Bluetooth is a standard for secure wireless data transfer between different types of devices over short distances.

And yet, despite this, Nexus 7 has not lost its relevance over the past 5 months, and with the release of Android 4.2 and 3G versions, it has only become more in demand. The positioning of the device is simple - in front of us is a "Pure Google" tablet with a seven-inch screen. Its main goal is to put pressure on manufacturers with the help of price, as well as an attempt to show how to release a budget tablet with non-budget features.

In the first glance, we covered the appearance of the device and the arrangement of elements in sufficient detail, so these sections were taken by me from that article.

Equipment:

• Tablet
• Assembly charger + USB cable
• Documentation

Appearance, materials, assembly

Nexus 7 has a nice and calm appearance. There are no eye-catching design elements here, but at the same time there are no irritants. In general, it looks like most seven-inch tablets, especially from the front.

The back is made of matte plastic with a soft-touch coating. The use of such material has a positive effect on tactile sensations and appearance. The tablet is pleasant to hold in hands, and there are practically no fingerprints and scratches on the back.

There are no complaints about the assembly, all parts are tightly fitted to each other, nothing creaks, does not play and does not stagger.

Control elements

On the right side are the power button and volume rocker. The decision to place them on the same side is not the best, because in order to take a screenshot, you need to rotate the tablet horizontally (remember, the combination for taking a screenshot, starting with Android 4.0, is to simultaneously press on + decrease the volume). Taking a screenshot in a vertical position is very problematic.

At the bottom you can see the microUSB and 3.5 mm headphone jacks.

The place for the speaker is reserved on the lower part of the back, and the front camera is traditionally located above the screen.

Also on the left side there are contacts for the docking station (as far as I understand it for her).

Dimensions

Nexus 7 has standard dimensions for seven-inch tablets. It feels close to the dimensions of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0, but the numbers speak for themselves.

• Nexus 7- 198.5 x 120 x 10.45 mm, weight 340 grams
• Galaxy Tab 2 7.0- 194 x 122 x 11 mm, weight 344 grams

The tablet is comfortable to hold with both one and two hands, you can only find fault with the thickness, of course, I would like it to be at the level of the Galaxy Tab 7.7.

Display

The Nexus 7 uses a seven-inch IPS-matrix with a resolution of 1280x800 pixels. The screen is covered with Gorilla Glass. Supports multi-touch up to ten simultaneous touches. Despite the fact that IPS-matrices have already begun to appear in budget devices (for example, in IconBIT Matrix), most of them have a lower resolution (1024x600 pixels or 1024x768 pixels), although there are exceptions, for example Ainol Fire.

In the first glance, I wrote that the screen picture was of poor quality. But apparently we were then shown an engineering sample. In the Nexus 7 we are testing now, there are no complaints about the screen: natural colors, high brightness, large viewing angles. There are no complaints about clarity either. The minimum brightness is comfortable for reading in the dark, the maximum is excessive in most cases. After budget tablets, the screen in the Nexus 7 is very pleasing to the eye.

Performance

This is the first seven-inch tablet based on NVIDIA Tegra 3, which gives it many advantages at once. I propose to briefly walk through the already known advantages of Tegra 3:

• Tegra Zone with several exclusive games.
• PRISM technology - at low brightness, individual pixels are illuminated brighter, thanks to which the overall brightness is visually higher and power consumption is lower.
• Support for various peripherals (although the USB Host function is not available in the Nexus 7, there are always bluetooth devices)
• The fifth energy-saving core that works with undemanding tasks.

I am very impressed with the use of Tegra 3 in this tablet, primarily because of the games. At the moment, only a few exclusive games have been released for it, but their number is gradually increasing. If we consider a gaming tablet on Android, then it is worth looking in the direction of models on Tegra. If we talk about control, then, in my opinion, it is more comfortable to play with a ten-inch tablet. On the other hand, even if you play on the tablet for a long time, your hands still do not get tired.

With a heavy load on the processor (games), its lower right part heats up (or the left one, if you hold it horizontally)

The processor itself operates at a frequency of up to 1.3 GHz, the amount of RAM is 1 GB, the amount of internal memory is 16 GB or 32 GB (versions with 8 GB are not sold in Russia). There is no memory card slot. It is the impossibility of expanding the memory that is one of the main drawbacks of the tablet, it is not clear what prevented this slot from being installed in it, although with the release of the version with 32GB of memory, this drawback has become less noticeable.

Thanks to Android 4.1, the tablet interface is fast and smooth. And you get used to it very quickly. This applies to the browser, and desktops, and everything else. By the way, there is no standard browser in Nexus 7, they decided to abandon it in favor of Google Chrome.

Operating system

Initially Nexus 7 worked on Android 4.1, but since then it has managed to upgrade several times. One of the updates added support for landscape mode, and the other "brought" fresh Android 4.2.

Status bar. Now swipe on the left side opens notifications, and on the right side - switches. Pressing a switch takes you to its settings.

Let me also remind you that the Nexus7 uses a “telephone” interface, due to which some applications (for example, imo beta) open their phone versions, not tablet versions.

During the use of the device, it received about three updates. It's insanely nice to see it on your tablet a couple of days after discussing a new version of the OS. Timely updates are a huge plus for the Nexus 7. You feel like the device is supported and not thrown to the mercy of fate. At the moment, no manufacturer can compete with devices from Google in terms of speed and duration of updates.

Offline work

The tablet has a 4325 mAh battery. Let me start with some subjective indicators. When using the Nexus 7 for about an hour and a half a day at medium brightness, it discharges in a week.

If we talk about objective estimates, then when reading at a brightness of 10% with Wi-Fi turned off, the battery is discharged in 8 hours and 48 minutes.

Watching HD-video at maximum brightness discharged the tablet in 6 hours.

As for gaming, the Nexus 7 lasted about 4 hours.

Despite the fact that the performance is very average, I got the impression that the tablet works for quite a long time on a single charge. Maybe the point here is that in sleep mode it consumes almost no energy.

Front-camera

The Nexus 7 decided to abandon the rear camera and left only the front. The decision is absolutely correct and I fully approve of it. The camera supports video calls in Skype, however, the video quality is very mediocre.

Wireless modules

WiFi (b/g/n)- there are no complaints about the operation of the module. Supports Wi-Fi Direct technology.

GPS– Google Maps is used as navigation software. Cold start takes 12 seconds.

Bluetooth 3.0– all popular profiles are supported, including A2DP.

3G (optional)- I had a Wi-Fi version on the test, so I can’t say anything about the operation of the 3G module.

