So I recently looked at the ipad 3rd gen and ipad 4th gen. Then I looked at the ipad mini OG. I was browsing bestbuy and noticed a new nexus 7. I have the OG nexus 7 and its ok but I don't much use out of it. So here is my question: if I have the choice between an ipad mini OG and a new nexus 7, which should I take? I like both android and ios. I have an android phone and MacBook Air. If I do decide to get the nexus then I will purchase a new ipod so that I have a mobile ios device.
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Can't decide: iPad or Nexus 7
- Thread starter hunterheath33
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New Nexus 7. Performance on my iPad Mini isn't great probably because they skimped out on the hardware.
I had the iPad 3 and 4. Both were phenomenal. I decided to give the nexus 7 a chance to see if it could be an alternative to the iPad mini Retina.
It wasn't in some key ways, with on the more egregious issues being random reboots and netflix freezing at random times.
Then there is the 7" display with a 16:10 aspect ratio. Together the combo is not as pleasant for browsing and reading, and add to that there is a nav bar and status bar eating screen estate and your display is closer to 6.5 inches.
The cameras are also atrocious.
However it's sounds great, feels awesome in the hand, has an awesome display and is deceptively fast given the old tech under the hood. It's also so cheap you don't care about throwing it in a coat pocket or in a bag without 60 dollars in screen covers and cases.
The battery life is also surreal. I watched a whole season of Sons of Anarchy on a single charge and the video quality is excellent. The display is also super bright for a tablet, but the black levels were so so. The sound was very spacious sounding and immersive as well.
As a bedside music player it was better than my iPads too.
It's a close runner up to the iPad Mini retina, but not better to me, but that cheap price is a nice perk.
What I would really like to see is the nexus 7 type device running Windows Phone.
It wasn't in some key ways, with on the more egregious issues being random reboots and netflix freezing at random times.
Then there is the 7" display with a 16:10 aspect ratio. Together the combo is not as pleasant for browsing and reading, and add to that there is a nav bar and status bar eating screen estate and your display is closer to 6.5 inches.
The cameras are also atrocious.
However it's sounds great, feels awesome in the hand, has an awesome display and is deceptively fast given the old tech under the hood. It's also so cheap you don't care about throwing it in a coat pocket or in a bag without 60 dollars in screen covers and cases.
The battery life is also surreal. I watched a whole season of Sons of Anarchy on a single charge and the video quality is excellent. The display is also super bright for a tablet, but the black levels were so so. The sound was very spacious sounding and immersive as well.
As a bedside music player it was better than my iPads too.
It's a close runner up to the iPad Mini retina, but not better to me, but that cheap price is a nice perk.
What I would really like to see is the nexus 7 type device running Windows Phone.
I would never pick up the original iPad mini unless it was ridiculously cheap. Not worth it at its price.
I agree. Between the new N7 and the old mini, I would get the new N7 any day of the week - unless I had specific apps that I needed the mini for. In which case I would probably save up and get a retina mini instead...
OP, since you mention you'd purchase a new iPod if you went for the N7, doesn't that mean you could afford a retina mini with the cash you'd otherwise use for those two?
I think he's referring to the original Mini, not the new rMini, as that's what the OP was considering.
Apps crash sometimes and when I switch between them they open up as if they've been closed probably because of the RAM.
If the rMini isn't in this discussion.....then I would weigh these things.
How important is screen quality to you? If it's very important then choose the N7.
How important is the 4:3 aspect ratio to you? i.e, do you do more reeding/browsing or more video watching? If reading is most important than choose the iPad Mini although that screen sharpness could be an issue.
If apps optimized for tablets are important then choose iPad. There really is a difference IMO.
Build quality: iPad
Price: N7
Me? I chose the iPad mini with retina.
How important is screen quality to you? If it's very important then choose the N7.
How important is the 4:3 aspect ratio to you? i.e, do you do more reeding/browsing or more video watching? If reading is most important than choose the iPad Mini although that screen sharpness could be an issue.
If apps optimized for tablets are important then choose iPad. There really is a difference IMO.
Build quality: iPad
Price: N7
Me? I chose the iPad mini with retina.
Since the OP is deciding between the 1st generation iPad mini and the new Nexus 7, I would say easily the Nexus 7 is all around a better deal. Nexus 7 has a far superior screen, a far superior processor and chipset, and a far superior price since its still $70 cheaper and a year newer than the original mini.
Now if he were choosing between the new mini and Nexus then its a harder decision. Although the new mini's screen is finally on par with the Nexus, you have to ask yourself if an extra .9 inches of screen and a 4:3 ratio is worth the $170 extra dollars you'll spend on the retina mini. Both are great devices. I chose the Nexus 7 and truthfully didn't look back.
Now if he were choosing between the new mini and Nexus then its a harder decision. Although the new mini's screen is finally on par with the Nexus, you have to ask yourself if an extra .9 inches of screen and a 4:3 ratio is worth the $170 extra dollars you'll spend on the retina mini. Both are great devices. I chose the Nexus 7 and truthfully didn't look back.
I would get a Nexus 7 over an original iPad mini. If I wanted to stay with iOS than I would only consider the mini retina.
