Twelve short months ago there would have been very little point in discussing which tablet was top of the pops, as there was really only one decent slate available -- produced by a certain aluminium-favouring, fruit-flavoured Californian corporation.
Fast forward to the present and things are very different, so we threw together a Facebook poll featuring some of the year's most popular tablets, to determine which slates -- if any -- are proving more popular than Apple's own.
As the consensus of our handsome, forward-thinking Facebook fans shows, Tim Cook and company's continued top spot in the tablet world is far from assured, with Google being the one to watch in 2013.
Nexus 7 domination
In a poll that also included the newly refurbished iPad with retina display and the fresh-from-the-oven iPad mini, Google's own-brand Nexus 7 tablet emerged a clear victor, with a staggering 59.9 per cent of votes.
It's not surprising that the Nexus 7 has proved popular, as it ticks very nearly every box that a tablet should. It has a gorgeous 1,280x800 pixel resolution screen, a quad-core processor and -- because it's a Nexus device -- comes with the very latest version of Android.
More tempting is the Nexus 7's low low price. In a year filled with cheap gadgets (many of which come straight from Google), the Nexus 7's £160 price tag makes it sorely tempting, even to those shopping on a strict budget. Whereas in years past Android alternatives weren't generally much cheaper than Apple's iPad, Google has raised its game by lowering prices.
Underwhelming mini?
It's fair to say that Apple's iPad mini felt underwhelming compared with some of the company's previous tablet announcements. Apple's smaller iPad is a decent bit of hardware, with access to a world-beating App Store, but a low-resolution screen and a comparatively high price mean that it hasn't blown away the 7-inch competition.
Less than 9 per cent of voters chose the iPad mini as their favourite tablet in our poll, with both the larger iPad with retina display and the Google Nexus 10 proving more popular, though not by much.
I was surprised to see an extremely modest queue (see above) forming for the iPad mini when it went on sale last month, hinting that it hadn't captured shoppers' imagination in the way that Apple tech has previously.
Since then however I've heard tales of huge lines outside London shops and buyer angst as folks clamour to acquire a mini in time for Christmas, so you'd be a fool to write this tiny tablet off as a failure. Apple even boasted that it had sold 3 million iPad with retinas display and iPad minis in the tablets' first weekend on sale -- an intimidating number for any rival manufacturer.
Another thing to bear in mind is that fans voting on CNET UK's Facebook page will likely be of a more technically-minded persuasion than the broader shopping public, and could be more likely to favour Android's tinkerer-friendly software over the ruthless simplicity of Apple's (no less enjoyable) platform. As such I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if we see another year of sky-high iPad sales, despite Google's cheaper option proving more popular in our own poll.
Google is fighting Apple's lethal lead, with prime-placement advertising for the Nexus 7. That may tip the scales in Google's favour, but it could be that Apple's years-long stranglehold on the tablet world proves too tough to break.
Regardless of who's selling more stuff, Android fans and tablet buyers alike can be chuffed that they've got such a cracking tablet to toy with. Here's hoping the sequel is every bit as impressive.
A few commentors on our original Facebook poll have complained that we didn't include Microsoft's Surface RT tablet as an option. We didn't exactly give Ballmer and pals' workmanlike first tablet a glowing review, but if you think Microsoft has the power to trounce both Apple and Google in 2013, then have your say in the comments.
Which tablet will reign supreme this time next year? Can Apple improve upon the iPad mini, or is Android set to take centre stage in 2013? Gaze into your mystical crystal ball of tech futurology, and stick your predictions in the comments, or on our Facebook wall.
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Matt Winston. 24 December, 2012 15:56
The best tablet won! Though the Surface tablet should have been an option, and the poll should have been open for longer, and a Twitter poll should have been conducted. Nevertheless, I believe the results would have been the same. Well done Asus and Google!!
anonymous 24 December, 2012 17:37
"Google Nexus 7 trounces iPad mini in CNET UK tablet poll"... bot not in sales (by a long shot!).
That says something about the real-world accuracy of this poll.
anonymous 24 December, 2012 18:12
@anonymous it out does it in every way apart from not having a camera
anonymous 24 December, 2012 18:24
Liess!! i saw many people in that queue..
anonymous 24 December, 2012 19:18
if only one can buy it.i have been looking at playstore 3-4 times a day only to find sold out for the last 3 weeks.only one in stock is nexus 7 32gb.I had no reply to my email from customer services.
Any one at Cnet know when Nexus 7 with mobile data available?.