USB Host

The tablet does not support connecting flash drives via an OTG cable by default, but you can use this feature using third-party programs such as Nexus Media Importer. Also, you can easily connect a keyboard to it. The latest versions of Android have a dedicated settings menu to work with it.

Conclusion

In my opinion, the Nexus 7 is the best 7-inch Android tablet right now. It has everything a user might need: an up-to-date OS version, powerful hardware, a good screen, and good battery life. I happily used the Nexus 7 as my main tablet for about a month, and I can recommend it in good conscience to anyone who needs a compact and affordable Android tablet.

Some users talk about marriage in these tablets, for example, there are cases of screen peeling. One of our readers encountered such a problem, but they changed the device in the store without any problems (just don't come to the store on a day off). I had another "bug" - after a complete shutdown, I could not turn on a fully charged tablet. But the solution was suggested on the forum: you need to hold the power button for 20 (!) seconds. Oddly enough, this helped, but it is not clear what this behavior of the tablet is connected with.

At the moment, there are two versions of Nexus 7 (we are talking about PCT devices) on sale - 16 GB and 32 GB 3G. The first costs 10 thousand rubles, and the second - 14 thousand. In my opinion, the 3G version is the most relevant. In it, you feel more comfortable in terms of memory, and always have mobile Internet at your fingertips, which is very important, since the Nexus 7 is great as a portable device.

Competitors

The model has two serious competitors (or rather, three, but the third one has not yet been released).

Evgeny Vildiaev (

The second generation Google Nexus 7 was expected to be released for about a year. The updated version of this gadget, which went 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 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 people to suspect that Google is subsidizing the release of the gadget so that more people choose 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 - appearance

The design and assembly of the device of both generations did not change. The new Nexus 7 looks very similar to the original, but if you compare the two models, you can tell within seconds of taking them out of the box that the differences are obvious. The new device is thinner and lighter, its thickness is only 8.7 mm, and the weight is 290 grams.

Ironically, 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. It's enough to make the gadget uncomfortable when you feel like sticking out your thumb and grabbing both sides.

Unlike the devices above, the Nexus 7 is taller, which makes it look more like an oversized smartphone. In fact, the device is not much larger than the popular Nokia 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.

The two main design changes that immediately jump out 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 drawback is the lack of such high-quality materials as aluminum in the composition of the case. However, this is normal for a device in this price category.

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 iPad Mini 2's RETINA display has more pixels, but they spread over a larger area, so their density is less.

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

Users may be disappointed that the Android Nexus 7 still has 16GB or 32GB of built-in storage and still doesn't come with a microSD card slot (so there's no room for storage expansion). That's one of the few downsides to this tablet, but you'll still get twice the storage of the first generation iPad Mini (which is vastly superior in price).

While you'll pay extra for the extra 16GB of storage, it's worth it, especially if you're planning on installing a lot of apps, taking tons of photos and videos, and storing your music and movie collection on your Nexus 7.

Unlike some Android devices, this tablet doesn't have an infrared port, and you won't be able to use your Nexus 7 as a TV remote control. However, you do get dual-band 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 LE (low power), GPS, NFC, and Qi wireless charging (you'll need to buy a separate compatible one for that). dollars - 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 autofocus webcam, the second is similar to a 5-megapixel camera. Also available on Nexus 7 LTE.

Software

The 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 with it some pretty significant differences - the Nexus 7 now doesn't have a transparent status bar or an 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 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 OS's features are aimed at developers, so the new full-screen mode only works in apps 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 were 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 would expect, in the factory settings you will get all Google apps preloaded and activated, including the company's online store.

Image 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 provided with a Corning coating which is very durable and reliable, allowing it to withstand extended daily use of the device. As practice shows, the six-month-old device still looks like new.

Very easy to handle 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

The quad-core processor, combined 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 spend time waiting for the download, everything happens synchronously.

Battery and run time

Ironically, the Nexus 7 version has a smaller battery than its predecessor, at 3,950 mAh compared to 4,326 mAh (and 15 Wh versus 16 Wh, respectively). However, Google claims an additional hour of "active use," meaning the tablet is expected to last more than nine hours on a single charge. 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 turned off, the full charge time is just over 3.5 hours (from a fully discharged battery to 100 percent charge).

However, the Nexus 7 has one significant drawback regarding battery power - if left on standby for several days, it drains pretty quickly. This will happen even if the device only receives emails and other notifications using Wi-Fi.

Nexus 7 - camera and photography specs

The standard equipment now has two cameras, and not 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 will be of sufficient quality for sharing 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, 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 (such as 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, without tilting or moving it in your hands, and the distance to the subject must be at least a meter (in order to obtain acceptable results).

Conclusion and summary

Even though the 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 solid 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 fakes can be cheaper devices.

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.

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 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 device of the gadget and may not have replacement parts available.

Introduced over a year ago, the first official 7-inch tablet based on the Android operating system, which represented an expansion of the Nexus line of devices that previously included only smartphones, turned out to be so successful that it was snapped up like hot cakes not only by software developers, but also by ordinary users. In this regard, ASUS and Google, who became good friends, almost immediately began to develop a next-generation device that would have to surpass its predecessor in every possible way.

Everyone was undoubtedly waiting for the appearance of a new model, and the moment of truth was July this year, when Google officially introduced ASUS/GoogleNexus 7 (2013). At first, the novelty, as usual, was available only in North America, and at a very pleasant price - $ 269 for a model with Wi-Fi and a 32 GB drive. In Ukraine, the start of official sales began in September, though the price tag for the same model has risen to UAH 3,000 ($365), which, although noticeably more expensive, is still nice.

Specifications

Delivery, equipment and accessories

The tablet comes in the same cardboard box structure as its predecessor, only more compact and decorated in a much brighter color scheme, which, by the way, echoes the range of the latest versions of the Android OS. So, the main box is made of thick white cardboard, and on top it is wrapped with thinner cardboard, painted in blue.

On the front side there is a peculiar image of the device, the frame of which, as before, forms the number "7", as well as the Google logo. The reverse side is occupied by a small description of the advantages of ASUS / Google Nexus 7 in conjunction with the proprietary services of the software giant. Brief technical characteristics are placed on a sticker on the lower sidewall.

The delivery set is quite modest and, in addition to the tablet itself, includes only a charger with a removable USB ↔ micro-USB cable, a booklet with information about warranty obligations and a leaflet that indicates the location of the elements on the case. In the version with an LTE module, you can also find a special paper clip to remove the “sled” of the Micro-SIM card.

In addition, ASUS offers to acquire several useful accessories for an additional fee, including a couple of covers and branded protective films.

