shooting by tapping on the screen.

The tablet has two additional functions - "Panorama" and "Photosphere". The first one allows you to capture a panoramic image if you slowly turn the tablet, and the second allows you to 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 keep the device in one position, without tilting or moving it in your hands, and the distance to the subject should be at least a meter (to get acceptable results).

Conclusion and brief conclusions

Even despite the fact that "Nexus 7" came out a long time ago, it remains a very popular device. Of course, there are users who were not happy with the use of this device and its functions. But it is worth noting that all the basic and additional functions that the gadget is equipped with are working in full force and give vast opportunities.

The tablet has an excellent screen, a long battery life (with the proviso that if you leave it on standby, it will work for 2-3 days), excellent performance and high build quality.

This is not the cheapest device, but you fully get what you pay for. If you want to save, you will become the owner of a device with much less functions and capabilities. In comparison with Nexus 7, the price of which in Russia does not exceed $ 200, cheaper devices can be Chinese counterfeits.

The tablet is ideal for reading books and working with applications in a new full-screen mode. This means that the status bar will not distract you from the game, work or reading. In addition, the screen of the device is ideal for viewing video and TV programs, both online and stored files. In addition, stereo speakers produce a decent sound quality.

Since the mass of the device is 290 grams, you can freely hold it in your hand for a couple of hours without feeling tired. Also, the tablet has very modest dimensions, allowing it to fit in the pocket of a backpack or small bag. Since the device is compact, you can easily pick up a stylish Nexus 7 case.

disadvantages

The disadvantage of the device is the lack of a microSD slot for adding more memory and storing large amounts of content. However, the microUSB port that is used for charging can be used in conjunction with a USB cable. This means that you can attach a USB flash drive with the content you need (for example, movies in high quality). This method may not seem very convenient, but this is the only way to use voluminous data. Similarly, you can purchase a compatible cable to provide an HDMI output, which also solves the problem of connecting additional drives.

Another point for disappointment in the Nexus 7 is the camera's capabilities. It produces acceptable photos and videos, but nothing special is different and will not allow to achieve excellent quality photos. One more thing to remember: Nexus 7 repair can be difficult, especially if you live in a small city, because this model has not received much distribution in Russia. For this reason, specialists may not have information about the gadget and do not have replacement parts.