iPad Mini vs Google Nexus 7: Which turbo tablet wins?
The iPad Mini is here in the land of officialdom, and Apple’s made clear it intends to claim the crown as king of all small tablets. Live on stage in front of the world’s press, Apple product marketing chief Phil Schiller compared the iPad Mini to Asus’ Google Nexus 7 Android tablet, and made it clear which he thinks is better for customers – no guessing which he favours.
But is the iPad Mini really better? It’s too early to tell for sure, but let’s take a look at the core vital statistics for both.
Design and build
We’ve yet to check out a finished iPad Mini in the flesh, but Schiller doesn’t appear to be exaggerating about its looks. The 7.2mm thin iPad Mini looks supremely polished, with a flat metal back, and the thin edges of a smartphone. That’s unusual in tablets, which traditionally have thick bezels on all four sides. We can’t see the thick plastic build of the Google Nexus 7 competing when punters stroll into an Apple store to check it out for themselves.
Screen size
This one’s by no means so clear cut. The 7.9-inch 1024×768 display of the iPad Mini should be relatively sharp (it’s the same resolution as the iPad 2, slimmed down), but the 7-inch display on the Google Nexus 7 is a sharper 1280×800 pixels. Of course, that’s not the only measurement of screen quality so we’ll have to see. There’s also the issue of size: Apple claims the larger 7.9-inch panel of the iPad Mini makes it more productive, but you may well prefer the portability of something smaller. In practice, we’ve found the Google Nexus 7 is just small enough to fit into trouser pockets, if you really need to. And can put up with the odd strange look.
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Operating system
This too, isn’t so clear cut. The Apple iPad Mini runs iOS 6: it’s fast and very intuitive. Siri is built in on the iPad Mini too, so you can boss it about and dictate emails. But if you caught our full review, you’ll know we weren’t completely blown away: Apple Maps is terrible for one, and there aren’t any huge innovations compared to iOS 5. By contrast, Android 4.1 “Jelly Bean” is superb on the Google Nexus 7: beautiful, powerful (and for the first time on an Android tablet) speedy. Google Now is a great addition, letting you bark voice commands like Siri too. It’s a case of individual preference here.
Apps
We hate to say it, but Schiller is right about the apps. While almost every one of the 600,000 apps on the Google Play store run on the Nexus 7, few of them are designed specifically for tablets, and worse, many haven’t been designed for Android version 4 at all, which introduced a sensible “Holo” theme some developers have wisely adopted. By contrast, there are 275,000 apps designed specifically for the iPad.
Connectivity
The iPad Mini wins outright here. The Google Nexus 7 is Wi-Fi only, but if you’re prepared to spend £100 more, you can get 3G and 4G data on your iPad Mini, so you can do everything from video to chat to download large files on the go. With the Nexus 7, you’re reliant on hotspots and the good will of cafe and coffee shop owners.
Price
Here’s where the difference is stark. The iPad Mini and Google Nexus 7 are similar in size and features, but vary greatly in price. The 16GB Nexus 7 costs just £159, which frankly makes it the bargain of the century. The iPad Mini looks better built, but it’ll cost you a full £110 more, starting at £269 for the 16GB Wi-Fi model. For the price of an iPad Mini, you could buy a Nexus 7 and a smartphone. Something to think about – but Apple’s premiums can sure be worth it for many.
Which would you go for? Google Nexus 7 or iPad Mini? Let us know in the comments below! In the meantime, stay tuned for a review ASAP.
Can a £60 Google Nexus tablet stop the iPad Mini invasion?
Tags:
Feature, tablet, iPad, iPad Mini, Apple, iOS, Android, Asus, Google nexus 7
User comments (28)
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Anonymous23 October 2012
Got my nexus 7 and love it! A 7in screen is perfect for reading,web viewing and gaming in your hands . Can't see a bigger screen being nearly half as good.
Report as inappropriateXiMitchHD23 October 2012
The 16GB Nexus 7 is £199, not £159 as described. That is the 8GBversion.