A simpler ASUS Travel Cover, made of silicone in dark gray, red, pink, yellow, light green or blue, perfectly protects the back and front of the tablet, both in normal situations and in emergency situations, for example, when falling. In addition, the cover does not interfere with the possibility of wireless charging of the battery.

ASUS Premium Cover is made of microfiber and polyurethane. It features a more rigid design with a hinged segmented lid that allows you to transform the cover into a convenient stand, with which it will be much more comfortable to watch videos and type text. Like ASUS Travel Cover, this model provides good protection for the tablet during everyday use and allows for wireless charging.

Finally, it remains to note a set of two protective films with a regular (glossy) and matte (anti-reflective) coating. They have a 90% transparency level and are characterized by a 5-layer structure that prevents scratches and copious amounts of fingerprints. It is important to highlight that they use an ultraviolet filter.

Appearance, arrangement of elements

The ASUS/Google Nexus 7 tablet of the second generation, compared to last year's model, has significantly changed from the visual side, and this can be seen even with the naked eye. After all, it has become more elegant and, if I may say so, integral, due to a more strict outline and the absence of materials that differ in color and structure. In addition, a noticeable reduction in the thickness, width and weight of the body, which are now only 8.65 mm, 15 mm and 290 g versus 10.45 mm, 20 mm and 340 g, respectively, has brought significant improvements to the ergonomic component of the tablet, even despite slightly grown length, which, by the way, for many may be a positive thing.

The new Nexus 7 is indeed much more convenient to use, both in a priority vertical orientation, when the tablet can be held with one hand without any problems, grabbing the sides with your fingers, and in a horizontal one, when a confident grip is felt that does not allow you to inadvertently release the device.

If the front side of the tablet, which has lost its gray edging and boasts rather small edges along the long sides of the display, is still covered with Corning Glass protective glass, which does a pretty good job of preventing scratches, then the back side is now represented by a smooth, slightly “sparkling” panel with a pleasant to the touch soft-touch coating. Thanks to this ASUS/Google Nexus 7 (2013) leaves a very pleasant feeling. Recall that in the first generation, rather heavily rubberized plastic with a dotted pattern was used for this part of the case.

The body of the tablet, if you do not take into account the protective glass, is not easily soiled and this is very cool, because. Fingerprints are almost invisible on it, but dark plastic actively attracts all sorts of dust. In particular, this happens after the device is placed on a sofa or armchair with fabric upholstery. Nevertheless, getting rid of it is not difficult, as, in principle, from the remaining prints on the front panel, which has a high-quality oleophobic coating.

In addition, the novelty from ASUS and Google can please with excellent build quality and very good structural rigidity, which does not emit any characteristic crunches when trying to squeeze or twist, even if it is a little deformable. The protective glass is very durable and does not break through under strong pressure, which means that the appearance of any streaks on the display is excluded. However, the glass panel has one drawback - it does not fit tightly enough to the glossy, slightly protruding edging, which can cause dust to accumulate there, although on the other hand, such a solution can save the glass from chipping when the tablet falls on its edge from a small height.

On the front side of the Nexus 7 (2013), completely covered with protective glass, in addition to the display itself, there is a light sensor and a front camera, which is now not located in the center of the vertical axis, but slightly shifted to the right. These two elements are located above the display, while below it there is only a barely visible LED indicator informing about missed events, illuminating once every 12 seconds. It is important to note that the indication will always be white, regardless of the event type.

In the extreme upper corner of the back side there is a main camera, which was so lacking in the original Nexus 7. It is framed by a rather large protective lens, but has an LED flash at its disposal. In the central part there is the Nexus family logo, located along the vertical axis, and in the lower part there is a small manufacturer's logo, under which certification marks are applied. In addition, there are meshes in the upper and lower parts that hide the stereo speakers.

The side faces of the tablet have a convenient rounding, while the left of them, having lost the magnetic connector for the docking station, remained completely empty, and on the right, as before, there is a power / lock button and a volume rocker. Also on this sidewall there is a single microphone (and a “sled” for installing a Micro-SIM card in a model with a built-in LTE module). There is traditionally no slot for microSD memory cards.

On the bottom edge, exactly in the center, there is only a micro-USB port with SlimPort and OTG support. The 3.5 mm mini-jack audio jack in the new Nexus 7 has moved to the top.

It is important to note that with the appropriate adapter, you can easily connect peripheral devices such as mice, keyboards and joysticks to the micro-USB port. To connect flash drives, you will need to obtain Root rights or install the Nexus Media Importer or Total Commander application with the USB Stick Plugin-TC plugin.

Display

Like the previous model, ASUS/Google Nexus 7 (2013) is equipped with a 7-inch display, which is now almost the most important feature of the new product, which distinguishes it from many devices of this form factor.

The display is based on a remarkable IPS-matrix with a record resolution of 1920 by 1200 pixels for this diagonal, slightly exceeding the Full HD standard. The pixel density reaches 323 ppi. This is more than enough to form a very detailed image, which, moreover, due to the absence of an air gap between the display and the protective glass, literally lies on the surface, which significantly affects the quality of perception.

In addition, the screen is able to please with excellent color reproduction and wide viewing angles. The backlight has a high brightness, and its level can be adjusted in a fairly wide range manually or automatically. In general, you can work without any problems both in the dark and under the bright sun.

The touch substrate, capable of processing up to 10 simultaneous touches, has excellent sensitivity. Touches are processed instantly, and there are practically no false positives. It is also important to note the protective glass, which is characterized by the presence of an oleophobic coating, which contributes to a smoother and easier sliding of the finger and makes it easier to get rid of the remaining prints.

The sound subsystem of the tablet is represented by two speakers at once, which are located at the top and bottom of the back side. When used on the Nexus 7 in landscape orientation, they deliver crisp stereo sound that greatly enhances screen immersion, especially when playing games. Of course, in some cases it is possible to close the speaker grilles with your palms, but, oddly enough, this happens quite rarely. But they have a high volume margin and a fairly good sound quality, perhaps even one of the best among tablets, and for this we should thank the specialists from Fraunhofer IIS, who were engaged in fine-tuning the audio part of the tablet using Fraunhofer Cingo's own technology. Thanks to this, it is very pleasant not only to play your favorite games, but also to listen to music, watch videos, and even at maximum volume there is no noticeable distortion.

When using headphones, the sound becomes even better, which, in principle, is understandable. ASUS/Google Nexus 7 (2013) is able to handle sound output to both low-impedance and high-impedance headphones without problems, and in the settings of a standard audio player, although not rich, in which case you can adjust the equalizer or enhance the sound of low frequencies.

