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Apple iPad Mini vs New Google Nexus 7 2: Specs, Price and Features Discussed

July 26, 2013 By David Crozier 1 Comment

Google has finally taken the veils off its tablet computer, the Nexus 7 2, which is all set to compete with Apple’s iPad Mini. As opposed to the previously launched tablet, the Nexus 7, the latest version comes with a much improved display packing in far more pixels per square inches than ever before. An added feature of the new Nexus 7 2 is its back facing camera which will ensure photography enthusiasts will have something to play around with. Google made the all-important announcement on Wednesday. Also, it’s Asus that continues to be Google’s manufacturing partner for the new Nexus 7 device as well.

New Neux 7 2 Specs

When it comes to processors, Tegra processors have been done away with. Instead, the latest processor to find its place inside the Google Nexus 7 2 is the LTE enabled 1.5 Ghz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 quad core chip mated to a 2 GB RAM. What this means is that Verizon, AT&T as well as T Mobile’s LTE can be the possible carriers of Google Nexus in the US while delivering scintillating peformance. The device can well run on Wi Fi too with its Wi Fi dual band. Needless to say, the Nexus 7 2 will also be shipping with Android Jelly Bean version 4.3.

Apple iPad Mini Processor

In comparison, the iPad Mini too is available in LTE and Wi-Fi models. The iPad Mini is powered by Apple’s 1 Ghz dual core chip, A5 that also does duty on the iPad 2. This might make the chip seem a bit older though this should not let anyone into believing the iPad Mini to being a slouch. This, in spite of the fact that the iPad Mini comes with only 512 MB of RAM. As for its operating system, the Apple tablet runs iOS 6 but will soon be upgraded to iOS 7 when the latter is launched in September.

Display of iPad Mini and New Nexus 7

Coming to the display, Google have both upped the ante here so that the new Nexus 7 now comes with a 7 inch display having a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels. Compare that to the 1024 x 768 pixels that lights up bigger 7.9 inch display of the iPad Mini and you know who is the winner here. With 323 pixels per inch for the Nexus 7, the iPad Mini offers half of that at 163 ppi.

Storage

Google has bid adieu to the 8 GB model, while sticking only to 16 GB and 32 GB versions along with cloud storage support for the additional storage. Customers can also store various other cloud storage apps in it as well. The iPad Mini is available in 16, 32 as well as a 64 GB model though both the competing tablet devices does not include micro SD card support.

Battery Consumption of Both the Tablets

On the issue of power consumption, Google has promised 10 hours of browsing and 9 hours of watching full HD videos. The iPad Mini can be considered to be a step ahead as it offers 10 hours of browsing as well as video playback time.

Nexus 7 Camera Compared to iPad Mini

On the issue of built-in camera, both the Nexus 7 2 as well as the iPad Mini are equally poised. Both feature a front and rear 1.2 mp and 5 mp camera setup. Both the tablet devices are capable of video recording in 1080p and 720p format via its rear and front camera respectively. As such, shooting Instagram photos and recording Vine videos is a lot more easier.

New Nexus 7 Price

Meanwhile, the Google Nexus 7 2 is also cheaper compared to Apple iPad Mini. The Nexus 7 is priced at $229 for the 16 GB version while the 32 GB version comes for $269. The iPad Mini is priced at $329 and $429 for the 16 GB 32 GB versions respectively. The Nexus 7 is expected to be out in the US from July 30th.

New Nexus 7 2, Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Confirmed – Release Date in IFA 2013

July 16, 2013 By David Crozier Leave a Comment

Both Samsung Galaxy S3 as well as the new Google Nexus 7 tablet is coming in this season itself, according to a new certification in Asia. Certifying a certain product basically means a sort of confirmation that the particular device is in production already, or it might be ready for shipping or even be available in the market. The Galaxy Note 3 is expected to be hitting IFA 2013 to be held in Europe, late in this quarter though there is no news from the Google’s end regarding the release date of its Nexus 7 2 device.