Report as inappropriateGoingPostal1323 October 2012
Google Nexus 7
Report as inappropriateAnonymous23 October 2012
That apps comparison is a bit rubbish really. There might be more apps for the ipad, but you're not going to have 600,000 apps on it are you? The apps which most people need are available on both devices. Nobody cares if you can pin the tail on a pink unicorn, which is actually more useful than a lot of the apps available on the app store. I know a few people with the nexus 7. To me, they look stylish and strong. They're not as stylish as an ipad, but who cares? This comparison is for people with sense and therefore they care about usability, not how good it will look to other people on the train. Those sorts of people have already pre-ordered the ipad. 3g version of the nexus 7 is likely to be announced next week. Alternatively a portable hotspot can be had for cheap. Finally, I laughed my head off at the fact the 7.9" screen is much more productive than the 7" nexus. I imagine that extra inch would make a big difference on the ipad! Angry birds will still have more pixels on the nexus! I'm no apple fan as you have probably guessed, but nexus 7 is still the tablet to beat, minus the big ipad, which may well be beaten by the nexus 10 soon.
Report as inappropriateTaz23 October 2012
Actually Google will announce a 32gb nexus 7 for 199 next week which makes this look even more over price... Considering they are using 2 year old specs essentially how their can charge that much is a joke...
Report as inappropriatemike23 October 2012
I bought the nexus 7 as I can't be bothered to deal with apple and its childish antics with the likes of flash player,and I can't stand iTunes being forced to use apple everything with the huge cost they demand.....Android all the way :-)
Report as inappropriateBen Bath23 October 2012
Please check your articles before you make them public. The 16gb Nexus 7 costs £199. The 8gb Nexus 7 is £159. Very poor research guys. An article earlier today also had some spelling issues.
Report as inappropriateAlan1211223 October 2012
Connectivity, no mention of nfc at all guys? Really? Nexus 7 has this the ipad mini doesn't, also on your other point on connectivity, you forgot to mention that every android smartphone of reasonable newness you can tether wifi devices, so 90% of us that have a good phone have no need for a 3g connection which puts the price of the ipad mini upto twice, yes twice that of the nexus, every app I have ever downloaded for my nexus 7 has worked flawlessly you need to do a lot more research guy's - a lot.
Report as inappropriateA23 October 2012
Nexus deals http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/asus-google-nexus-16gb-for-169-store-hmv-buchanan-st-glasgow-possibly-nationwide-1342990
Report as inappropriatechris23 October 2012
Ipad mini :D
Report as inappropriateDani Dennington23 October 2012
I love my Google nexus, it does everything I want it to do with speed and ease, and no apple gimmicks, cheap and very portable
Report as inappropriateAidan23 October 2012
The nexus 7 is great if you are a pc user but if you use macs at home and work it doesn't come close to the productivity of an iPad. iCloud integration of all my documents, automatic downloads of purchases to all my devices, shared music library's are just some of the reasons I would have to own an iPhone or iPad. It doesn't matter that the specs are not as good when I get such a seemless integration. As for the iPad mini - I quite like the idea of a smaller iPad for travel and work, note taking should be easy enough as I'm used to using a stylus. I find the ipad a bit too bulky for carrying around and use it more at home when i cant be bothered to fire up the desktop. The iPod comparison doesnt hold either as the viewing of web pages on a touch vs an iPad is completely different. I'm also glad that apple haven't lowered the price too much. It's nice to have something that other people consider an expensive luxury. I'll be more than happy if the majority go for the nexus because when there's is worthless mine will still hold a decent trade in value!
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DaRiCh23 October 2012
The iPad mini would be great...3 YEARS AGO...LOL! The nexus 7 is a FAR better choice.