Another innovation in the novelty from ASUS and Google was the appearance of the main 5-megapixel camera, which is based on a module with back-illuminated matrix and aperture f/2.4, which allows you to get sufficiently detailed pictures even in relatively low light conditions. In addition, there is an auto focus system and the ability to record video in 1080p, which is good news. But the place for the LED flash, unfortunately, was not found.

The front camera module remains the same as before. Only its location has changed, which is why when communicating via Google Hangouts or Skype, the interlocutor will see you a little from the side. A resolution of 1.2 megapixels, which allows recording video in 720p format, and a mediocre level of detail is quite enough for comfortable video communication.

The camera application in the new version of the operating system has been noticeably updated, however, it does not introduce any new and tangible features. Rather, on the contrary, because using the new menu that opens anywhere on the screen with a long tap is not very convenient and it takes some getting used to.

Shooting examples

Movie examples

User interface

ASUS/Google Nexus 7 (2013) is the first device in the world to ship with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean pre-installed, however, since November 13th, an OTA update to the latest “chocolate” Android 4.4 KitKat has become available, which was introduced at the same time with the announcement of LG/Google Nexus 5. Nevertheless, let's take a closer look at the "jelly" OS, which, by the way, has excellent adaptation to high-resolution displays.

Among the important innovations, first of all, it is worth noting the possibility of creating personalized profiles. True, this is only available on tablets, because they are more multi-user than smartphones. So, by creating a profile, for example, for a child, you can restrict access to any applications, as well as disable the ability to make in-game payments, which are now so common.

A very pleasant update has got a “dialer”, available in smartphones and tablets equipped with radio modules. Now there is an auto-complete function, and when you dial a number or name, all suitable contacts are displayed on the screen, if any, in the address book.

In order to increase the battery life of devices that actively use Bluetooth connections with various accessories, support for the latest Bluetooth Smart technology, also known as Bluetooth Low Energy, has appeared. Additionally, there is support for the Bluetooth AVRCP 1.3 profile, which allows you to display information on the display of the car's audio system.

A new function has also appeared when using Wi-Fi, which allows the operating system to use this module to determine geolocation more accurately, even without turning on and connecting to Wi-Fi points.

On the graphic side, the main innovation was support for the OpenGL ES 3.0 standard, designed to use the resources of compatible devices as efficiently as possible, thereby giving a better picture.

We offer you to learn about the features of the new Android 4.3 Jelly Bean on the official page of the operating system, and here we note that in practice the most pleasant feature is the noticeably more responsive and faster operation of the OS shell. Applications, both branded and third-party, also began to run faster.

The set of pre-installed applications, taking into account the peculiarities of Nexus-devices supplied with the bare OS, is small and includes only system programs and Google service clients. Everything is given into the hands of the user, and for this, almost 26.5 GB is allocated from 32 GB of internal memory.

Hardware platform and performance

The "heart" of the tablet is a rather modified Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro, namely APQ8064-1AA, which is located as close as possible to the new Snapdragon 600 in terms of performance. It is based on four Krait 300 cores operating at a clock frequency of up to 1500 MHz, which is almost more than enough in all cases. The Qualcomm Adreno 320 graphics accelerator is responsible for the graphics. It is quad-core, operates at up to 400 MHz, and its important feature is support for the OpenGL ES 3.0 API, the software implementation of which was introduced only in Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. The amount of RAM in the new Nexus 7 is 2 GB, while the built-in can be either 16 GB or 32 GB.

Unfortunately, ASUS/Google Nexus 7 (2013) does not provide record performance indicators, due to the use of a modified, but still not a “top-end” processor. Nevertheless, even this level is enough for almost all modern tablet tasks, which include not only various applications for working with documents, notes, maps, the Internet, media files, etc., but with all kinds of games, including and based on the new API.

One of them is Asphalt 8: Airborne, which at high graphics settings looks really impressive. This is especially noticeable in dynamics, when an abundance of colorful effects is displayed on the screen. Real Racing 3 and the recently released Dear Trigger 2 shooter look very nice, which, however, can only reveal its full potential, as before, on the NVDIA Tegra 4 platform. For simpler games, the tablet's resources are more than enough.

Communication and communications

The set of communication options offered by ASUS/Google Nexus 7 (2013) is very rich and includes almost everything you need to fully work in today's digital world. So, in addition to the standard wireless modules Bluetooth V4.0 and Wi-Fi, which supports 802.11b / g / n protocols and is capable of operating in two frequency bands (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz), there is also a fairly popular recently NFC time, in this case referred to as "Android Beam". There is also DLNA support. To all this, only an infrared transmitter is missing to work with various household appliances.

By the way, searching for Wi-Fi points and connecting to them is very fast. At the same time, the established connection has good stability in the event of various interferences, however, the data transfer rate, even under conditions of a minimum distance from the Wi-Fi point of the home network, is relatively low and is about 30-35 Mbps (with a total wired line of 100 Mbps). With). However, this may depend on many factors, and first of all on the rather strong contamination of the ether.

To determine your location on the global map of the world, GPS and GLONASS systems are supported, which take less than a minute to search for and connect to satellites, provided that the user is in an open area. For example, in a minute of time it was possible to recognize about 20 satellites and connect to more than a dozen of them. However, when you are in a residential high-rise building, the search for satellites may not be successful at all, due to the strong shielding of the signal.

It is also important to note that the new Nexus 7 is available with a 4G LTE module, namely the Qualcomm Gobi MDM9215M, which provides the ability to work in both GSM / 3G networks and North American / European 4G LTE networks with a peak data transfer rate of up to 100 Mbps

Offline work

The tablet is powered by a non-removable lithium-polymer battery with a capacity of 3950 mAh (15 Wh) and a supply voltage of 3.8 V. In general, a pretty good value for a compact 7-inch device, although it is slightly smaller than that in the first generation of the tablet - 4325 mAh (16 Wh).

The battery life results were quite good, especially when doing not too resource-intensive tasks. Thus, ASUS/Google Nexus 7 managed to live for more than 10 hours while looping HD-video, using MX Player with half display brightness and enabled Wi-Fi module, which is enough to watch at least 3-4 full-length tapes.

In the AnTuTu Tester benchmark, the novelty scored 403 points, discharged to 19% in just 2 hours and 15 minutes, which is not so pleasing. With an active gaming load with not the maximum brightness of the display, the operating time can be increased to 3-4 hours. In mixed mode, one battery charge is enough for approximately 6-8 hours of constant work or for almost two days of measured work. With a more gentle use of the Nexus 7, it can live for three days.

