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The Nexus 7 has long been the premier budget tablet for

new and seasoned Android users alike

W

hat more is there to say about the device

that kickstarted the budget tablet craze?

The predominantly plastic Nexus 7 feels

robust and well made, while the curved edges make it

easy to hold for prolonged periods of times. The front

of the device is pretty much featureless, with no

physical buttons to show, but there’s a solitary

1.2-megapixel camera just above the screen. All the

usual ports are also taken care of, including a volume

rocker, power button and micro-USB, but there’s no

sign of a microSD card slot, which is fast becoming a

defi ning feature on more modern tablets.

When you turn it on for the fi rst time, you can

begin to appreciate the glorious 7-inch display for

what it is. At 1920x1200 pixels, the pixel density is

323ppi, which stands up well against many

high-end devices nowadays. It makes a massive

difference having a high-quality screen like this, as

there are no noticeable jagged edges in sight and

it’s less eye-straining for longer sessions.

Compared to some of the competition, the

Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor is slowly

starting to show its age. It’s by no means a slow

processor, but it can start to get a little sluggish when

undertaking some serious multitasking. However,

thanks to the completely stock Android operating

system and user interface, it makes general use an

absolute breeze. It may be over a year old, but it’s also

one of the fi rst devices to get the Android 5.0 update,

which includes all the latest features and is arguably

the fastest Android OS yet.

Neither the speakers nor camera were too good

when we fi rst looked at the Nexus 7, something that’s

even more apparent now. The 5-megapixel camera is

basic and although it performs adequately in the

daytime, it struggles in low light conditions, while the

speakers are slightly tinny for most music you play.

This is still a powerful tablet, without a doubt, but

one that certainly is closely matched by some of its

competitors nowadays.

Nexus 7 (2013)

Reviews

Stunning

screen

We love the display on the

Nexus 7 just as much as

we did when we fi rst got

our hands on it last year.

Everything looks crisp and

clear things to the

impressive 323ppi

Upgrade to

Lollipop

All Nexus devices will be

some of the fi rst to

receive an upgrade to

Android Lollipop, and the

Nexus 7 is no exception.

The new update has a

wealth of changes that all

users should check out

Camera woes

If there’s one area we can

criticise the Nexus 7 about

it’s the tablet’s poor

camera offering. The

5-megapixel camera

leaves shots looking

grainy and washed out

Well built

Although most of us are

now more inclined to pick

a sleek metallic device

than a purely plastic one,

the Nexus 7 just feels

robust and well built with

a nice rubberised fi nish on

»^ Operating system........Android 4.4.4 the backplate

»^ Processor ...........................Snapdragon S4

1.5GHz quad-core

»^ Memory ...............................2GB RAM, 16/32GB storage

»^ Dimensions .......................200 x 114 x 8.7mm

»^ Weight ...................................290g

»^ Display size .......................7.0 - inch

»^ Display resolution ........1920 x 1200 pixels

»^ Connectivity .....................Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n,

Bluetooth 4.0

»^ Camera ................................5MP rear, 1.2MP front

technical specs

Price £169.99

»^ More information play.google.com

»^ Supplied by play.google.com

information

The Nexus 7 has certainly

stood the test of time and

still contains one of the best

displays and designs we

have ever seen

»Verdict

Nexus 7 (2013)

»head-to-head

Design

There’s no flex in the plastic shell of the

Nexus 7 and the rubberised backplate makes

it easier to hold for prolonged periods of time.

Some will be put off by the large bezels on the

front, but it’s only a small annoyance.

Performance

The Qualcomm S4 processor is starting

to show its age against the competition.

It’s important to stress that it’s not a slow

processor by any means, but it can be a bit

of a strain doing some serious multitasking.

Camera and video

Both the camera and video capabilities

of the Nexus 7 are poor, but the array of

editing options for both are fantastic. The

front-facing camera is ideal for making

videocallsoverSkype.

Battery life

Even when watching movies, or performing

other demanding tasks, you can expect to

get close to a full day of battery life without

any issues. It’s the best battery in the group

by a mile, which will be important to some.