Report as inappropriateShaun Darch23 October 2012
You mention the 4g connectivity of the iPad mini and compare it to the Nexus 7 but remember that's an option, the wifi version is £269 compared to the 16GB Wifi Nexus at £199, no pricing on the UK Apple website but on the US site 4G is $100 extra so you can expect about £70 here? Nexus for me any day and I suppose i had better not mention how people who bought 'the new iPad' feel right now as the iPad 4 is twice as fast! & released just 7 months after the last one
Report as inappropriateMarc Horsbrough23 October 2012
The Androidies seem to forget that without iPad, there wouldn't BE a Nexus 7! For Apple to get to this point in just 21/2 years is incredible. People bemoan the cost, but the engineering in these things is far, far ahead of anything Google or Amazon have cooked up. It's like comparing a Mercedes with a Ford Fiesta; yes they'll both get you from A to B but it's about how you want to get there! And the integration between products gets overlooked sometimes, but Microsoft, Google et al can't touch the usefulness or ease with which iCloud works. I have my photos, diary, music, reminders, projects, documents, in fact just about everything with me wherever I am and now with the Mini, I can just about fit it all in my pocket. Think back just 10 years, did you ever think any of this would ever be possible? Whatever the detractors say, the iPad Mini is an incredible, fantastic product (saying nothing about the truly beautiful new iMac also announced!). The simplicity of iOS and the software is also often overlooked. It really, honestly does 'just work'. Put it this way, I'm buying my mum an iPad Mini for her 70th birthday and she's thrilled to pieces!!
Report as inappropriatemilos24 October 2012
You can always tether Nexus7 to any 3G/4G android phone, so you don't need to pay additional data plan, which makes for $40 monthly less expense.
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Nathan Welch24 October 2012
The Nexus 7 is by far the best thing I have purchased in a long time! Disagree strongly with the areas makred down as negatives. Comments regarding it's weakness in connectivity are irrelevant as I tether my phone to the Nexus for wifi on the go with ease! HSPA regulalry gives me speed of 5MB. Build quality on the Nexus is excellent, the plastic back is actually very tactile and comfortable in hand! And the distinguishiung feature of Google is the skins (something i haven't seen Crapple do), makes the whole tablet experience much more enjoyable. Highly recommend for anyone that doesn't want to pay 'Apple Tax' on their gadgets.
Report as inappropriateDoug Young24 October 2012
I have the latest iPad but my mother and wife are both in the market for smaller tablets this Christmas. Now google are dropping 16gb price and bringing a 32gb in at £199 I reckon there could be two google sales coming up. Shame, if the iPad mini had been retina or 32gb for £269 then I would have spent the extra cash.
Report as inappropriatePhlogistician25 October 2012
Lack of 3G isn't really a problem at all, how many subscriptions do we want to pay out for each month? You can add a tenner a month for an additional 3G contract just for your tablet, or you can tether your phone, or use WiFi hotspots. I
Report as inappropriateMichael Williams26 October 2012
I have had my nexus 7 now for two months and I will never look back, it runs so smooth and has fantastic graphics, the app centre is good to with new content being added every day and the price was a steal at £199 not to mention the free £15 that was given for the play store, it also came loaded with a few books, apps and the Transformers Movie in HD which was an added bonus, I also hear that the new Nexus 7 32 gig will be available soon and it will still cost less than the Ipad mini, with the money I saved not getting an Ipad mini I was able to go and buy myself a Nokia Lumia 710 with the money I saved so I feel it was a win win for me
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Dave01 November 2012
I think the gadgetshow might want to take another look at the Nexus 7 specs / price compared to the iPad Mini. Both on release in November: Nexus 7 32Gb 3G £239 iPad Mini 32GB 3G/4G LTE £449 That's £210 more or a 32Gb 3G Nexus AND a 32Gb Wi-Fi Nexus +£11 left over. That's a huge price difference just for 4G Radio, 0.8" larger (but lower res) screen, and a logo! I haven't really felt the urge to own any tablet device yet, but I might be swayed by the 32Gb Nexus.
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lharvey28 December 2012
Google nexus 7
Report as inappropriateHarry22 February 2013
Bit of a No-Brainer really!!! £199 for 32gb Nexus 7 or £349 for a 32gb iPad mini.. £150 difference!!! Google Nexus 7 also has a sharper screen, way better processor and tethers seemlessly to a 3G phone. Hey, I still like Apple products, but not at close to double the price!
Report as inappropriateAlison Isaacson17 March 2013
I have the nexus 32 GB and spent 179,! If I want internet away from home I use my phone as hotspot..so easy and doesn't really impact on my data usage as wi fi is available widely now! It so easy to use and as in previous comments Apple are just total money grabbing so and so's!!! So android is deffo the way to go. I do everything bar banking as the app doesn't seem to work and haven't picked up my laptop since Christmas! Love love love it!
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