The time to fully charge the battery from the supplied power supply is about 3.5 hours, but when using wireless charging, it should increase significantly due to the lower transmission efficiency.

Live photos of the device

Results

The second generation of the official Android tablet, which is ASUS/GoogleNexus 7 (2013), like its predecessor a year ago, is one of the best representatives of this class on the market, which at the same time has almost the best ratio of price to the number of opportunities provided.

The novelty has acquired a narrower and lighter body, but slightly grown in height, and also began to use soft-touch plastic for its back part, which has noticeably better tactile qualities. However, a much more important feature of the tablet is its display. Now this is a really wonderful matrix with excellent color reproduction, wide viewing angles and a resolution of 1920 by 1200 pixels, which at the output allows you to get a very detailed image. The hardware has also undergone a fairly strong update, which is now represented by a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core processor with an integrated Adreno 320 graphics accelerator that supports the OpenGL ES 3.0 API standard, first introduced in the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean operating system, which, in turn, is the base for Nexus 7 (2013).

In addition, among the important and highly anticipated innovations, it is necessary to highlight the appearance of a fairly good main 5-megapixel camera and very high-quality stereo speakers, the sound of which is responsible for Fraunhofer IIS. Of course, there is also a good range of connectivity options, including a multi-band 4G LTE module available in a separate tablet model, and much more.

As for the shortcomings, there are not many of them, and the most significant is the traditional absence of Nexus devices. slots for microSD cards. However, given the huge number of advantages, they all more than overlap.

Advantages:

• nice visual design and good ergonomics;
• pleasant tactile sensations from the materials used;
• lighter and thinner body compared to its predecessor;
• wonderful IPS-display with a resolution of 1920 by 1200 pixels;
• high level of performance, support for API OpenGL ES 3.0;
• loud and fairly high-quality acoustic subsystem;
• the current version of the operating system + priority updates;
• the presence of the main 5-megapixel camera;
• USB OTG support, albeit a little limited;
• availability of all necessary communication technologies, including an optional multi-band 4G LTE module;
• excellent battery life at low loads;
• very good value in the US market.

Peculiarities:

• possibility of wireless battery charging;
• the notification indicator glows only in white;
• SlimPort support for connecting an external display.

Flaws:

• no microSD card slot;
• in some cases, the speakers can easily be covered with the palm of your hand;
• long battery charging time;
• the wide bezel on the short sides of the display takes some getting used to.

We would like to thank ASUSTeK Computer Inc. for the tablet provided for testing.

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The Android OS has blossomed on smartphones in the last couple of years, phones running Google's operating system are selling better than anything else. Despite this, the operating system is fighting hard for tablets, the sales of which are still far behind the mighty iPad. Big manufacturers go out of their way to develop compelling devices to undermine Apple tablets, in large part because the best apps or content belong to the market leader. Budget devices, meanwhile, were often characterized by low quality and a lack of core Google apps coupled with outdated versions of the operating system. Something needed to be changed.

And Google knows what to do. The manufacturer launches the first tablet under its brand, the Nexus 7, which looks like a worthy answer to all the ills of Android on tablets. In an attractive design - Asus handled the design and manufacture - the tablet hits the market with the latest version of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and, most importantly, starting at Rs.

Seventh heaven

Before you even turn on the Nexus 7, you'll feel the build quality in every component, which isn't surprising given that Asus is responsible for the premium line of Transformer tablets and cutting-edge Zenbook laptops. The 7-inch display and 340 grams of weight allow you to take the tablet with you everywhere.

At 105mm thick, it's not the thinnest on the market, but it feels light and strong in the hands. The edges of the tablet are featureless compared to some Android devices, with just a single power button and volume rocker buttons on the right. The headphone jack and USB port are located on the bottom of the device. The back panel has a rubberized finish with tiny dimples and a speaker grille.

The front side of the tablet is also empty, above the screen is a web-camera and only, since all controls are provided by the touch screen. The tablet does not have a rear camera, only a front-facing 1.2-megapixel webcam for video chat. There is no pre-installed camera control app, but you can download something suitable from the Google Play store (like the popular Instagram) and take self-portraits if you want. There you will also find a microphone for video chatting.

Screen test

The 7-inch display uses the IPS display technology we've seen in most high-end laptops and tablet PCs. It is covered with scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass, which is able to resist wear and tear to a certain extent.

With a resolution of 1280x800 pixels in a relatively small display, you get a very sharp picture with a density of 216 pixels per inch. This, of course, is not at all the level of detail of the new iPads, but it will not be easy to see individual pixels with the naked eye. A bright display with rich colors will not make you experience problems with brightness on automatic settings. This is a fantastic screen, which will not yield to respectable models, the cost is twice as expensive; an incredible result for a budget tablet.

Nvidia Tegra 3

The screen quality is impressive for the price, but the tablet's hardware is even more impressive. Google and Asus turned to Nvidia for help, making the Nexus the proud owner of the Nvidia Tegra 3 chipset. $20,000 tablets and high-end smartphones like the HTC One X. The powerful chipset is served by 1GB of RAM, which is plenty. We ran the standard SunSpider JavaScript test, which took 1676ms to complete.

Tegra 3 features a low-power fifth core that helps reduce battery consumption when performing less demanding tasks. We launched a test H.264 video into continuous playback, which does not apply to demanding tasks, as it is decoded at the expense of hardware support. The massive Nexus 7 battery (4325mAh, twice the size of the Samsung Galaxy S3) lasted an impressive 10 hours and 20 minutes. That should be enough to watch the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy on a single charge.

Updates

The tablet's processor, screen, and battery are impressive, but other than that, the base model's specs are pretty meager. Costing around £6,500, the base Nexus 7 model has been upgraded from the original 8GB of storage to a more reasonable 16GB. A 32 GB version is also available, but will cost 1.500-2.000 rubles. more expensive.

If you need more storage, on the other hand, you'll have to shell out as there's no microSD card slot. However, 16 GB should be enough for most users, as you won't have to download all the music to the device, which is what smartphones have long been used for. The lack of internal storage can be a concern for those who want to have an impressive collection of videos on hand. However, we think that the microSD card slot could be a useful addition, fans of a pocket video library should choose the model with the maximum amount of memory.

Returning to Android, we remind you that the operating system is friendly with external downloads, so you will not have problems downloading videos. It is enough to drag the necessary files from the PC to the tablet, which supports all conceivable formats. Needless to say, the 2012 Google Nexus 7 is becoming the obvious choice for those who love to collect videos. The downside is the lack of an HDMI output, although you can always stream via DLNA available on smart TVs, set-top boxes or Blu-ray players.