Thanks
Gary 24 December, 2012 19:26
According to comments from many stores, such as PCWORLD and CURRY'S, it looks like the nexus is giving the mini a good run for it's money, and even outnumbering them
anonymous 24 December, 2012 20:03
Hats off to Google for bringing such an excellent product to market at an honest price. There's a lot of teens wont be getting an Ipad mini for Christmas but I bet they'll be getting a nexus 7 for their birthday.
anonymous 24 December, 2012 20:19
What a lot of nonsense... Of course the Nexus 7 is going to be more popular cause you can buy two and still have a shed load of change left over compared to ipad mini
Also, I'm sick of reading about the lack of retina on the mini.... Who cares? Side by side the mini has a far better display than the nexus with its huge plastic surround which is just ugly
Stupid poll if you want my opinion! The Nexus fanboys feel the need to try and convince others that despite being more than half the price of the mini that's it's loads better - Yawn!
anonymous 24 December, 2012 20:19
Not surprising though a retina iPad mini would have got my vote. I suspect though it's getting pretty self selecting. The Samsung sheep and intentionally provicative cnet reviews drove away the applets, and those looking for unbiased reviews.Sadly CNET is becoming the tabloid of tech reviews- and apart for dramatic headlines I'm using video reviews from other sources to get decent info. Having said that, nothing wrong with CNET having dramatic headlines (though what happened to the overheating Xperia T's!!? Mine gets super toastie.
Not that I'd give up my nexus 7 (or iPad!)
anonymous 24 December, 2012 22:13
does it have any camera???
anonymous 24 December, 2012 23:00
Amusing. I owned the NEXUS 7 for a week. I wanted to like it enough to save money and skip the iPad Mini.
To make a long story short.....I returned the NEXUS 7 after seeing what their Apps store is like. and decide to wait for the iPad Mini knowing that if I did not find it clearly superior, I would return it.
I now own the iPad Mini (took awhile to find the 32GB version in stock).
No matter what the poll says...I have no doubt that for me the iPad Mini is well worth the extra cost.
anonymous 24 December, 2012 23:04
For anyone searching (confused?) for a Tablet or E-Reader, the following New York Times article mirrors my experience perfectly (and I tried a Nexus 7 for a week and others for shorter times as well)....
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/04/the-ipad-mini-on-a-dessert-island/?smid=fb-share
anonymous 24 December, 2012 23:36
Let's wait and see the results of the only poll that matters, Christmas quarter sales results...
anonymous 24 December, 2012 23:43
To make it easier to click on this superb New York Times article about the iPad Mini;
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/04/the-ipad-mini-on-a-dessert-island/?smid=fb-share
anonymous 24 December, 2012 23:55
I expected the worse when I heard some of the so called analysts view of the iPad Mini, then I saw the actual product and was wondering what product they were reviewing. Much better build quality, thinner, lighter, great cameras. When you get one in your hands and use it you're sold.
Huge difference with the 7.9" screen, no distorted phone Apps here! Where are the Android Tablet Apps? If you can find them, they only number about 300. Over 275,000 iPad Apps, and better quality across the board. The CNET poll is obviously trolled by Apple haters.
CaptainPicard 25 December, 2012 00:36
A very diverse amount of people voted for the Nexus 7, we can all see who voted for what on Facebook, I wouldn't call everyone that voted for the N7 a troll.
anonymous 25 December, 2012 00:43
I agree with @anonymous 24 December, 2012 23:55.
I bought a Nexus 7 on the basis of it's reviews and because of the dirt cheap price, but to perfectly honest, I don't think it lives up to the hype.
I also went and had a look at the iPad Mini and as the previous comments say, I wondered what device they had been reporting on because it's a really impressive piece of kit.
The screen resolution may be lower (not low res as stated in the article) but it's clearly better than the weaker screen I have on my Nexus 7.
To top it all, a lot of the apps are very poor on Google play.
I wish I'd saved my money on the Nexus, but the iPad Mini is a bit too expensive.
anonymous 25 December, 2012 02:00
The misleading grouping that labels 7 inch tablets together when in fact the NEXUS 7 is really a 7 inch tablet while the iPad Mini is a 7.9 inch tablet.
Does not sound like much of a difference until you realize that the actual screen area of the iPad Mini is a significant 35 % larger screen !
Yes the iPad Mini has a 35 % LARGER screen ....
anonymous 25 December, 2012 08:21
I bought both the Nexus 7 and the Kindle Fire HD. By contrast, the amount of iPad minis in available in CEX speaks volumes.
anonymous 25 December, 2012 11:17
If you check out side by side comparisons on YouTube you will see the mini's screen is more vibrant and looks better, performance shows the mini is virtually identical and sometimes quicker! OK the Nexus has more power but is it really that important for a tablet?
Also as others have said the screen is 35% larger often or nearly always overlooked when comparing.
Read this earlier which I thought was an interesting perspective:
"The question for app developers is, where do you put your effort?" says Evans. "If you've got one person who buys Google's Nexus 7 because it's £100 less than the iPad mini, what does that say about their willingness to spend money on apps? So which one do you spend money developing for first?"
CC
anonymous 25 December, 2012 11:36
How patronising or biased is this paragraph! Apparently if you buy an iPad you know nothing.... Thanks for that!
"Another thing to bear in mind is that the fans voting on CNET UK's Facebook page will -- understandably -- be of a more technically-minded persuasion than most of the shopping public, so I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if we see another year of sky-high iPad sales, despite Google's cheaper option proving more popular in our own poll."
rkl 25 December, 2012 11:57
Epic fail for doing the survey on Facebook - I won't ever have a Facebook account and it's poor that CNet UK couldn't actually do a survey on their *own* site. I'd have voted for the Nexus 7 because (maybe the "missing" SD slot aside) it's strong in virtually every area: price, CPU+GPU speeds, rapidly released vanilla Android, and very good screen res which is widescreen.
