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The iPad 4 came out late last year and already Apple is planning the release of the iPad 5. Before that happens, lets take a look at the iPad 4 when compared to the Nexus 7. The Nexus 7 is Googles new tablet that is is much less expensive and has overtaken the iPad and iPad mini in Japanese market sales. This article will take a look at both of these new tablets and see how they compare to each other.
iPad 4
The iPad 4 is apples newest tablet on the market, and it has loads of new features and apps. The iPad has been the juggernaut of the tablet world since Apple released the first iPod. High performance and resolution have been paramount over the course of the iPad, and this installment is no different.
Google Nexus 7
The Nexus 7 is a modestly priced and still very capable tablet that has decided to aim for the lower end of the consumer market. Google has managed to make this tablet with a comparable running speed to the iPad, but falls short of the tablet king in many categories. However, the reduction in price is proving to be a major factor in the market, as we can see in the recent Japanese study that put the Nexus 7 ahead of the iPads for market share percentages.
Design
The iPad 4 has the same sleek and efficient design that it has had since its inception. It has a home button on the font, and a power button on top. The main change to the design of the iPad 4 has been the introduction of the new lightning port. This port replaces the wide 30 pin input jack that has become identifiable as an apple plug. The lightning port transfers data faster with 8 pins, and has less of a chance of breakage. The iPad comes in black or white. The Nexus 7 is smaller in every dimension when compared to the iPad, and weighs about half what the iPad weighs. It only comes in a black finish, and also has a home button on the front. The input on this device is a standard mini USB, which makes it easier to find a charger for.
Display
The display on the Nexus 7 is as the name suggests, 7 inches across. It has a 1280x 800 pixel display and scratch resistant glass. The iPad 4 has a 9.1 inch display and 2048x 1536 pixels. This is not the most pixels possible with today’s technology, and in fact is the same pixel quality that the iPad 3 had. However, the retina display of the iPad means that the resolution of the screen is absolutely breathtaking in any light. The Nexus 7 cannot say the same.
Memory/CPU
The iPad 4 comes in a variety of models with different amounts of storage space. Apple has 16 GB models, 32 GB models as well as 64 GB models. All these models have one GB RAM, and no inputs for SD memory cards. The iPad 4 also has the new A6X chip, which has been clocked at 1.4 GHz. The Nexus 7 has an internal memory of 8 GB and also has one GB of RAM. It does have comparable processing speeds to the iPad 4, as the Cortex-A9 has been clocked at 1.2 GHz. The iPad 4 definitely has the edge here, as even the most basic model has more internal memory than the Nexus 7.
OS
The operating system for the iPad 4 is the latest offered by Apple, OS6. This OS includes over 200 new features and apps for the iPad, and many customers are very pleased by this. However, OS6 also has done away with the passbook app, which was one of the more popular apps on OS5. Also, their new app “Apple Maps”, which has been introduced with OS6, has not done well and if rife with internal errors and bugs. The Nexus 7 comes with a version of android’s OS, v4.1, also called jelly bean. This OS is upgradable to v4.2.1. Although OS6 may be the more recent operating system, jelly bean is tried and true and will not require many updates to run smoothly.
Camera
The Camera on the Nexus 7 will leave a professional photographer wanting, as it has limited features and 1.2 MP. It does offer video calling though. The iPad 4 has five lenses and multiple features that will keep a shutterbug entertained for weeks. It also boasts a 5 MP camera and a secondary 1.2 MP camera. A new feature on the iPad 4 allows users to capture pictures using the volume keys on the side of the device. This makes for easy picture taking, and makes the iPad 4 the clear winner in this category.
Battery
The batteries of the Nexus 7 and the iPad 4 both have 9-10 hour life spans when activated. Both also have days of standby power. I think it is important to note that the very common mini USB port of the Nexus 7 means that it is easier to find a charger for, if at a friends house or even on a road trip. The new lightning port that the iPad 4 has means that careful planning must be taken to make sure a user has the needed cables when traveling.
Price
The price of the Nexus 7 is $199.00, a great deal for a technologically advanced device such as this. The processor isn’t that inferior to the iPad 4, and the price difference is staggering. The iPad 4 is going for $499.00 for the most basic model. This is a 16 GB device that only has WiFi capabilities. The most expensive unit is a 64 GB model that is 3G compatible. This unit is going for $829.00. This difference is a main factor that played into the Japanese study done that ranked the Nexus 7 above the iPad in terms of market share.
Summary
While the price of the iPad 4 is much higher than the Nexus 7, customers who choose to pay the extra cash for an iPad will not be disappointed. The many features and more advanced extras will make up for the feeling of possibly paying too much. However, consumers who cannot afford a high end device such as the iPad 4 now have an opportunity to get a tablet, which they might not have without a less expensive device such as the Nexus 7.
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