Walt Mossberg offers his take on the $199 Nexus 7, an Android tablet from Google set to launch next week. The new tablet, built by Asus, is Wi-Fi-only and features a 7-inch screen.
“After testing the Nexus 7 for a couple of weeks, I consider it the best Android tablet I’ve used,” he writes. “It’s a serious alternative to both Apple’s larger $499 iPad and to a more direct rival: Amazon’s $199, Android-based, 7-inch Kindle Fire. I prefer the Nexus 7 to 7-inch models from Google partners like Samsung, whose comparable product costs $250.”
Mossberg notes ways in which the Nexus 7 does not keep up with the iPad: no cellular connectivity option, no rear camera, less screen resolution, less memory, fewer content choices and fewer available apps.
“But Google’s tablet is a better choice than the iPad for people on a budget; for those who prefer a lighter, more compact tablet that’s easier to carry and operate with one hand; and for those who prefer Google’s ecosystem of apps, services and content to Apple’s,” he notes, adding that he found the Nexus 7 battery life to be better than that of the iPad.
The Nexus 7 touts an artificial-intelligence feature that “presents a screen, called Google Now, with information it considers relevant to you at your present location and time — like the weather, traffic conditions between home and work, your next calendar appointment, and information for flights you’ve been researching,” writes Mossberg.
He also points out that “Apple is rumored to be planning a smaller, less costly iPad, which could give the Nexus 7 a run for its money.”
The post includes a 6-minute video report from Mossberg.
Walt Mossberg offers his take on the $199 Nexus 7, an Android tablet from Google set to launch next week. The new tablet, built by Asus, is Wi-Fi-only and features a 7-inch screen.
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