Having trouble buying a tablet? More likely than not, the decision will come down to the two premier tablets on the market, the Google Nexus 7 or the Apple iPad. Granted, Amazon's Kindle Fire was attractive at its $200 price, but the fact that the Nexus 7 is just as cheap makes Google's more robust tablet a better buy. If you're looking between the two, and can afford the more expensive iPad, then the decision might come down to how much you value your display.
The Nexus 7 has received rave reviews across the board. Not only is it affordable at $200, but it offers all the features that the latest Android version, Jelly Bean, also offers on a mobile tablet. Wireless data transfers, a smoother interface, and access to the vast Android app store are all pluses. The only problem with the device seems to be its screen and display.
To begin with, users have complained about dead pixels and cracked screens. Apparently the construction of the screens in ASUS's factories didn't hold too well, and has many consumers angry that the device breaks so easily.
Beneath the exterior, though, may lie a bigger problem. Display expert Dr. Raymond Soneira explained in a post on DisplayMate that there's an internal calibration problem with the Nexus 7's display.
"Although the Nexus 7 has a high quality display, they messed up the factory calibration. This affects all displayed images, but it is most noticeable on any form of photographic image, including videos, because the color and intensity mixtures are visually critical for them to look right. On the other hand, for high contrast software generated text and graphics the display will look fine," he says.
"If high image and picture quality is important to you, then you might want to skip the Google Nexus 7 and wait for a Tablet with a better display, or wait and see if Google can correct the problem..."
The newest Apple iPad comes with the much-touted Retina display. Operating at a 2048X1536 resolution on the 10-inch screen, the Retina display puts out 264 pixels per inch (ppi). The Nexus 7, with its seven-inch screen, still puts out an impressive 216 ppi, but what good is it if the screen is faulty?
The new iPad also comes with 4G LTE support, something the Nexus 7 doesn't.
If you're hooked on Android, and don't need the Nexus 7 tablet for high-quality video viewing, then Google's tablet is a clear winner at the price. But chances are, that if you pick up one of these early Nexus 7 models floating around, and are a video freak, Apple's new iPad, with its sturdier build and better display, might be the choice for you if you can afford it.
The Google Nexus 7 starts at $199, and Apple's new iPad at $499.