Shockingly, Apple have yet to produce *any* widescreen tablet (and only taking until the iPhone 5 before finally admitting that widescreen is the way go), making them sub-optimal for viewing videos (the vast majority of which are widescreen).
This aspect ratio issue was highlighted on the iPad Mini launch, where most journos lapped up the smoke and mirrors at Apple's presentation...which curiously managed to compare the iPad Mini to the Nexus 7 whilst not actually showing any HD video running on them! This is because by the time you put large black bars above and below the video on an iPad Mini, the vertical resolution is hugely embarassingly below 720p! Yep, 269 quid for a tablet that can't actually play 720p video at its full resolution - a massively poor letdown by Apple there but one they keep extremely quiet about...it's their dirty little secret.
anonymous 25 December, 2012 12:03
I've got the 3g model Nexus 7 and am more than happy with it. It has replaced my ereader and I use it in meetings at work. No point having a tasty bit of kit if it isn't a workhorse too and this certainly is. I had an ipad from work and hated it - kept losing signals. A sign of a good gadget is that it can be used for multiple purposes and not be in a cupboard within a year and the Nexus is the best used of all the 'techy' gadgets i've ever bought.
anonymous 25 December, 2012 13:54
LMFAO!!!this is the most pathetic article ever and has made the writer look like a total fool!!
Who cares if the nexus 7 trounced the ipad mini in a POLL!!!!the ipad mini has OBLITERATED SALES of the nexus 7 which is way more important!! since its release a MAJOR point this fan boy leaves out of his article!!!
As the second comment on this page points out,the ipad mini has destroyed sales of the nexus 7 all over the world so who really cares about a poll from the UK?lol
anonymous 25 December, 2012 14:12
I just saw this artie by chance as I was looking for some I formation regarding the nexus for my mums that she has just had for Christmas.
I don't own an iPad, nexus or even a mac or laptop I'm a PC man through and through.
My girlfriend has an IPad her housemate an IPad mini. I have just used my mum Nexus and love it, a lot more than apples products. The price is very good.
The only reason I posted this article is because of the comments such as LOL article is a joke or look at xx sales. You guys remind me of a guy at work who literally bums apple. Get over yourselfs, I will never own a tablet as my manhood stays firmly in my trousers and I don't feel the need to get it out on the tube, bus, pub. Like for like comparison and Moneywise this is 10x better than the IPad and you don't look like you work in 'new media' with it. The only thing you guys want the retina display for is to look at your gelled side partings and thick frames glases with no lenses!
Happy Christmas!
anonymous 25 December, 2012 14:34
LOL 10 x times better than the ipad?seriously what a joke you really are!!the ipad mini looks a hundred times better than the cheap plastic kids toy that is the nexus 7!!!the ipad mini makes both nexus 7 and kindle look like they were made in a garage,ugly looking plastic turds!!!
the ipad mini is built better,looks a million times better,is lighter,has a better store,has a bigger screen,and so what if it aint no HD (as guy mentioned earlier videos on ipad look more crisp than the nexus 7) so get over your self just coz you cannot afford apple products u bash them!!poor you!
billfred 25 December, 2012 17:37
If you're going to bash the article and the Nexus 7 for no reason apart from the fact that you're a moron, please type correctly. There's a keyboard right there... you know you can do it.
anonymous 25 December, 2012 17:43
you mean there are going to be a lot of disappointed kids on Christmas because mum bought a cheaper tablet that some friend's kid "who knows computers" said that it was "just like an iPad Mini."
Then they realize what they're getting.. Google' half arsed fenced garden. And they return it.
anonymous 25 December, 2012 18:09
Love my Nexus 7. I have to laugh at those who are critical of Google Play. It has every app you need and more, so the whole "Apple has a better eco-system" is false. Won't touch another overpriced aPple product again.
anonymous 25 December, 2012 18:28
@anonymong 17:43 your deffo a fangirl little idiot!
Matt Winston. 25 December, 2012 18:54
I wonder all the anonymous comments mocking the Nexus 7 is one person, who got no Christmas presents, and is taking his anger out on here.
anonymous 25 December, 2012 19:30
Sadly many of the Android apps are fine for Android phones but are not designed for Android Tablets. The fragmented Android world is just that....fragmented ...and that is why many Android apps are not properly designed for the latest Android tablets. Developers write for the common denominator and that impacts on the Android apps for Android tablets...
anonymous 25 December, 2012 21:20
@rkl 25 December, 2012 11:57
says... "Shockingly, Apple have yet to produce *any* widescreen tablet (and only taking until the iPhone 5 before finally admitting that widescreen is the way go), making them sub-optimal for viewing videos (the vast majority of which are widescreen)."
Widescreen on a tablet is ideal for video, but not for anything else.
