Introduction
What a comparison we have for you here – the Nexus 7 versus the new Nexus 9… and this is a true ‘comparison,’ not necessarily which one is better – because as we will discover on this journey, both tablets are about the best you can get in their respective size category. Both tablets are well-built, nice looking and top quality in specs and performance. Google made some bold moves this year with respect to both their Google Nexus 6 smartphone and their new Google Nexus 9 tablet – they went BIGGER all around. What happened to the new Nexus 7…they instead, decided to jump their new tablet up to 9-inches…if you want the smaller 2013 Nexus 7 tablet, you better hurry and pick one up on eBay or Amazon.
Even though these two Nexus tablets are under the guidance of Google – they are made by different companies, and therefore as different as night and day, technically…not just in size. There are a few things that both of these tablets share – they use the IPS LCD display technology, they are both equipped with 2GB of RAM, and they both have either a 16GB or 32GB option for internal storage with no room for expansion.
They both have the usual Wi-Fi, Bluetooth (Nexus 9 has 4.1 and Nexus 7 has 4.0), built-in NFC capabilities, microUSB 2.0 port for charging and data transfer, and they both have dual stereo speakers…and the new Nexus 9 has the infamous HTC BoomSound speakers.
Please take a close look at the detailed specifications listed below and then we will look at the individual devices to pick the winner of this comparison.
Specifications
Nexus 9
The new Nexus 9 was designed “with you in mind”…it has subtle curves and a soft grip back that is light and comfortable to hold. With thin bezels, brushed metal sides, and three colors – black, white and sand – it has a sleek and sturdy look. Google played with the size of the new Nexus 9 – gone are the more standard 7-inch, 8-inch or 10-inch models, but instead a new 8.9-inch device that Google must believe is the new ‘sweet spot.’ The Nexus 9 comes with a QXGA display with a resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels with 281 pixels-per-inch (PPI) – giving you a beautifully sharp display covered with Gorilla Glass 3.
The Nexus 9 uses a Nvidia Tegra K1 64-bit Dual-Core Denver processor clocked at 2.3GHz and a Kepler DX1 GPU for graphics. It also comes with 2GB of RAM and either 16GB or 32GB of internal storage – there is no room for expansion. There is a Wi-Fi only version of the 16GB and 32GB models and a 32GB LTE model as well. The main camera is a 8MP shooter with auto focus, an f/2.4 aperture and a LED Flash and the front-facing camera (FFC) is 1.6MP for video chatting and selfies. HTC also added their dual front-facing stereo speakers and BoomSound, for a great listening experience whether you are watching a movie, video, listening to music or playing a game. With a huge 6700mAh battery you will have lots of power to run your Nexus 9 all day.
An let us not forget that the Nexus 9 will be sporting the newest Android 5.0 Lollipop and all of the new features that it brings to the table. There is also a lot of great accessories already coming out to support this device – keyboards and covers. The pricing is $399 for the 16GB Wi-Fi model, $479 for the 32GB Wi-Fi model and $599 for the 32GB LTE model.
Nexus 7 (2013)
When the Nexus 7 (2013) was released in July 2013, it was immediately recognized as a real step up from the 2012 version – the casing was thinner and lighter…just 8.65mm thick, with a smooth plastic backing and weighing in at just a little over 10 ounces. ASUS did away with the Nvidia processor and opted instead for a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core clocked at 1.5GHz. The 7.02-inch display resolution was jumped to 1920 x 1200 pixels with 323 PPI and it is sharp, bright and a beautiful display that you can look at all day and not tire of using. If you are into gaming, you will not be disappointed – the power of the Snapdragon and 2GB of RAM will give you the power and fluid play you love and the surround sound speakers will immerse you in sound. It comes with a 5MP main camera with auto focus and a 1.2MP FFC – pictures are not great, maybe barely good, but it is nice to have a camera if your need to take a quick picture. A 3950mAh non-removable battery supplies power and in this department it really shines.
The Nexus 7 (2013) comes only in Black and brings with it Wireless Charging. It currently is running an upgrade to 4.4.4 KitKat and should receive the newest Google Operating System, 5.0 Lollipop shortly after it is available. When the Nexus 7 was available in the Google Play Store, it ran $199 for a 16GB model and $230 for the 32GB Wi-Fi model and $349 for a 32GB LTE model. For the money, if you are interested in a 7-inch tablet, then you would be hard pressed to find something better than the Nexus 7 (2013).
Summary
For this comparison, I did not pick a traditional winner for a couple of reasons – First off, these are both excellent devices deserving your purchase…it all depends on what size tablet you are comfortable using and for what tasks you want a tablet. Secondly, the Nexus 7 is not longer being made, so it would be foolish to pick a tablet you could no longer buy from the Play Store.
Both tablets are exceptional in their size group and well-made with premium materials, as well they should be because neither one is cheaply priced – but is still an excellent value for the technical specs you are receiving. With either device you are getting a good looking and well-built device with an excellent display, a fast processor with plenty of RAM, great sound, and a real workhorse or a great gaming machine.
Please hook up with us on our Google+ Page and let’s discuss the new Nexus 9 – are you okay with the larger tablet or would prefer the Nexus 7 size…as always, we would love to hear from you.