Rick
Rick
If you already have a Nexus 7 that you barely use, why get another one? Get an iPad mini so you don't have to waste more money on an iPod.
I had 4 OG N7's. The first one I dropped, the next two shut down in use and wouldn't boot no matter what. The final one 'clicked' when I put the charger in, the screen showed simply static and that one was dead also.
Needless to say, I returned that for my money and got an iPad.
That said, I did like my nexus when it was working and I'm sure (I hope!) that the niggles and bugs have been fixed by now.
Still wouldn't buy one though. The specs are down on paper, but it doesn't always translate well to real world use.
Needless to say, I returned that for my money and got an iPad.
That said, I did like my nexus when it was working and I'm sure (I hope!) that the niggles and bugs have been fixed by now.
Still wouldn't buy one though. The specs are down on paper, but it doesn't always translate well to real world use.
The new 2013 Nexus 7 is an INSANE improvement over the old one, in both quality control, build quality and stability of the actual device and the software.
Personally, I think the Nexus 7 and iPad can't be compared, they are almost like apples and oranges. The N7 is a super portable, highly capable device thats a gaming powerhouse and only costs $230. The iPad mini, although also very capable is probably better for browsing simply because of the extra inch of screen space and has a better app selection but also costs $170 more at $400. Both have their pros/cons. I chose the Nexus 7 because it was not only extremely affordable and fast but I also appreciate the small form factor, some may not.
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Haha I totally agree. So blatantly obvious when people make crap up. I love people hating on the Nexus 7. I guess when you're at the top, people will try to bring you down. Try to find another tablet for $230 that's as capable and powerful and sells as well as the N7, you won't. The Nexus 7 practically is the "iPad mini" of the Android world. No the iPad isn't superior despite its high price tag. People automatically assume that higher price equals better product. Sucks for them.
I've had 3 2012 nexus 7s with completely different issues, so it's not unheard of. The first one had a blown speaker. The second one had a bad mic or mics. The last one that I ended up keeping doesn't turn on unless I hold the power button for 30 seconds. I never had the screen lifting issue everybody kept complaining about though. Asus quality control really sucks ass.
Again, we are discussing the new Nexus 7, which has much better QC control than the new Nexus, also less reported issues. Also, not calling you a liar, but to have three different ones with different issues seems a little farfetched. I've never owned the original Nexus 7, but the only main issue I heard of was the screen coming unglued and some software issues. If you truly did get three bad units, why didn't you just keep your money and go elsewhere, or return the last one that you claim has an issue that it won't turn on unless you hold the button for 30 seconds (which I'm sorry, sounds fabricated). I think you are just drinking Nexus haterade, but don't worry you're not alone.
I had a 2012 nexus 7 and upgraded maybe 2 months ago to the 2013 version. I also recently bought an iPad air and my boyfriend has the first gen iPad mini so I think I am qualified on this ;-P
Anyway if you don't need the iOS ecosystem and you know you want a small tablet I recommend the nexus 7. It is SOOO much better than the 2012 version it isn't even funny. Faster. Best screen of a mobile device I've used. I prefer this screen to the iPad Air (which is also very good). Battery life is probably not as good as the iPad mini but it is good enough for all day use (I don't do a lot of gaming though).
I prefer the size and when web browsing I really appreciate the ability to adjust font size. In mobile safari you need a hack to do this and it doesn't work as well. The Nexus 7 is just a lot more ergonomic and you will appreciate the drop in weight from the 2012 version (the iPad mini is now significantly heavier).
If you want a good tablet for content consumption the nexus 7 2013 is great. However I did buy an iPad air to cover work related things (PDF article reading and note taking) that I wanted to do on a tablet. The android ecosystem just isn't there with regards to productivity apps, and I say this as someone who is far more familiar with android than iOS.
Anyway if you don't need the iOS ecosystem and you know you want a small tablet I recommend the nexus 7. It is SOOO much better than the 2012 version it isn't even funny. Faster. Best screen of a mobile device I've used. I prefer this screen to the iPad Air (which is also very good). Battery life is probably not as good as the iPad mini but it is good enough for all day use (I don't do a lot of gaming though).
I prefer the size and when web browsing I really appreciate the ability to adjust font size. In mobile safari you need a hack to do this and it doesn't work as well. The Nexus 7 is just a lot more ergonomic and you will appreciate the drop in weight from the 2012 version (the iPad mini is now significantly heavier).
If you want a good tablet for content consumption the nexus 7 2013 is great. However I did buy an iPad air to cover work related things (PDF article reading and note taking) that I wanted to do on a tablet. The android ecosystem just isn't there with regards to productivity apps, and I say this as someone who is far more familiar with android than iOS.
For me, the deciding factor in choosing the 2012 ipad mini over the 2012 Nexus 7 was the Ipad's 4:3 7.9 inch screen. That's about the minimum size I'd want for reading pdfs (one of my main uses for it), and I think web browsing works better for it as well. A device like the Nexus 7 but with the size and aspect ratio of the mini would be very tempting.
Seriously from what you posted, I don't think it matters what you get being you have a mix of everything and decided to keep it that way. What kind of combination are you looking for?