In fact it's pretty rubbish for web browsing, reading documents, reading books and magazines.
if all you want to do is watch video and play games, get a widescreen tablet.
At the 7 to 8 inch size, widescreen is a poor compromise for many uses as the displayed screen realestate is quite compromised.
Rowan Cameron Allen 25 December, 2012 21:23
I do think the nexus 7 is the best mini tablet by far, by processor, screen, and features. The iPad mini only has a camera on the back. Either way, in my opinion, Android is FAR superior to ios.
I don't see the point in buying an iPad mini. The Nexus 7 is far better.
anonymous 25 December, 2012 21:24
@anonymous 25 December, 2012 17:43
"....you mean there are going to be a lot of disappointed kids on Christmas because mum bought a cheaper tablet....."
Exactly what happened with our neighbours today (Christmas Day).
They were going to buy an iPad between the two teenage kids, but plumped for 2 Fire HD's instead.
Major disappointment and the latest word is they are going to send them back and get a refund.
anonymous 25 December, 2012 21:31
@Rowan Cameron Allen 25 December, 2012 21:23
"I do think the nexus 7 is the best mini tablet by far, by processor, screen, and features".
The processor ends up counting for nothing, as in real life tests it has to work its arse off to maintain a decent performance. Most of the time the processes don't use half it's cores and it also gobbles more battery doing it.The lower powered (on paper) iPad Mini is just as quick and when it comes to graphics, renders far quicker thsan the slow Nexus (admittedly a lot of that has to do with poor Android graphics processing).
"The iPad mini only has a camera on the back".
Totally wrong. The iPad Mini has front and rear facing cameras.
The Nexus 7 doesn't.
Andrewx 25 December, 2012 21:52
First up I have a nexus 7 and it's brilliant. I love the size, speed, raw android and the price. My girlfriend is an apple fan and I got her an ipad, mini for Christmas. She's not bothered about the customisations or widgets I can get (nor the swipe or swift keyboards. And now that Google maps is back on ios I can't tease her about apple maps) . Having 'helped her set it up' (ie had a good play) I have to admit I'm finding myself feeling a bit jealous. The Ipad mini feels a lot, lot better build quality. She can't get her hand round the mini easily (she's okay with the nexus). However, she says she's not bothered because the smart cover makes it easy for her to hold. My nexus has higher screen resolution. This is most visible if you hold the two close to your face. The nexus supports hidef video playback - unlike the Ipad mini. AND YET... when we compared video playback on youtube and looked at photos, the Ipad mini did actually look better. In comparison the nexus colours look washed out. Not something that something that really bothered me before, but now... (Also speakers sound better on mini. BBC please fix the iplayer on Android so it works at least as well as the Ipad. The iplayer is still a joke on the nexus).
I prefer android over ios. But now I feel like my nexus could be a lot better (something I didn't feel before). On the plus side my nexus was £70 less than her Ipad mini! (both are 16gb and the same price I paid for my nexus now gets you 32gb).Come on Google a new improved nexus next year please (screen colour saturation especially, smaller bezel, much better speakers all at the same low prices. Surely not too much to ask?:).
Btw using my nexus 7 and swift key to do this comment.
Damien2501 26 December, 2012 01:28
The iPad Mini is crap. I had 2 and they both broke and were very buggy. Any way I highly recommend the Nexus 7 because it can do so much and the price is incredible!! I'm now defo gonna get the Nexus 4 as my next phone :)
#TeamAndroid
anonymous 26 December, 2012 04:09
Shall I be kind?
Damien I do not believe your story. It is that simple....
anonymous 26 December, 2012 06:05
@Rowan Cameron Allen 25 December, 2012 21:23
"The iPad mini only has a camera on the back".
Get your facts right before spouting rubbish on on-line forums.
The mini has both front (720p) and back cameras (1080p).
The Nexus only has a shoddy front facing camera.
anonymous 26 December, 2012 08:54
Damien2501 is a fake handle for someone trying to mock the real lower case version of the name. So just ignore the upper case guy, they really should get a real life.
The nexus 7 is a powerful sturdy piece of kit and punches well above its weight for the price. That will always be popular. The oyjr advantage of the nexus 7 over other tablets is it is pure android with the prospect of the most recent android version for the foreseeable future... Nexus gets it right.
The iPad mini has the draw back of being too big. I think I'd rather pay just a bit more and get an iPad 2. Also iOS hasn't advanced in any major way over the past 3 years, I'd even argue it has gone backwards.
anonymous 26 December, 2012 09:19
@anonymous 26 December, 2012 08:54
"Also iOS hasn't advanced in any major way over the past 3 years, I'd even argue it has gone backwards".
Playing devil's advocate for a moment, it could be said that iOS has not needed to change that much, because it was already doing the right things very well. On the other hand Android has had to improve and develop because it had so much ground to make up. That improvement has taken it from a flaky and patchy product to being a very very good mobile OS, even it it still isn't quite the finished article.