Another recent addition to the Nexus 7 is a 32 GB model with 3G (HSPA+) support, costing about 10,000 rubles. The original device lacked 3G support, and now a lightweight and portable tablet becomes a full-fledged alternative to the Apple iPad Mini, costing almost 9,000 rubles less (although it is larger, 7.9 inches). Even though the Mini now supports 4G, which is faster, it's still an expensive option.

Alternatively, you can connect your Nexus 7 to your smartphone and use its data connection. On long trips where you need the entertainment features of a tablet along with email, this method can work just fine. However, in everyday use, the method is somewhat inconvenient when you just want to check your email, not to mention draining your smartphone's battery.

Android 4.2

The Nexus 7 recently received an Android 4.2 update that takes the fantastic tablet to the next level. For a full breakdown of the new features, read the review of Android 4.2. Here we are going to look at the key features and their impact on the Nexus 7.

The biggest update is without a doubt the inclusion of multiple user accounts, a feature that is being integrated into a tablet operating system for the first time. One tablet can now be used by all family members or friends, which can make it a convenient addition to your coffee table.

Each user logs in using their own Google account (if you have Gmail, you have an account) and thus access their email, can work with personal browser preferences, and can even use their own apps. This means that each user can download/purchase their own applications that users of other accounts cannot use. It's a brilliant addition that puts the Nexus 7 a step above Apple's tablets.

Another big update, at least for the Nexus 7, is the home screen orientation. Upon release, it was limited to portrait mode - like on smartphones - which could be annoying when you switched between tasks in landscape mode - movies or games - home screen and back. Now the home screen is rotating, problem solved.

Other additions include an improved notifications feature that now allows you to call or answer a text/missed call directly from the notifications panel. This solution reduces the number of steps required to complete common tasks.

With the Nexus 7, you also get separate notifications and a drop-down menu of options, accessed by swiping down from the top right or left side of the screen, respectively. The new options menu gives you easy access to numerous settings in a simple tile format.

The only disappointment with the upgrade is that the Nexus 7 doesn't get the same wireless video output capabilities as the Google Nexus 4. Without HDMI output, it would be nice to see support for Intel's WiDi standard for connecting your tablet to your TV.

Misfire

A major annoyance in Android 4.1 is the lack of Flash support, both in the Chrome browser and in any other browser you download from Google Play. Adobe's Flash Player also cannot be installed separately from Google Play. This is due to Adobe dropping support for the OS to focus on its AIR platform, but the current state of affairs raises a number of troubling questions. It is important to note that without the BBC iPlayer Flash Player, for example, both the application and the website will not work. And this applies to a number of other applications / sites with multimedia content. Considering, but video streaming is one of the best uses for Wi-Fi tablets at home, this is a serious problem that cannot be solved in the shortest possible time.

Speaking of content from other providers, the Kindle app still runs on Android 4.1 so you can buy books or some games, but we're still missing a number of popular online stores that access content through Flash. The screen of the tablet is slightly better for reading books than the Kindle, in favor of a larger size. Obviously it won't be able to match the contrast of E Ink displays, but other than that it's quite good.

Upside down

The fact that the Nexus 7 is largely designed to work in portrait is striking. Unlike most tablets, the home screen only works in this form factor, which can lead to some awkward moments when switching between landscape apps like the video player and the home screen. This is inconvenient and we would have preferred a rotating home screen. By default, the Google Nexus 7 (2012) is effectively locked in portrait mode and you have to find a toggle in the notification bar to disable the lock. Unfortunately there is no hardware switch. A strange decision from the manufacturer, but it is easy to fix.

Speaking of the notification bar, it is represented by a dropdown menu that sinks down the center of the screen but doesn't fill it to the full width. This decision looks strange at first glance, as if it was transferred from a smartphone with a smaller display. However, a narrow notification box makes it easier to digest information (like columns of text in a newspaper or magazine) without distracting you from the task at hand. The narrow box allows you to perform some functions directly from the notification panel, such as replying to SMS.

Play games

The Google Store, including all of its content, from apps to games, movies, books, comics and more, continues to improve. The lack of massive demand for Android tablets, of course, affects. The platform lacks some big games that users can fully appreciate on a large and bright tablet screen. Android users don't seem to be willing to pay serious money for apps, although we hope the Nexus 7 will help change that for the better, causing developers to spend more resources on Android tablet apps. Now, however, with the latter leading the way between Android and Apple, it will take some time for Google to turn around.

A widget that shows the most recently used content (such as books and movies) from the Google Play library is loaded automatically and opens to fill the entire home screen. You can turn it off or resize it in settings, but Google's intent is easy to read.

Tablet for you?

The 2012 Google Nexus 7 is, in many ways, an amazing tablet. However, Google seems to be planning to profit from it in the future with Google Play. A number of design decisions, such as low memory and no SD card support, and the removal of Flash in the current version of Android, seem suspiciously timely. Despite all this, the Google Nexus 7 is still a bargain; although it's worth considering how and when you're going to use it before spending the money.

If you've already invested in one of the leading plus size smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S3, then the Nexus 7 takes a backseat as it's unlikely to be paired with a flagship in the mobile world that also supports 3G. The big screen of a tablet has its advantages, but we are not sure if they are enough for an additional spending of 5-10,000 rubles.

Using a tablet on the go is likely to appeal to users of small or older phones who aren't willing to pay the high price of upgrading to a new larger smartphone. It will then need to preload the content the user needs, so it will take a bit of playing around with the apps before use to get the most out of the tablet. The Nexus may be inferior to the Kindle as an e-reader, but add in videos, games, web access, and news, they all make a compelling argument.

In home use, the tablet remains simple, not big, but still a great device for streaming video or TV, browsing the web or playing games. The lack of an HDMI output is a little disappointing as it could be a welcome addition if you wanted to play on the big screen or use it to view photos. Of course, the tablet can still be used in tandem with a large TV or set-top box that supports DLNA technology. Kids will love it, the small size packs enough processing power for any mobile game, add in a price tag that's only a fraction of the price of an iPad, and rough handling is much less.

One could argue that the big and expensive Google Nexus 10 is the best companion for today's flagship smartphones - and if you have a similar phone, it would be the best choice to buy. Nevertheless, for its price, the Nexus 7 remains a very good purchase, and looking at the quality of the device, we are ready to recommend the tablet for purchase. This is a fantastic tablet that everyone can use.

Fantastic little tablet at an incredible price, although not suitable for all needs.