According to rumors Galaxy S3 release date is expected to sport a rather big 6 inch display like that of the Galaxy Mega. According to a BGR article of the previous week, the Note 3 will also have four variants, much like the Galaxy Active, Zoom and Mini variants that we have seen bring derived from the base Galaxy S4 device. Similarly, Samsung is also likely to launch the Note 3 with different as well as unique features, colors, and also display sizes. The South Korean company will surely like to achieve the maximum penetration with the Note 3 by launching it with all the four major carriers in the US.

However, while Samsung used to be the sole player in the phablet segment which it is also credited to have created in the first place, it will soon lose the monopoly it once enjoyed. For manufacturers like Sony, HTC, LG as well as a few others are also eyeing the segment with equal zeal. This no doubt will force Samsung to come up with an even better product. HTC is expected to be launching its latest phablet, the HTC One Max at the end of the year while Sony has already launched its Xperia Z Ultra which comes with a rather large 6.4 inch display.

New Nexus 7 Release Date Rumored to be in Late July, in Taiwan first

July 12, 2013 By David Crozier Leave a Comment

New Nexus 7 tablets would first be launched in Taiwan first and then to other markets. This is the latest rumor that is doing the rounds. The release date of new Nexus 7 has also been mentioned as end of the month. The rumor also goes on to indicate that the variant with LTE support and 16 GB of storage would carry a price tag of $229. The 32 GB variant with LTE support once again would cost $299.

The source of this information could not be ascertained. The website from which this information has been gathered is located in Asia which has a paywall cover restricting access to the site. Its address therefore cannot be found. The website itself gets information from the Economic daily published in Taiwan.

The information indicates that Google would be keeping the name of “new Nexus 7” for this device. This part conforms to previously leaked information on the device. The Taiwan based information however differs in the specification of the processor which it states would be a 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4chip. The leaks till now indicated the processor to be a Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor.

FCC site had listed this product under the Asus K009 / ME571K with the Nexus branding. The specifications of the device had been listed as the Snapdragon Qualcomm APQ8064 processor. The panel made up of LT070ME05000 liquid crystal, by JDI. It specified a RAM of 2 GB and storage capacity of 32 GB. The device will also include a dual camera set up, with a 5 megapixel unit at the rear and a 1.2 megapixel webcam at the front. It would be LTE B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B13 – B17 compliant and also have WCDMA 1900/1700/850Mhz GSM 1900/850Mhz. The device was listed as Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, Bluetooth, NFC enabled. Power the device will be a 3950mAh battery.

Another model from Asus, the K008 tablet has also been listed at FCC which is supposed to be only Wi-Fi enabled. Specification of the K0087 and K009 has been listed by TechKiddy and they read quite similar however with no mention of the 16 GB variant in them.

Meanwhile, it will be interesting to see if the new Nexus tablet will have support for microSD cards. Google has faced a lot of criticism for not having this feature in its first Nexus 7 tablet. Users faced difficulty with the minimal 8 GB that the device came with, particularly when not all of it is available to the user.

Google Nexus 7 2 vs iPad Mini 2 Before the Tablet Release Date

July 7, 2013 By Micheal Baptiste 1 Comment

iPad Mini 2 and Nexus 7 2 are the much anticipated midsize tablets of 2013. Previously, a stream of rumors surfaced regarding their release dates, but none of the manufacturers has officially confirmed the launch of these tablets. However, owing to the satisfactory performance iPad Mini and Nexus 7 delivered, it is likely for Apple and Google to launch their successors respectively.

Release Date

Nexus 7 was launched in June, 2012. Rumors have rolled up regarding the launch of its successor this summer. Google has not passed an official statement, but fans expect the tablet to surface this July.

iPad Mini was released in October 2012 and its successor is expected to follow a one year gap, like other Apple products. iPad Mini 2 is expected to release by October or November, this year.

Display

Apple is self-strategic over its products. Fans’ pressure barely alters the minds of Apple developers and they always execute their unique sense in shaping up every product. However, it mostly manages to satisfy its anticipators. This means that the brilliant Cupertino tech pays heed to preferences of fans and leads in innovation, producing something unique and apart from the contemporary. But fan pressure does not change Apple’s pre-defined direction.