Luke Westaway 26 December, 2012 11:07
anonymous 25 December, 2012 11:36 -- I absolutely didn't mean to suggest iPad buyers were less savvy, and certainly didn't mean to patronise -- something we endeavour never to do in our articles, so I've amended that sentence. Thanks for pointing it out.
Damien2501 26 December, 2012 13:01
Anonymous 26 December, 2012 04.09, Your up so late, go to sleep. And do I care about what you think? I think not.
Damien2501 26 December, 2012 13:06
Anonymous 8.54, look I will post unbiased comments mostly until 7 January when my college starts, the real guy you know needs to get a life, I bet it's him posting all these comments mocking a really good tablet.
arch3245 26 December, 2012 22:36
Anonymous @25 December, 2012 14:12
Man you a legend ...
anonymous 27 December, 2012 07:10
@anonymous 26 December, 09.19
No doubt Android has had to improve on user experience over that time which they have done. But feature wise iOS is just catching up with Android to how it was 3 years ago. In the mean time android advanced and is continuing to advance with new features.
I know iPhone 3gs, 4 and 4s users who have experienced slowing of their system with increased crashing from updates of iOS. A friend who has uses android received an iPhone 5 from his employer. He said it felt really polished but he said it was just too boring. Android ain't perfect but post jelly bean it is smooth and is keeping the pace up with new functionality.
anonymous 27 December, 2012 09:04
nexus 7 is bad because i bought one of them two days ago it was on table when i wanted turn it on i saw nexus 7 was broked
this is real
anonymous 27 December, 2012 12:31
Nexus is great for the price (I've got one). The iPad mini is better hardware. I'm waiting for the retina iPad mini version though before buying a mini.
I have to admit I'm loosing faith in cnet reviews- over the last few months it seems to have got a lot worse. On the plus side I've looked around and there a lot better, more accurate and unbiased sites around. So bye cnet - until you work out whether you're into just trying to stir up controversy, irrespective of facts. Or whether you're going to go for reporting informed stories and facts, from an unbiased perspective.
anonymous 27 December, 2012 14:08
"Stupid poll if you want my opinion!"
LOL!
"Let's wait and see the results of the only poll that matters, Christmas quarter sales results..."
LOL!
"The CNET poll is obviously trolled by Apple haters."
LOL!
"LMFAO!!!this is the most pathetic article ever and has made the writer look like a total fool!!"
LOL!
"the ipad mini looks a hundred times better than the cheap plastic kids toy that is the nexus 7!!!"
LOL!
Butthurt Apple fanboys. Providing amusement to normal people since the 70s.
Kieran Sampson 27 December, 2012 14:17
I just came here to laugh at the number of people who wasted their Christmas day engaging in this stupid (and now VERY boring) rivalry.
Seriously guys, get a life!!
anonymous 27 December, 2012 15:48
I bought Nexus 7 at the end of November. From the beginning it had software bug, it got freezed 3-4 times a day. Then some weeks later it did not re-load battery anymore, so it had to be send for manufacturer for reparation, 4-6 weeks. Great.
My advice: today manufacturers of tablets and smartphones push the products to the markets as quick as possible, without proper testing. So the products are full of bugs etc and the buyers are doing the testing (and like me, paying the price). At least wait some months when the new products comes in to market, so at least the worst problems are solved.
And maybe dont buy google tablet, I know I wont do anymore.
anonymous 28 December, 2012 12:51
Tried them both on the shop . The ipad looks and feels better and Web browsing and photos are better on it. But it's more expensive so got the nexus 7. Not surprised CNET polls have the nexus 7 -, it's a great geek's gadget. And not an apple device. Keep up the anti apple work CNET!, Let's keep this site for androids! (Looks like a couple of years from now Samsung will be overtaken on smartphones and tablets by home grown Chinese companies but still android).
anonymous 28 December, 2012 16:33
I bought three. My kids cant put them down. Netflix looks gorgeous as does everything else.
anonymous 28 December, 2012 22:02
ipads are the best. no one can ever match them ever
anonymous 28 December, 2012 22:04
one word. WINDOWSSS
anonymous 28 December, 2012 23:31
After using an iPad mini for a couple of days, I've sold my nexus. Getting a minii (staying with my android phone though).
Graham Austin 29 December, 2012 01:24
I have a nexus 7 32gb
the apps thing... lets be honest isnt really a big deal now that most apps are being made for high resolution phones like the s3, xperia t, note, etc. and eventually there will be more tablet specific apps, I have a bit in the play store that recommends tablet apps and there are plenty.
the screen is widescreen and hd, so i can watch films on it properly. but the thing that is really stunnign is that for a higher spec device with so much potential i paid £100 less. With taht money I can buy lots of great quality apps that DO exist.
I am not a fanboy of any description, I use a blackberry 9900, a macbook air, a gaming pc and now my android tablet.
bottom line is that these tablets are pretty evenly matched and either way you go you are on to a winner. but one of your choices will give you an extra £100 to burn
that was my reasoning and that im happy with
anonymous 29 December, 2012 08:04
Own both the Nexus 7 and the ipad Mini.
Nexus, great value for money although lacking quality apps. Battery life is not as good as the ipad.
