Home
 / 
Google Nexus 7 review – Final Conclusion

Google Nexus 7 review – Final Conclusion

July 30, 2012

By now you will have hopefully read our selection of reviews for the Nexus 7.

General consensus is that it is a great piece of kit. Jelly Bean is great. People are just going to go mad buying these. Amazon are screwed unless the next Kindle Fire is a lot cheaper and a higher spec.

One thing that does keep rearing its head is the “iPad mini” the podcast keeps coming back round to that mythical product. If they do release a smaller iPad what will happen to sales of the Nexus 7.

I thought as we had a selection of the writers group together and write the review I would gather their final thoughts on the Nexus 7 for the conclusion.

You have probably read A LOT of reviews for the Nexus 7 so there isn’t much point in dragging out the conclusion. I asked the team six questions about the Nexus 7 and they are as follows.

  • 1-10 how happy are you with it?
  • What would you change or add on? Hardware or software.
  • Name your one favourite thing about it? Hardware or software.
  • Will you buy an iPad mini and sell your Nexus if/when it comes out?
  • Would you buy a Nexus 10?
  • Your final thoughts in about 50 words.

Here are the answers I got.

James Wicks

  • 1-10 how happy are you with it?
About 5 out of 10, due to screen flickering at lower brightness levels.
  • What would you change or add on? Hardware or software.
A memory card slot would be great.
  • Name your one favourite thing about it? Hardware or software.
The hardware is well built and light, Jelly Bean really shines and Google now outdoes Siri for searching via voice.
  • Will you buy an iPad mini and sell your Nexus if/when it comes out?
I’ll likely sell or return the nexus depending on the screen issue.
  • Would you buy a Nexus 10?
I probably would. The screen size of the Nexus 7 makes the ipad feel like a proper computer, where the Nexus 7 feels like a mobile.
  • Your final thoughts in about 50 words.

The Nexus 7 has me confused. I love the size and weight, but the UI feels like a big mobile phone. I have an iPad 3 and that now feels like a huge over heavy device, but it also feels way more powerful and useful to me than the Nexus. I’m now entirely torn about what I want in a tablet device.

Garry Clark

  • 1-10 how happy are you with it?
8.
  • What would you change or add on? Hardware or software.
 I would add an micro sd card slot.
  • Name your one favourite thing about it? Hardware or software.
 The actual physical size of it.
  • Will you buy an iPad mini and sell your Nexus if/when it comes out?
Yes I probably will maybe even sell my ipad 2.
  • Would you buy a Nexus 10?
No I am trying to get away from a big tablet.
  • Your final thoughts in about 50 words.

Overall i think this is one of the best Android devices that I have used to date even outing the Transformer Prime. It also gives the iPad 2 a real run for its money, and it will be interesting to see what happens if Apple bring out an iPad Mini.

Tom Ransom

  • 1-10 how happy are you with it?
10, most definitely. It’s exactly what I hoped for and is a joy to use. If it doesn’t do something that I want it to then there is an app available or some sort of mod on XDA Dev. 
  • What would you change or add on? Hardware or software.
I think I would add on a rear camera. It doesn’t have to be great because I am not interested of taking pictures to capture the moment like you would with a phone, I’d like a camera on the back to snap QR codes, upload a picture quickly to Twitter etc.
  • Name your one favourite thing about it? Hardware or software.
The size. It’s fantastic to hold and big enough to be able to get lots of information out of it at once. I have actually used it at work for demonstration purposes and both my line manager and the visiting Professor from Aberdeen who I was presenting to are now buying one. 
  • Will you buy an iPad mini and sell your Nexus if/when it comes out?
No, it’s not all about the size, it’s the size plus it’s hackability and integration with Google’s services. 
  • Would you buy a Nexus 10?
No, after spending a week solely using the Nexus I went back to the iPad for a day. That thing feels HUGE now and I don’t like it. 
  • Your final thoughts in about 50 words.

Overall I think it is a massive hit for Google and exactly the push the tablet industry needed. As a company only Google could pull this off (Apple could but they wouldn’t) with regards to selling at a loss, basically. It’s nice to see that they have gone for it too. I am perfectly happy with it and haven’t stopped using it since I got it. The battery isn’t big enough for all the use I try to get out of it.

Stephen Murray

  • 1-10 how happy are you with it?
9 out of 10.
  • What would you change or add on? Hardware or software.
I would have liked to have MHL support. Then it would have been 10/10.
  • Name your one favourite thing about it? Hardware or software.
Favourite thing is the size, perfect for single hand operation (that wasn’t meant to sound weird…)
  • Will you buy an iPad mini and sell your Nexus if/when it comes out?
Nope, I’m Android through and through, plus the Apple product is likely to be more money.
  • Would you buy a Nexus 10?
Nope, my last tablet was 10″ which is too big, now that I am used to the Nexus 7
  • Your final thoughts in about 50 words.

I think Google/Asus has got the Nexus 7 just right, from the design and specs right through to the price. When I look for a new device, I like it to be ‘hackable’ for rooting and flashing different ROM’s. The nexus 7 doesn’t disappoint. Rooting took place within 30 mins, with a custom ROM flashed shortly after. Since then, I have also enabled full tablet mode. I think the Nexus 7 is a keeper.

Simon Allum

  • 1-10 how happy are you with it?
7/10, screen issues are not a deal breaker but prevalent particularly when the screen has a white background.
  • What would you change or add on? Hardware or software.
The UI, it makes the device seem like a large phone at times, there should be an option within settings to change to a table ui.
  • Name your one favourite thing about it? Hardware or software.
The overall experience of Jelly Bean on a top of the range device.  
  • Will you buy an iPad mini and sell your Nexus if/when it comes out?
Most certainly not, under any circumstances.
  • Would you buy a Nexus 10?
 It depends on price point and if the ui was altered to a tablet ui.
  • Your final thoughts in about 50 words.
the nexus 7 is an excellent first foray into the tablet arena for Google themselves, a high spec device at a solid price point. It is not without its weaknesses but on the value for money stakes it is currently unbeatable.  The Google play store needs to increase its offering in the UK and if this happens then I can see future nexus tablet devices making a real mark on the tablet market.

So that is it, the end of our reviews. If you have any questions about further things you want to see tested, to get us to try apps to see if they work or even just ask a question about how something simple works. Then leave a comment below and one of us will get back to you.

If you just want to chat about the Nexus 7 in our forum we have an Android Tablet area here. Head over and get involved.

Comments (2)

  1. snitch

    I’ve had one for about 2 weeks now and I can’t put it down. You guys have done some really good overviews on the N7. I’m surprised you haven’t had more reactions. My main gripe at the moment is that Google are very poor at hardware marketing that regardless how good or bad the mini iPad is the N7 will suffer and we’ll be back to square 1. There were no good cases or accessories at launch, very few new Google developed apps and poor customer support. I think Google have about a month to make or break Android as a tablet UI for the masses.

  2. Ian Golding

    N7 owner for the past few weeks & loving it. I think tablets today are well overpriced & you could buy a decent & more powerful laptop. Google & Asus got the price, spec, size & Software spot on. 1 gripe no expandable memory slot. hope next iterations will address this. P.s 7” is the the ultra portable slate size