While Android manufacturers like Samsung and Sony are keen on extending the display size of their products, Apple concentrates on display quality rather than its size. Obviously, Apple products bear a fine display quality, but fans want it large. However, iPad Mini bore a 7.9 inches display screen, which exceeded 7-inch Nexus 7 in size. Asus-manufactured Nexus 7 possessed a higher pixel density of 216, which is rumored to have been enhanced to 300 in its successor. It may also endorse an HD display. iPad Mini 2 is unlikely to feature a retina display, as its battery may not be efficient enough to support it.

Storage

Apple iPad Mini was available in three variants of 16, 32 and 64GB. Apple has now got the 128GB chipset but whether they will implement it in the next gen iPad Mini is unsure. iPad Mini featured 512 MB RAM, which is supposed to be augmented to 1GB in its successor.

Nexus 7 was available in two variants of 8 and 16GB and there is no assurance if Google has any plans of introducing an extended variant of Nexus 7 2. Google Nexus 7 possessed 1GB RAM, which is supposed to be enhanced to 2GB in its successor, as rumors suggest.

None of these tablets featured a card slot. Apple is likely to ignore the card slot in iPad Mini 2 as well alike its other products, whereas Google has some stances of considering a card slot.

Camera

iPad Mini featured a 5MP rear-facing camera and a 1.2MP front-facing one. Nexus 7 lagged much behind in its camera specifications, bearing only a 1.2MP primary sensor and no secondary ones. Google is likely to enhance the camera specifications of Nexus 7 2 to 5MP.

OS and Chipset

iPad Mini ran on iOS 6 and is upgradable to v.6.1.3. Recently, it was speculated that Apple will roll out an iOS 7 update to iPad Mini users. Apple has released two beta versions of iOS 7, with the third about to surface soon. So, iPad Mini 2 will be blessed with iOS 7 and an A7 chipset, thus making it much powerful than its predecessor that bore an A5 chipset. Apple is likely to implant a more powerful processor in second-gen iPad Mini.

Google Nexus 7 2 will probably run on the mildly upgraded version of Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2, v4.3, featuring Qualcomm 800 CPU. iOS 7 will definitely be far better than Jelly Bean 4.3. Android Key Lime Pie 5.0 is supposed to be launched on Android’s fifth birthday this October, which is far behind the rumored release date of Google Nexus 7 2.

Price

Price of Apple products is always higher than Android products. Users do not mind spending a bit high on iOS, considering its unbeatable utility. iPad Mini was launched for those seeking an iOS tab at a lower price. iPad Mini 2 may arrive at a price tag of $300 approx, whereas Google Nexus 7 2 may range at $200-$250.

These specifications reside on a rumored platform and there is hardly any official confirmation from the manufacturers. But in any case, they are expected to abide by our expectations.

New Nexus 7 2: Specs and Release Date Rumors

July 4, 2013 By David Crozier Leave a Comment

The Nexus 7 2 continues to be among the most talked about device right now. What is fuelling the rumors is the lack of any sort of official dialogue from Google on anything related to the elusive tablet. It was expected to be launched at the Google I/O event held a few weeks ago though much to the disappointment of many, the next gen tablet didn’t even found a mention at the event. Needless to say this is only adding to the craze for the device which it seems is shooting through the roof.

Meanwhile, it’s a steady stream of rumors and leaks that we are forced to satiate our longing for the device with. What is surprising though is that there has been no image of the next gen Nexus tablet that has come our way so far given the amount of spec leaks that we have come across. But then, that has failed to dampen the spirits and every bit of leaks or rumors that emerge online get lapped up in seconds.

Take for instance the recent revelation of an Asus rep to a prospective Nexus 7 2 buyer. Whether it was inadvertent or it’s just crap, what has come to the fore is a whole lot of details providing us with a somewhat clear picture of what the Nexus 7 2 will have under its hood. Like its going to be a quad-core Snapdragon 600 chip powering the device, duly aided by a 2 GB RAM. Internal storage will amount to 32 GB and will include other niceties such as support for LTE / WCDMA / GSM, along with connectivity options of Wi-Fi, NFC, and Bluetooth 4.0. A 7 inch 1980 x 1200 pixel display will make up the front and will come with a 5 mp camera at the rear and a 1.2 mp unit at the front for video chats. The device will get its juice from a 4,000 mAh battery and will run Android 4.3 Jelly Bean right out of the box.