Ipad Mini, better build quality and a better user experience. Lower resolution screen is really not the issue some people would have you believe it is.
Overall I love both products but you get what you pay for. In comparison I believe the ipad mini is the better product and is the tablet I use most iPod the time.
However you can't ignore the price point of the Nexus (well done google/asus) and if your into the Android os it's very hard to see beyond this tablet.
anonymous 29 December, 2012 18:52
@anonytwat 28 Dec 22:02 your a twat and no other twat can match your twatness! This is fact
anonymous 30 December, 2012 03:46
it gives me headache reading what people are blabbing here. I'm a Fan of ASUS and APPLE, what i like about asus is that it is very durable my ASUS Laptop fell from the height of almost 5 feet and was pretty shock that the lcd was still intact, with the APPLE i like it because it is rather safer with viruses and so. I can say both are great products though i find APPLE very expensive but also justifiable but i don't know until when.
i'm planning on getting an ipad and a windows laptop so i guess I'm with both..
anonymous 30 December, 2012 10:08
I own a Nexus 7 and an iPad 3. I know this article is about the mini but I have had experience with Apple products. I agree that Apple do make well made quality products but my iPad is now used by my wife and 2 year daughter!. I have used that iPad mini in the shops and nothing about it excited me. The Nexus 7 is just fantastic and compared to the iPad feels more "adult" and more like a mini computer. IOS just feels so 'Fisher price' and dull. It's clearly aimed at kids due to the twitter and facebook intergration and it's simplicity to use.
I do think that Apple felt threatened by Google and Android hence releasing the iPad mini and more than likely Apple has had it's day.
anonymous 30 December, 2012 15:03
They need admit where they are falling behind Android's features and catch up,it would take a LOT for me to go back into their money grabbing world
Andrewx 30 December, 2012 17:09
Finally succumbed. The mini is better than the Nexus 7- I ADMIT IT!! (apart from price and having a more versatile operating system!).
I was one of the 'nexus 7' is best bunch (I bought a nexus 7 when they first came out - and I loved it (still like it, and it will aways hold a place in my heart) and I've been a nexus 7 evangelist. But having used my gf's mini I can only say that the mini is better for browsing, reading, photos, video, music, games...
I went to buy a mini today - but everywhere seems to be sold out of the 32gb. So, I guess I'll hang onto my Nexus 7 for now (problem is now that I've tried the mini I'm seeing more of the constraints of the Nexus 7's size, relatively quiet speaker and not so good photo rendering).
Apple you're a temptress!
anonymous 30 December, 2012 17:30
I think the Nexus 7 is aimed more for techy savy people. Like the above post states, you can do so much more with it compared to the ipad mini. For instance you can connect a DVB-T USB stick and get digital tv (which I have done). Ok it may be a bit pointless but it's pretty cool it can be done. You can connect ps3/Xbox controllers and god knows what else.
Apple products are only good once jailbroken but with tougher sercuity by Apple this is becoming less popular and less developers are releasing worth while tweaks.
I've owned the ipad 1,2 and 3 and always wanted to buy an android tablet but they were too expensive and not that great. Google has given me the opportunity to buy a great cheap tablet with out feeling ripped off. Now I've experienced Jellybean and the nexus 7, I will never buy an iPad again!
anonymous 30 December, 2012 21:33
We have a Nexus 7. Could not resist at the price. It's pretty cool, but it isn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination and it does have a few faults.
We also have an iPad 3, which is also very cool, but it's a much more solid experience than the Nexus. My wife and kids are always wanting to use it too.
I've had a couple of plays with the iPad mini and if I had the spare money I'd probably get one. It lacks some of the neat tricks that come with the Android OS, but i think the form factor is better suited to practical use than the narrow Nexus.
Do I regret buying the Nexus? No not really. But with its budget price you do get a budget experience to go with it.
anonymous 31 December, 2012 14:36
Being the owner of an iPad 3, and with my wife buying me a Nexus 7 for Christmas I am in a fairly good position to give my opinion on both products.
It's a bit like comparing the attributes of one woman against that of another.
I love the Nexus 7 in a far more passionate way than the iPad. It's fun and entertaining, fast and interesting and if it was a woman you would want an affair with it. The iPads like your wife. Entertaining when the relationship begins, does the ironing, cooks the T, gets the kids ready for school, but the excitement has dried up a bit. But you can always rely on it. It's so good it's become boring.
In conclusion what stops me from leaving the iPad for the Nexus is iTunes which is head and shoulders above Google Play. So I'm not leaving the wife, and I'm keeping the bit on the side for a bit of fun!
anonymous 31 December, 2012 16:11
Another multi-platform household here.
Between me, wife and three grown-up kids, we have a Galaxy S3, a Sony Xperia Arc, a Blackberry, an iPhone 4S and an iPhone 5.
As for tablets, our first was an iPad 2, which was so far ahead of the alternatives at the time.
