Fancy getting a look at Google's first own-brand tablet? Click play on the video above to examine the Google Nexus 7, along with the all-new Android Jelly Bean software that's powering it.
The Nexus 7 has a healthy amount of hardware on board. The 7-inch display has a 1,280x800 pixel resolution, while under the bonnet a quad-core Tegra 3 processor keeps everything moving along swiftly.
The design isn't ground-breaking (it's a black rectangle with a touchscreen in the middle), but the textured finish on the back gives the tablet a grippy feel, and it's light and slim enough to cart around all day without straining your spine.
The new Jelly Bean software boasts more than a few talking points. The most notable new feature of Android 4.1 is Google Now, which shows you information relevant to your day, pleasingly arranged on sets of on-screen cards.
Trigger Google Now by swiping up from the bottom of the screen, and if, for instance, you're checking it in the morning, it'll show you travel information for getting to work, or when to expect the next bus. It gets this info from things like your search history and location, and can even tell which team you support.
The frame rate has been increased, giving Jelly Bean a smooth, velvety feel. And did I mention a charming new Easter egg?
The most attractive feature however is the price. Google's flogging the Nexus 7 for a bargain £160 for the 8GB version. With a price tag that low, it's tough to feel too bad about omissions like a rear-facing camera, 3G or a MicroSD card slot.
There's a lot to be excited about, with the only concern being that Google's getting a bit ahead of itself with Android versions -- at the start of May the earlier Ice Cream Sandwich was only running on 5 per cent of Android devices. Will Samsung Galaxy S3 owners be chuffed that their brand-new blowers are already running an out-of-date version of Android?
Will you be shelling out £160 for the Nexus 7? Let me know in the comments or on our Facebook wall.
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Comments 12
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anonymous 28 June, 2012 22:35
Hmmmm - £160 in the UK or £130 in the US - sounds like a rip off to me (again)!
anonymous 28 June, 2012 23:46
Anon - When you take VAT into account, it doesn't actually seem like we are being ripped off.
anonymous 29 June, 2012 00:16
Got a prime .... but i pre ordered a nexus 7 too just coze i can 159£ u can't go wrong ....
Junaid 29 June, 2012 04:01
Nice review Luke. You gave us a good insight into what the Nexus 7 and Jelly Bean 4.1 is. I am buying this asap. Thanks to Google once again for providing a powerful cheap tablet :)
frenchiefr 29 June, 2012 08:52
Hi Cnet
Can you let me know if you know when nexus7 will be out in France to get one for my mother but a French version instead of a uk much easy for my mum
MikeBuck_1 29 June, 2012 09:32
I want one but I think i'll wait, if nothing else this will force down the price of other tablets (other than the ipad) which is only a good thing, Plus, I wouldn't mind having a look personally before buying and if shops are getting this only a week or so after Google ship them which is what's gunna happen by the sounds of it, then that's fine.
anonymous 29 June, 2012 10:24
Why isn't anyone concerned about the lack of Flash support? I have an iPad and that would be one of the biggest reason for me to buy a little brother. I just don't understand, why.
MikeBuck_1 29 June, 2012 10:52
Think cos flash is being phased out by the roll out of HTML 5, plus flash just seems to be too big of a security risk.
georg55 29 June, 2012 16:12
very good review Luke,I have toshiba thrive,but that going to be sold soon ,I have already pre-ordered nexus 7, for £160 for tegra 3, NFC, bluetooth, hd screen, this is a bargin,I have wasted this kind of money on cheap throwaway chinese tablet before,and given them away.the USB-OTG
will work as it is recognised on android tablets in usb mode when connected to a windows pc,you can store photos or video,brian on anandtech .com has verified that it works in build version of JB4.1 so will hopefully be so in final version
DannySpud 29 June, 2012 19:27
Those commenting on the price difference between US and UK, welcome to the world of technology. It's the same for everything and it's because of import taxes and other taxes. £159 is actually really good, at the ~$200 mark you can usually just change the dollar sign to a pound sign to get the UK price. I was fully expecting £189-£199. At £159 I've already pre-ordered one.
anonymous 1 July, 2012 02:36
I Using my prime now on chrome now ... and just clicked on there is no BBC iPlayer .... woops ...probably there wood be round about on it.... common ppl its android its open course not crapple locked down ,some will just port it. Dont moan about trivial stuff ....
anonymous 2 July, 2012 10:14
This comes at a perfect time for me. I want a tablet in time for a new university course for reading PDF's, reading my essays and making small annotations and notes, and taking notes in classes and placements (preferably handwritten, with a stylus). I'd looked at an iPad 2, but didn't want to spend £300 and I consider 9.7in too big, considering I have a 14inch laptop. I wanted something truly portable.
I'm very impressed by how seriously Google are taking the media consumption aspect of this as well, really improving Google Moves, adding TV shows (although I have to wonder how many we'll get in the UK, although in fairness Google Movies seems to get newly released films very promptly).
I'm glad they're not trying to market it as something they're not, which I feel Apple do with the iPad when they try and market it as something productive when in reality only very light productivity is possible, even with a keyboard dock, on a 10inch tablet.
I have to say though I'm still a bit concerned/confused about the Google Music UK situation, are there plans to bring it here? I do hope so. It sounds a good service, and to be honest right now I'd just be satisfied with somewhere to store my music online and easily stream from the cloud, if Google would release Google Music without the ability to buy or stream new music, but to only stream your own Music, I'd be more than happy with that for now. I wonder why they don't just release that service in the UK.