Nexus 7 or Nexus 10, which one is best for you

If you want to buy an Android powered tablet, you can take Google's Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 into consideration which are the two of the best tablet computers on the market today.

You may ask whether to have the smaller and more portable Nexus 7 or the larger and more powerful Nexus 10? While, it depends. But the following comparsion between Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 will give you a clue.

Size:

Nexus 10 - 263.8x177.8x8.9mm, 603g

Nexus 7 - 198.5x120x10.5mm, 340g

Google’s Nexus devices are a bit peculiar when you compare them to equivalent ranges from companies such as, say, Apple.

That’s because each one is quite different from the last design-wise, but this is probably at least partly because Google has different manufacturers make each device.

As a result, the Nexus 7 looks nothing like the Nexus 10.

It’s not just about size either, the former is more squared-off and angular, has more phone-like proportions in terms of length-to-width ratio and it has a textured back panel for better grip.

Meanwhile, the Nexus 10 has very curvy corners and even sports unusual curved edges, while the finish on the back panel is smooth.

Both tablets are well-built, they feel quite robust in the hand but the Nexus 7 does seem to have a slight edge with a metallic bezel and a generally more solid fit and finish.

The portability is also a key point, the size of the Nexus 7 is spot-on for carrying it round while commuting, it’ll even fit in some pockets and the screen size is still ideal for multimedia, e-books and browsing.

While the Nexus 10’s larger size makes it better for these roles in the home or office, taking it out and about can be something of a chore.

We have to put the Nexus 7 forward as our choice here.

Winner – Nexus 7

Display

The Nexus 7 has a 7-inch IPS LCD display with a 1280x800 pixel resolution, a pixel density of 216 pixels-per-inch (ppi) and Corning Gorilla Glass reinforcement.

While the picture quality is reasonably sharp the brightness isn’t the best, colours are a little dull and generally things have a tendency to look washed out.

Some of those criticisms could equally be levelled at the Nexus 10’s display compared to other tablets on the market, but compared to the Nexus 7 it is much more impressive.

In particular, the resolution clocks in at 2560x1600 pixels and 300ppi, so it’s one of the sharpest tablet displays on the market and even outclasses many smartphone screens.

Winner – Nexus 10

Storage

Both devices have the same 16GB or 32GB options for internal storage and no MicroSD capability at all.

Winner – Draw

Hardware, Software and Performance

Starting with software, each tablet runs the same build of Android, version 4.2 Jelly Bean.

This has all the performance optimisation and stability tweaks of the previous build, along with the Butter UI enhancements to make touch control and visual feedback smoother and more responsive.

It also has some excellent interface controls with a multitasking carousel and swipe-to-close touch gestures.

New features include PhotoSphere, which is essentially a panoramic capture mode, but one which allows 360-degree capture.

Miracast is a new function which allows wireless streaming to HDMI TV sets, the touch keyboard now features Swype-like text input and a profile sharing feature allows multiple accounts on the same device.

There’s also a handy new drop-down quick settings menu alongside the existing drop-down notifications bar.

Google Now has been modified to include more location tips, such as nearby gigs and photo opportunities.

Interface running and performance on both devices is broadly comparable, as it’s smooth and well optimised. However, in terms of raw power for multitasking, intensive gaming and multimedia, the Nexus 10 is holding all the cards.

The Nexus 7 features a 1.2GHz ARM Cortex-A9 quad core Nvidia Tegra 3 processor with 40 nanometre (nm) architecture, a GeForce ULP graphics processing unit (GPU) and 1GB of single-channel RAM.

It’s reasonably zippy and will stand up well to most of the demanding apps and games currently available.

However, the Nexus 10 is on next-gen processor tech, with an ARM Cortex-A15 based Samsung Exynos 5250 dual core processor, clocked at 1.7GHz with 32nm architecture, a Mali-T604 quad core GPU and 2GB of dual-channel RAM.

This will perform faster, with more efficiency and at cooler temperatures on current Google Play content but will also be future proof for use with new content for some time to come.

Winner – Nexus 10

Price:

The Nexus 7 is arguably the best bang for your buck among all tablet devices, and definitely the best deal on a 7-inch tablet available today. Starting at just $199 for a 16GB model, the Nexus 7 is a steal, though it's no surprise it costs less than the larger Nexus 10.

The Nexus 10 starts a $399 ($100 less than the latest iPad but twice the price of the Nexus 7). The cheapest Nexus 10 model also comes with just 32GB, with a 32GB model costing $499. What you're really paying for with the Nexus 10 isn't more storage, but more screen space and a more powerful processor. Read on for on that.

Winner - Nexus 7

Conclusion:

There were inevitably going to be plenty of ways in which the Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 are on an even playing field.

Deciding between the Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 isn't about looking at numbers and features side-by-side. The truth is that in many ways the two devices are extremely similar, particularly when it comes to software and features.

If you're not looking to spend a lot on your new tablet then go with the Nexus 7. It's still a great device and you won't find cheaper tablet anywhere that's not a worthless knockoff.

But if you want something bigger or more powerful go with the Nexus 10. It's still a bargain compared to the iPad, and it boasts some of the most powerful specs available today.

Tips: If you need to play videos on Nexus 7 or Nexus 10 on Windows and Mac, you need to make sure that the videos are compatible with Nexus 7 or Nexus, otherwise, you need to convert videos to Nexus 7 or Nexus 10 supported MP4 videos with Nexus Video Converter or Mac Nexus Video Converter

Reference: Nexus 7 vs. Nexus 10 Review: Which Google-Designed Tablet Is Best For You?

Nexus 10 vs Nexus 7