The battle for your budget tablet affections is really ramping up. Which 7-inch tablet should be commanding your attention?
If youâre in the market for a small tablet (say around the 7-inch mark) then you are spoiled for choice right now. There are some great options on the market, persistent rumors about some impending new releases, and prices are getting competitive. Letâs take a look at the contenders, kicking off with the Android platform.Â
All three of these Android tablets are priced at $200 (for the 8GB versions) and they all have 7-inch displays. You can see a full comparison table in our Nexus 7 vs. Kindle Fire vs. Nook Tablet: $200 tablet showdown.
Nexus 7
Our Nexus 7 review makes it pretty clear that Googleâs 7-inch Jelly Bean tablet is a beauty. Itâs cheap; itâs feature-packed; and it runs the very latest version of the Android platform. With a class-leading quad-core processor and a high resolution IPS LCD screen (1280 x 800 pixels), whatâs not to like? The lack of a microSD card slot disappointed some people, and the Nexus 7 depends on Wi-Fi (thereâs no mobile network option), but beyond that itâs an impressive piece of kit.
Kindle Fire
Amazonâs offering has been around for a while now. Itâs a solid device and Amazon is able to link in a great selection of content, but specs-wise it pales in comparison with the Nexus 7. If you primarily want an e-reader then go for a cheap Kindle. If you want a tablet then go for the Nexus 7. The Kindle Fire simply isnât the best at anything at the moment, though that may change this week. Amazon is rumored to announce a new Kindle Fire.
Nook Tablet
The Nook Tablet is almost identical to the Kindle Fire when it comes to specs, which puts it behind the Nexus 7 too. It does boast a microSD card slot and slightly longer battery life than its competitors, but is that enough? At the moment, itâs tough to beat the Nexus 7.
Other Android tablets
You may also consider the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0) which is freshly available on Verizonâs 4G LTE network, but at $350 we think it has priced itself out of the market. You could pick an older entry in the Samsung Galaxy tablet range for less and there are other options out there including the Acer Iconia Tab range, but none of them measures up to the Nexus 7 when it comes to bang for your buck.
On the Android horizon
There have been various rumors about a Kindle Fire 2. It could be a larger tablet to compete with the iPad, or perhaps it will be another 7-inch tablet with upgraded internals. Weâll have to wait and see, but a Kindle Fire upgrade seems imminent. Amazon enjoyed enough success with the original to make a follow up a foregone conclusion.
We also know that Barnes & Noble is working on a new Nook device. The release date is uncertain, but we can expect something capable of carving out a niche in this competitive space.
iPad mini
Is the iPad mini fact or fiction? We still donât know, but all those iPad mini rumors just wonât go away. If Apple was to release an iPad mini then thereâs no doubt it would represent a real challenge for all these 7-inch Android tablets. The deciding factor could be pricing. Suggestions of superior specs and a comparable price tag simply donât add up. If Apple was to drop an iPad mini for around the $200 mark and accept a slim profit margin in order to strike out at its competitors then it would certainly do well. Weâre not convinced thatâs really Appleâs style, though.
The wealth of iPad apps available and Appleâs legion of loyal fans would make it successful even at a higher price point than the competition.
BlackBerry PlayBook
RIMâs original tablet release didnât set the world on fire, but the software has been updated since then, and the price has fallen. Check out our BlackBerry PlayBook 2.0 review to get a feel for what it can do. The latest PlayBook supports 4G, but it certainly isnât cheap.Â
What it offers over the Nexus 7: Well thereâs a rear-facing camera that can record HD video, but not much else. The price of the U.S. version of the latest BlackBerry PlayBook has not been announced yet, but it could be north of $500 off-contract and thatâs way too high to compete.
Microsoft Micro Surface
There were rumors about a 7-inch Microsoft tablet prior to the Surface being announced, but the new tablet turned out to be sporting a 10.6-inch display. The Microsoft Surface was unveiled but there was no word on pricing. If you look at the specs and size, you might wonder why itâs mentioned here at all. Well, Engadget reported that an anonymous source told them that the Surface would ship in October for just $200. That would mean Microsoft would make a loss on each one so it seems unlikely, but if it turned out to be true then the Surface would be a really strong contender.
What should you buy?
Itâs a predictable answer, but if you want to buy a budget tablet tomorrow then it has to be the Nexus 7. If youâre willing to wait a while then the next Kindle Fire is likely to be worth a look and thereâs always an outside chance that the iPad mini will make an appearance. It will also be interesting to find out what the Surface will cost.
Weâll make sure you know about it if something better than the Nexus 7 comes along.
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