As for the tablet’s launch schedule, the rep mentioned it will be in the second quarter of this year, which means it is just this month left for the device to launch, if what the rep reveled is true indeed.

New Nexus 7 2 Release Date – When Will It Be Launched?

July 3, 2013 By David Crozier Leave a Comment

A new Nexus 7 iteration has been making a lot of noise for quite some time now. Enthusiasm surrounding the device is reaching frenzied proportions but Google seems to be unfazed and least concerned. Many had expected the search giant to announce the device during its I/O conference though it came and went by with nary a mention of the Nexus 7 successor. However, there is also no denying there is something cooking at the Asus and Google camp and all indications point to it being technically delicious.

There also are strong indications of the existence of the Nexus 7 2, with both Bluetooth and FCC filings for the K008 and K009 tablets from Asus being the biggest proof of it. If that is not enough then an Asus customer representative also seems to have spilled all the beans as far as the new gen Nexus 7 is concerned. What does add a touch of authenticity to what the Asus rep revealed is the fact that much of what he revealed has tallied with previous rumors in this field.

From what the rep revealed, the picture that emerges is that of a 7 inch device having a resolution of 1980 x 1200 pixels. The device will be powered by the quad core Qualcomm 600 chip in conjugation with a 2 GB RAM along with 32 GB of internal memory. Also, the Nexus 7 this time will feature a dual camera setup, with a 5 mp unit at the rear along with a 1.2 mp camera mounted at the front. The device is belied to run Android 4.3 right out of the box, with the new Android version also expected to launch this month itself. The rest of the spec includes Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC along with a 4000 mAh battery providing the juice.

The scale of rumors as well as enthusiasm surrounding the device continues to mount while Google continues to maintain a studied silence over the entire matter. Hope we have something substantial soon enough.

New Nexus 7 2 Release Date: More Details Emerge about Google Next Tablet

July 1, 2013 By David Crozier Leave a Comment

It’s some time now that we have been expecting the next gen Nexus 7 device to be finally unleashed. While many had put their bet on the release date of the new Google Nexus 7 2 happening during the Google I/O event held a couple of weeks ago, experts are now predicting the device to be finally unveiled later this month itself. Sure it’s again a game of hit or miss that is being played out though some more details of the device have come to the fore. And the best thing with the latest round of leak – which we hope will be the last before we get to see the real thing – is that it pretty much confirms what we have known of the upcoming Google tablet so far.

As revealed by an Asus customer service rep, the Nexus 7 2 will offer a 7 inch full HD display having a resolution of 1980 x 1200 pixels, which is quite close to the previous leaks that had pegged the tablet’s resolution at 1920 x 1080 pixels. Also, while previous rumors had claimed the device to feature a 1.5 GHz Snapdragon S4 processor, the service rep in the latest revelation has stated the new generation Nexus tablet will have a Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 chip at its core.

On the software side, the new Nexus 7 is expected to be the first device to come pre-loaded with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, the latest iteration of Android that is slated to launch anytime now. This apart, the Nexus 7 2 will also feature twin cameras, including a 2 mp unit at the front to allow for video chats and self portraits as well as a 5 mp unit integrated at the rear. What is almost a surety is that the Nexus 7 2 won’t be provided with a sd card slot, which means one will have to do with what the device comes fixed with.

New Google Nexus 7 to Come on All Major Carriers (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile)

June 27, 2013 By David Crozier 2 Comments

The year 2012 can well be considered the year of the Google Nexus going by the popularity the Android tablet enjoyed ever since it was launched last year. ASUS and Google are set to repeat their previous year’s run with their Google Nexus 7.2 or just the New Nexus 7. This time round, the gadget would have support for all major carriers in the US namely, AT&T, Verizon as well as LTE from T-Mobile. The LTE support was confirmed after the FCC listing mentions it.

On the LTE support, the device it seems has been tested on LTE bands 2, 4, 5, 13 and 17. This gives the gadget a very wide spectrum of operation on the LTE network. AT&T runs on the 17 band of LTE while T-Mobile on band 4 and Verizon on band 13. Sprint runs on band 25 of the LTE network operating bandwidth. The new Nexus 7 or Google Nexus 7.2 however does not have support for the Sprint network bandwidth.