This year my eldest son bought a Nexus 7, but after using it for about 3 months has given it to his younger brother. He's now bought an iPad Mini and has just got an iPhone 5 to replace his HTC Android phone. As my daughter keeps dominating use of our iPad, I bit the bullet and bought a new iPad 4 for Christmas. Now youngest son keeps wanting to use this instead of the Nexus his brother passed on to him. I'm not sure if this is a bit odd as he's an Android user when it comes to his mobile phone
anonymous 2 January, 2013 12:37
It's all a matter of opinion, no right or wrong here. I've been an apple user for years and have had 2 iPads ( iPad 1 and 3), love them love them.
I've now got a 32 gig Nexus and love it perhaps more. It more fun to play with and for me it's made me appreciate that there is more to life the apple. I genuinely prefer it, ( the Nexus) and for me it's now my preferred tablet.
The extra you pay for the mini is no doubt a better build quality, but ultimately you pay for the Apple Store, and no matter how much I try to kid myself, it is certainly the huge difference between the 2 products. You can tell that Google Play has far less development funds being pumped into it and as long as this situation remains the same people will always buy apple rather than android, which is a huge huge shame.
anonymous 2 January, 2013 15:27
God bless us. Even the NYTimes article is an ode to anything Appley... Yikes.
I think this debate is about those who want to belong to the Church of Apple, and cannot get beyond the shiny shiny properties of its devices and others who either could not care less or actually want to be as far removed from a sect as they can. I hate Apple and its "You must do as I tell you" attitude and overinflated prices and will never buy anything from them. I have a Nexus I love it. Parts of my home, my car are made out of plastic it does not bother me and neither does a "tablet". It is a tablet guys, not your wife or your kids or even your dog... get over it. BUT if you want to pay more for a product which is pretty similar to something else, then it is your prerogative. As for the survey results I think it has to do with the fact it is just £ 160 and does the job just fine. Amen.
anonymous 3 January, 2013 01:23
I have friends that have both the mini and the nexus and myself have had a play on both. In my overall opinion I prefer the IPad mini. It looks better with its slate backing compared to the cheap plastic used on the nexus. Despite what was said in the article, videos on the iPad mini are fantastic just like they are on the nexus. Surfing the Internet on th mini is a great experience, different to that of the nexus which is slow and looks of a lesser quality. Having said this though the nexus gets 10/10 for the price, it's a lot less than the iPad which I consider irrelevantly expensive as it is aimed at a 'higher' market than Google's nexus.
Tom
anonymous 5 January, 2013 03:12
Google nexus 0.97%.... iPad (all) 78.86%, well doesn't that show something... Ipad the Eco system A* (very consistent with its products through all the products) Operating system A, (needs an update soon to spice things up a little and use a little more of that power) product A* (beautifully made machines)... Nexus Eco system B, (android system too fragmented and fragile, google have some work to make it consistent) operating system A. Product C (cheap looking and too big plastic sides. also 35% smaller than the ipad mini, one reason for the price difference) i dont see the fuss about the Nexus, it seems crap to me! and before you think that i am an 'apple fanboy' i am not, i am your average consumer.
anonymous 5 January, 2013 15:52
misleading! the nexus 7 only has 160-170 extra votes than the ipad mini. WTF. Trouncing? I THINK NOT!
anonymous 8 January, 2013 00:52
Very interesting to read the comments here. Apple users are curious, buying and trying Nexus, giving their kids the opportunity to choose free. Most of the time they realize, Apple is the better choice - in the long run. Apples Ecosystem is unbeatable.
Then you have the Android fanboys. Some of them hate Apple, writing about a sect and will never try a Apple product. This guys have nothing to compare - not even give it a shot. Therefor totally untrustworthy with their opinion. Question is: who is the fanatic? Android fans with little money - have to live with cheap tech and need arguments not to own Apple products - or Apple users?
anonymous 8 January, 2013 01:25
So Android is for amateurs Another interesting thing is the statement " CNET UK's Facebook page will likely be of a technically-minded persuasion than the broader shopping public, and could be more likely to favour Android's tinkerer-friendly software over the ruthless simplicity of Apple's (no less enjoyable) platform..." What a stupid attempt to categorize the Android and Apple users. As IT Engineer, I am designing and building and repairing all kind of computers since 1972 - I was manipulated on my workplace to hate Apple. When I came across the Apple Ecosystem, setting up some Apple computers for clients, I did realize a much more intelligent system, more save on every level, and by including a genius Software like Next, it did result in far the best system, we have today. Making the complicated things simple to use, was Einstein's foremost goal. And the design is unbeatable.Android is a bit more stingy for amateurs.
anonymous 8 January, 2013 01:36
I meant Android and Nexus 7 is a bit more for stingy amateurs...! Try both and then make up your opinion, not from something you may have heard somewhere...
Ultraman1966 11 January, 2013 03:51
You get what you pay for, it's unfair to directly compare N7 to iPad mini given the huge price given. Android isn't perfect but at least you can get the choice to customise and make it your own.
anonymous 11 January, 2013 20:20
How do you filter out Anonymous comments?
Dear CNET, I want a "don't show anonymous" checkbox...please. I'm getting carpal tunnel scrolling passed them to read the useful comments .