Update. GoogleNexus 7 (2013) in the realities of the modern market

"New"The 2013 Nexus 7 ($12,000) has been on the market for eight months, but is it still the best?android tablet in a compact form factor? The modern market dictates its own conditions, according to which the device should be updated every 4 months, but Google isn't that fast yet and can't change devices that fast - we're still waiting for a new oneNexus 10 for example. The tablet market is about to be punished and the opposition to Nexus 7 requires you to reconsider your attitude towards yourself.

The strongest and most "fresh" competitor is without a doubt AsusmemoPad 8 ($10,990). LikeNexus 7 is a great little tablet from Asus, but compared toNexus 7 starting at Rs 12,000, MemoPad 8 is slightly cheaper - 11.000r.

Memo is larger than the competition, the 8-inch display has a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels, which makes it inferior to the pixel density of FullHD screenNexus 7. On the plus side, it offers better battery life, card slotmicroSD outputHDMI to connect to TV. In short, the tablet is better equipped to watch videos on third-party panels, although the native screen isn't as good.

If you want to spend less money, check out the Advent Vega Tegra Note (Rs. 7,800). It's a 7" tablet that sells for Rs 8000 but you get the latest N chipset with it.vidiaTegra 4, which is much faster than the aging SnapDragon S4 Pro fromNexus 7. The screen is again lower resolution, but the tablet's hardware is better, as is the battery life.

Simply put, no one dared to compete withGoogle on par, instead offering interesting alternatives to its tablet. Nowadays, if you are looking for a small tablet with an amazing screen,GoogleThe 2013 Nexus 7 remains the best choice.

original review

When Google launched the first Nexus 7 (2012), it included everything users could expect from an inexpensive Android tablet. The opportunity to get a big screen, a powerful chipset and the latest version of Android for just 6-7,000 rubles has become a market revelation. Nothing could beat the tablet in terms of price / quality, but the march of progress over the next 12 months was relentless. Google took notice of its competitors and worked closely with Asus on the new 2013 Nexus 7.

While we'd never call a year ugly, the silver plastic bezel around the screen's bezel, along with the dimpled rubberized back, certainly made it look like a toy. The same cannot be said about the new version of the tablet, which has shrunk to 8.7mm. The Nexus 7 (2013) also dropped weight from 340g to 290g. Combined with the thin screen bezel (about 6mm on each side), you'll really notice the difference when holding the tablet with one hand. In smaller hands, the tablet lies more comfortably, and your wrist will not whine, as after reading a book in a minibus.

The top and bottom bezels are still as thick as the previous model, but you might want to use that space to keep your fingers out of the way of the screen. The tablet looks a bit asymmetrical thanks to Android's black bar at the bottom, but that's just an optical illusion that disappears while watching videos in landscape mode.

The screen is without a doubt the best feature of the 2013 Nexus 7. The 7-inch 16:10 IPS panel boasts fantastic viewing angles and superb color accuracy, outperforming even the iPad Mini and covering 100% of the SRGB color gamut. It's an incredibly bright screen, peaking at 526.22 cd/m2. This means that you can use the tablet on a sunny day and enjoy a high-quality picture.

Photos and videos look vibrant with no signs of oversaturation, and the black color brings out the device's contrast. With a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels, Google claims the Nexus 7 (2013) is the sharpest 7-inch tablet on the market, and we tend to agree - text looks great at just about any size, high-resolution images show incredible clarity, and 1080p video does not lose quality on a small screen.

The tablet offers highly competent speakers to match the stunning visuals. The decision is not an easy one to make when it comes to where to place the speakers, on the front for direct audio feed, or on the back for a neat front of the unit. Google has chosen the back panel. The stereo speakers are located on the far left and right ends of the tablet when it is set to landscape mode for watching videos. They're loud enough that you don't have to plug in headphones to watch a movie, and stereo sound is a big step up from the mono speakers on the Nexus 7 (2012) or even an iPad Mini with a close-fitting pair.

The soft-touch rubber on the back of the tablet weighs less than the original Nexus 7, and there are no dimples either. While this decision may make the 2013 Nexus 7 a little more slippery, the grip is still better than glossy plastic like on the Samsung Galaxy Tab or Asus Memo Pad HD 7. The power and volume buttons are hidden under the lip of the screen, so you can find them without looking right away will not work. Aside from the 3.5mm audio jack on the top of the tablet and the micro-USB on the bottom, there are no physical ports (yes, no HDMI), although the wireless connectivity is still good.

Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, wireless video streaming and dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11n, complete package including Qi wireless charging. The latter feature may come in handy as battery tests only showed eight hours instead of ten hours on the Nexus 7 (2012). The battery of the new model is somewhat smaller, but lasts much longer in standby mode. In everyday use, you should still use the new model longer between charges, even if the test data suggests otherwise.

HardwareGoogle Nexus 7 (2013)

The tablet's extra battery life is due to Google's decision to use the previous generation of Nvidia's Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processors instead of the new Snapdragon 800. This decision is likely also driven by cost savings and as long as the 4-core chip is still efficient at its 1.5 GHz clock speed, it will be interesting to see how it holds up against the competition over the next 12 months. After all, the original Nexus 7 looked fast last year, but when compared to the latest devices, it falls short.

Paired with 2GB of RAM, the S4 Pro scored 1131.7 on the SunSpider Javascript test, as well as 2689 on the Geekbench test, placing it among the fastest smartphones and tablets of the current generation. In the real world, Android's interface runs incredibly smoothly and apps load almost instantly without the stutter we've seen in the past when the home screen is filled with widgets.

The Adreno graphics chip handles 3D games well. It scored 11,793 and 7,154 respectively on the Storm and Ice Storm Extreme 3DMark benchmarks, which outperform almost every tablet we've reviewed so far. , like Real Racing, 3 runs smoothly with no sign of frame rate drops. You may not get Nvidia's specific Tegra graphics effects in some games, but the ability to play almost every title available for the foreseeable future is guaranteed by the Google Nexus (2013).

Android and Apps

As the first device to run Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, the Nexus 7 comes with a restricted profile system that allows parents to restrict their children's access to apps and certain device features. These limited profiles are built into the main profile so you can buy apps and then your child can play them. Almost every application can be disabled or enabled, so you can even block email and browser if you need to.

Full multi-account support is still there, it also works with an individual set of applications, email addresses and so on, for each user. Icons for each user, limited or full, appear on the lock screen, just select a profile and unlock the screen (or enter a password) to work.

Google Play Games is coming preinstalled on the Nexus 7, although it's available for all Android 4.1+ devices, in this case it comes standard on the tablet. The system tracks your friends via Google+ and allows you to play multiplayer games together, keep up with leaderboards and earn achievements, similar to the Xbox 360 or PS3 social gaming systems.

