Google Nexus 7 Review (2013)

Design:

Commissioned yet again for the task at hand, Taiwan based company Asus has done yet another marvelous job designing the 2013 version of the Google Nexus 7. Simply, it has all the qualities we want to find in a successive device, as it’s both thinner (0.34”) in frame and lighter (10.55 oz) in weight to make it even easier to grasp with a single hand. We’ll admit, the design isn’t the most captivating over other shakers in the space, since it follows the same modest design structure as before, which is most notable for its subtle tapered edges, cleaner looking soft touch rear casing, and skinnier left/right bezels. It’s a minimalist design at its core, a defining characteristic for sure, but it doesn’t compromise with its construction either. Sure, it’s not flaunting a premium design like the iPad mini, but it really doesn’t need to, mainly because the updated design has an endearing effect on its own. 

Design:

Commissioned yet again for the task at hand, Taiwan based company Asus has done yet another marvelous job designing the 2013 version of the Google Nexus 7. Simply, it has all the qualities we want to find in a successive device, as it’s both thinner (0.34”) in frame and lighter (10.55 oz) in weight to make it even easier to grasp with a single hand. We’ll admit, the design isn’t the most captivating over other shakers in the space, since it follows the same modest design structure as before, which is most notable for its subtle tapered edges, cleaner looking soft touch rear casing, and skinnier left/right bezels. It’s a minimalist design at its core, a defining characteristic for sure, but it doesn’t compromise with its construction either. Sure, it’s not flaunting a premium design like the iPad mini, but it really doesn’t need to, mainly because the updated design has an endearing effect on its own. 

With the minimalist design and all, the tablet’s façade is pretty clean looking, since the usual set of Android capacitive buttons are incorporated into the interface. However, there’s a single LED light that pulsates in white for notifications – while a front-facing 1.2-megapixel camera, enabled for 720 video recording, is perched in an offset position toward the upper right corner above the display.

Just as before, the right edge of the tablet is home to its physical power button and volume control – with each offering better feel and responsiveness than last year’s model. Furthermore, the microphone is also found on the same side as well. Up top, the only item we find is the 3.5mm headset jack – while the microUSB port is the single item that’s seen on the bottom side. Interestingly, the new Nexus 7 features two speakers that are placed in close proximity to the top and bottom edges of the tablet when it’s held in portrait.

Adding more depth, the Nexus 7 is now armed with a rear camera – a 5-megapixel auto-focus one to be exact, that’s capable of recording video in 1080p. Although it’s not something we’d particularly use all the time, especially when we’re talking about a tablet here, it’s nonetheless a pleasing addition to use when the tablet is the only thing within reach to snap something on the fly.

Tweet