..and yes I get the irony...
anonymous 12 January, 2013 04:55
I am the owner of an ipad 2, and I have got to say I prefer it over a nexus. But apple has to really lift its gain ios needs a interface refresh, widgets and customisation is a must and apple really keeps you boxed in that regard. Both tablets are a valid option and its simply a matter of opinion. Everyone has the right to choose the tablet they prefer, so stop whining and getting with your lives.
anonymous 12 January, 2013 07:23
I've tried mini and maxi pads. I find the Nexus much more comfy. It fits somewhere right I the middle.
anonymous 15 January, 2013 16:17
I own the cool (in my opinion) Nexus 7 and I can't complain about anything really (at least not yet). I mean it's my first tablet so I guess that's quite normal to be utterly in love with it!
But the only thing I'm missing is some good quality protective case for it, still lacking that. Would anyone have some suggestion on some brands or websites?
I've only come across www.zazzle.co.uk or caseable.com (in the sense they they have the cool looking ones) but don't have any experience with neither of them. If you do please let me know as I need one asap!
anonymous 22 January, 2013 01:37
I currently have the nexus 7, iPad mini and the Samsung galaxy tab 2 10.1. The iPad is the better tablet. The resolution might be lower but in real life the screen is better than both the galaxy tab and the nexus 7. The mini is also faster in everyday use than either of the google tablets. The mini is more stable, no crashing, no rebooting, no switching off, deleting content from SD cards. The quality of apps available in the App Store is far better than what is available in the play store. Apps are optimised for the iPad rather than poorly up scaled phone apps.
I won't say anything about design. It's too subjective and the most important thing to me is functionality not how something looks. Android is innovate and exciting but fails in the most basic tasks and functions.
I shall be selling my nexus 7 and galaxy tab and keeping hold of my mini.
anonymous 22 January, 2013 11:51
The Nexus 7 is selling 1 million a month, the iPad mini 1.5 million
That alone shows the tremendous win for Google, as most people buying the mini are just doing so from lack of knowledge or brand loyalty with Apple.
In the future we will se the Nexus 7 and its successors overtake the Mini.
Lets not forget, the Nexus beats the ipad mini squarely on every spec. (except for LTE and exernal camera) but is 33% cheaper.
Slam dunk!
edex67 26 January, 2013 18:27
@anonymous 5 January, 2013 03:12 "Cheap looking" - Subjective. To be fair, choosing a tablet is very subjective.
Generally, for most people, the Nexus 7 is better. If you live in the Apple ecosystem, of course, the Mini is for you. Otherwise, the N7 is cheaper, better screen, quad core processor etc.
However, in the 10 inch space, the iPad is the clear winner. I still prefer iOS to Android (am an iPod touch 4G owner and also own several Macs).
Also, anyone who says "the mini is better ??????!" or "nexus 7 ftw apple sux!" then you need to get a grip. Both are good, it's down to personal preference.
anonymous 29 January, 2013 21:23
Omg. Why do people keep mentioning about the non-Retina display of the ipad mini? They can't put the retina display on it because of the light weight and long battery. I dont even think that they would release the 2nd gen ipad mini with retina display without sacrificing the thin and light weight. And about the NEXUS 7, the screen looks much darker and not as bright as the ipad mini despite its higher resolution. I mean higher resolution does not always mean that it looks better, just maybe crisper. I bought an Kindle Fire HD 8.9 and pretended that the ipad mini was bad and overpriced. However, I returned the Kindle after a week despite its great display. Apple products are usually great, especially the quality built and the design. I care a bit about the retina display but the ipad mini's thinness blows the world out of me. Who cares if it doesn't have a retina display?
anonymous 29 January, 2013 21:54
At the end of the day, no mater what anyone has written, it all comes down to personal preference on which tablet is best. Some favour Android and others Apple. If these was no competition in the market place you guys would have nothing to write about and be sitting twiddling your thumbs or worse. More important things to worry about in life and indeed the world than who has the best product. I came to this site to get a constructive review of which might be best but to honest reading all this drivel has not helped in the slightest.
anonymous 7 February, 2013 22:56
You get what you pay for - full stop
anonymous 13 February, 2013 18:34
I have both, the nexus smokes the ipad mini.
anonymous 30 March, 2013 15:23
Android is much more simpler to use then iOS have you used that hair pulling out software that is iTunes
anonymous 29 April, 2013 01:36
As someone who just bought an iPad mini after owning a nexus 7 for almost a year, I can say the iPad mini is a much better designed device, and the apps seem much better designed than the ones on my nexus 7.
anonymous 29 April, 2013 01:37
As someone who just bought an iPad mini after owning a nexus 7 for almost a year, I can say the iPad mini is a much better designed device, and the apps seem much better designed than the ones on my nexus 7.
anonymous 29 April, 2013 01:37
As someone who just bought an iPad mini after owning a nexus 7 for almost a year, I can say the iPad mini is a much better designed device, and the apps seem much better designed than the ones on my nexus 7.