The tablet also comes with a full suite of preinstalled Google apps, including Play Books, Play Magazines, Play Music, Play Movies, Drive Document Locker, Maps and Earth, Keep Notes and Hangouts, along with the familiar Google Talk. Google is pushing the development of apps and games to meet the traditional demands of smartphone or tablet users, although the search giant's store still lags behind iOS when it comes to third-party apps - most are optimized smartphone apps with a few extra features and large-screen adaptations. .

Update Aandroid 4. 4 KitKats

Google said the Nexus 7 (2013) will get the latest Android 4.4 KitKat update when the Nexus 5 was revealed. It's taken several weeks for tablet owners to be nervous about rumors and leaks regarding a release date, but today the official version is available for everyone. who was patient enough. If you're buying a 2013 Google Nexus 7 today, you should know that KitKat isn't preinstalled, but an update is available right out of the box.

Existing owners can check if an update is available by going to Settings, About Tablet, System Updates - if Android 4.4 KitKat is already available on your tablet, the download will start automatically. By downloading the 242MB update, the tablet will install it. We were a bit disappointed that the Google Experience starter didn't carry over from the Nexus 5 - you'll be left with the basic Jelly Bean starter, with no integrated Google Now feature.

The icons have received a minor redesign, however most of the changes remain internally - memory usage has been optimized in a way that improves multitasking efficiency, an impressive feature that the Nexus 7 had a hard time with on Android 4.3.

There are some visual changes; if you lock the tablet while music is playing, the album art will fill the entire screen, instead of part of it, as it was before. However, most of KitKat's updates focus on phone features like the dialer app, which is not installed on the Nexus 7. The update makes sense, but don't expect a radically new experience like the Nexus 5.

cameras

A major upgrade from the original Nexus 7 is the introduction of a 5-megapixel rear camera. It doesn't have a flash, but it does have auto focus and a simplified user interface that lets you adjust white balance, select scene settings, change exposure, all with a shutter button that's easy to press with one finger. Photosphere returns from Android 4.2, allowing you to capture 360-degree panoramas, you can also shoot 1080p video, along with time-lapse mode.

The quality of the shots is what you would expect based on the number of pixels on the screen. Close-ups in well-lit conditions show a sea of ​​detail, as do landscapes on a sunny day, although indoor shots suffer from noise and glare.

The Nexus 7 did a great job capturing our impromptu still life photo as long as the studio lights were on. The camera captured many of the details on the toys, down to the exact texture of the fur. Only the brightest and most reflective parts of the fan ate all the detail in the image, the rest of the image is fine. Color fidelity is excellent, even when using preset auto white balance.

When the studio lights were turned off, the Nexus 7 had a hard time, resulting in noisy images with no detail. With no flash and no image stabilization, there's no way to get rid of the noise other than turning on the lights. Auto focus is not designed for this kind of shooting, so if you're going to be photographing in poor lighting conditions, it's worth leaving the Google Nexus 7 (2013) at home. However, the camera is great for "Right Now!" shots when you don't have the time or ability to grab a full-fledged camera or smartphone with a lot of megapixels.

A similar situation occurs with fixed video shooting. In abundant lighting conditions, focus is locked instantly, and all fine details are recorded in detail. However, subdued lighting makes the auto focus go crazy. The reason for this is most likely the moving fan blades, which create the effect of a moving light source. So as long as the subject is adequately lit, the footage remains smooth and detailed, but given the blurry focus and low detail in poorly lit subjects, you won't shoot much in low light with this tablet.

Comparison [Updated: 05/12/2014]

AmazonkindleFireHDX7

Google Nexus 7 (2013) and Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 7 are the first things that come to mind when you think of a budget Android tablet.

While the HDX 7 is deeply rooted in Android, the on-screen experience is strikingly different as Amazon has completely overhauled the interface to include its own solutions.

There are many more changes than the slide system, but they provide an easy-to-learn interface, and if you are familiar with the Amazon ecosystem, then this is a good choice.

In terms of specs, the tablets are very similar and overlap in many ways, but the HDX 7 benefits from both a new processor and graphics chip - although there isn't a huge difference in performance.

Tesco Hudl

The Tesco Hudl may be a serious competitor to the Nexus 7, especially considering the incredibly reasonable price of 7,000 rubles.

Unlike the Kindle Fire HDX 7, the Hudl runs almost on a basic version of Android KitKat, with just a few additional features that emphasize Tesco.

The tablet's display isn't Full HD, and it lacks RAM and GPU, but considering it's almost half the price of the Google Nexus 7 (2013), you can live with those shortcomings.

You'll get better performance and a great viewing experience for anything with the 2013 Nexus 7, but if you don't want to spend $12,000, the 7-inch Hudl is a better choice.

iPadMini 2

If you're scouring the market for a small tablet and ready to burn a hole in your wallet, you should check out the iPad Mini 2 with Retina display.

With it, you'll find a larger 7.9-inch display and a supremely stylish metal body that takes over the Nexus 7 in terms of design.

The iOS 7 user interface is gaining popularity and is now well known in Russia, and the AppStore offers many more tablet-oriented apps than Google Play.

Of course, the stumbling block, as with other Apple products, is the price. The iPad Mini 2 starts at Rs 19,000, which is much more expensive than the Nexus 7 (2013).

Conclusion

Buy Google Nexus 7 2013 for 11.900r (16GB + Wi-Fi) directly from Google. The price tag is 2,500 rubles higher than the previous model, but the increase in price is justified by the increase in performance, better design and a much better display. Today, the tablet looks no worse than the flagships of other manufacturers, in comparison even with the iPad Mini, and therefore deserves a purchase recommendation. If your budget doesn't allow for that kind of extravagance, the Asus Memo Pad HD 7 (RUR 7,800) is worth checking out, which has the same specs as the Nexus 7 (2012), but right now the Nexus 7 (2013) is the best 7-inch Android tablet on the market.

Google Nexus 7 (2013) prices:

DNS: Asus Google Nexus 7 (16 GB) - 10,990 rubles. | Asus Google Nexus 7 (32GB + 3G) - 14.890 r.

WikiMart: Asus Google Nexus 7 (32GB) - 14.990 r.

M Video: Asus Google Nexus 7 (16 GB) - 10.990 r.

Svyaznoy: Asus Google Nexus 7 (32GB + 3G/LTE) - 16.990 r.

Google Nexus 7 (2013). Overview

Anton Zim

12.05.2014 Sophisticated and powerful, the new Nexus 7 is still the best compact Android tablet on the market.

10 Overall Score

Verdict

Sophisticated and powerful, the new Nexus 7 is still the best compact Android tablet on the market.