Coming to the release dates, and the official specs of the Nexus 7.2, there is no official announcement as yet. Speculation has it that the expected dates could be anywhere in July. Google is expecting huge demand for the next iteration of the Nexus 7 tablet as it was with the first gen version. So far as the specifications go, it may not be a very high end gadget finally if we were to go by the specs that the Nexus 7 has.

The comparable gadget for the Google Nexus 7.2 would be the MeMo Pad HD 7 from Asus. This budget tablet would be comparable so far as specs and performance goes with the New Nexus 7. All in all, the Nexus 7 2 would be a budget tablet with support for all major networks. Interested people would need to watch this space for more details about this device.

Microsoft Surface Mini vs iPad Mini 2 vs Nexus 7 – MS to compete with Apple,Google in Mini Sector?

June 14, 2013 By Micheal Baptiste Leave a Comment

The competition in the tablet market seems to be sound enough to fuel rumors. The latest speculations are about the Microsoft Surface Mini, a small-sized Windows 8 tablet. Microsoft has been planning to introduce a small Surface tablet to compete with Apple’s iPad Mini and Google’s Nexus 7.

Right now the tablet market is anticipating the launch of the high-end Samsung Galaxy Note 3, Microsoft Surface Pro 2, Surface Pro Mini and Samsung Google Nexus 11. The Galaxy Note 2, launched last year, caused Samsung to outpace Apple and is still moving at the same speed. However, the Surface range did not affect Apple’s market.

This time, it seems like Microsoft is planning on a tablet that will perform shoulder to shoulder with the iPad Mini 2. The Surface Mini is expected to feature a 7.5-inch display with a resolution of 1400 x 1050 pixels, an Intel processor chip, and an upgraded Window Blue 8.1 OS. By comparison, the iPad Mini 2 will feature a 7.9-inch Retina display with a resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels, an A7 processor chip and the latest iOS 7 operating system.

At the 2013 Computex event, Windows CFO said that future Windows 8 tablets will get free Office 2013. Microsoft will probably let out its mini-range of tablets after the next version of Windows 8 is ready. Acer’s 8-inch Windows 8 Iconia W3 is expected to belong to the small-tab series. Its rumored specs include 2GB RAM, Atom processor, and 32GB/64GB internal storage.

Rumors also say the Microsoft will come up with an Xbox-compatible small-size tablet running on Windows 8 or RT. While recent developments convey that Microsoft will launch a series of small-screen Windows tabs running on the next gen Windows 8.1, there are no clues on release date.

Google Nexus 5 Not Likely to be Released at Google I/O 2013 but Nexus 7 2 with Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie Rumors are Hot

May 13, 2013 By Mary Duncan 1 Comment

There have been many rumors doing rounds regarding Google I/O. There has been a lot of speculation regarding what is going to be launched at the event. Among some of the most talked about releases are for the Nexus 7 2, Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie, Android 4.3 Jelly Bean and the Nexus 4. Even though we haven’t received a confirmation on the release of the first three, the Nexus 4 seems very likely to make an appearance at the event.

Just days away, the rumors around this event have swirled. There were whispers regarding the release of Android 4.3 Jelly Bean instead of Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie. Also, the release of the Nexus 7 2 with multiple updates and the Nexus 4 LTE, were much talked about as well.

Some less credible rumors were regarding the Nexus 5 being revealed at Google I/O. But given the current circumstances as well as the fact that Google tends to release their products during the holidays, we are more likely to see an updated Nexus 4 instead of the Nexus 5.

Even though we haven’t heard much regarding the Nexus 4, the little we have heard suggests it will have a minimum of 32 GB of storage along with LTE capabilities. You might find this a little odd, but remember, Google only announced the Nexus 7 3G months after the Wi-Fi model arrived. Don’t rule out the possibility of Google having an ace up their sleeve.

Shipping times for the Nexus 4 are pretty good with Google being able to deliver new models within a couple of days. This means that even if there’s something coming in for Google I/O, we won’t get a chance to know until the actual event.

Guess we’ll just have to wait and watch what Google has planned for us at the event.