Google Nexus 7 or Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0?:
For those looking into owning their first basic 7-inch Android tablet, the top two choices would probably the Google Nexus 7 and the 7-inch version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 due to their budget-friendly price.
The Google Nexus 7 still has to make its official debut in the country but reliable sources are saying that only the $249 16GB version will be pushed here. With taxes and all, we’re expecting an above Php15k price tag for this one.
The 7-inch version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 comes in two models, WiFi only and with 3G. For the purpose of this comparison, we’re going to take a look at the WiFi-only model which costs Php12,990.
The Google Nexus 7 is proud to be the first device to have Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS but we all know that’s not a real advantage since the Galaxy Tab 2 will eventually be getting its JB treatment. Although Nexus 7 won’t be getting any update delays whenever a new Android version pops out.
The price of the Nexus 7 will definitely be higher than the Galaxy Tab 2 when it arrives here and aside from a quad-core chip, you will also be getting better display with a higher resolution and IPS panel, NFC support, and a slightly higher battery rating.
However, the Galaxy Tab 2 does come with its own set of advantages. For a lesser price, you’ll get the coveted microSD slot which is a big plus for devices with big screens. You’ll also get a rear camera, USB OTG support (another favorite), and IR support.
So what to choose?
Google Nexus 7? Even if there’s not a lot of apps/games that can fully take advantage of its multi-threaded processing, based from experience, having quad-core will still give you a big performance boost. Games are smoother and so is HD video playback. And then there’s that 1280 x 800 IPS display which really looks good when you’re watching your HD videos.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 2? Having microSD support is a big deal for a 7-inch tablet since most games made for tablets are bigger and you would be wanting to put a lot of videos for catching up with your TV shows while on the go. If that’s not enough, USB OTG should add more space for those HD movies.
Here’s my take, if you can manage or willing to work around the space limitation the Nexus 7 imposes, and if you can get it at around the $249 price tag (from a place in the US with no state tax), then by all means get one.
However, if you want a trusty everyday 7-inch tablet you would be using for surfing, FB, checking mails, Skype, casual gaming, and if you don’t care much about high quality video playback, don’t bother spending extra, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 should be fine.
What’s your take?
For those looking into owning their first basic 7-inch Android tablet, the top two choices would probably the Google Nexus 7 and the 7-inch version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 due to their budget-friendly price.
The Google Nexus 7 still has to make its official debut in the country but reliable sources are saying that only the $249 16GB version will be pushed here. With taxes and all, we’re expecting an above Php15k price tag for this one.
The 7-inch version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 comes in two models, WiFi only and with 3G. For the purpose of this comparison, we’re going to take a look at the WiFi-only model which costs Php12,990.
Specs matchup
| Google Nexus 7 | Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 (WiFi) |
|---|---|
| 7.0” IPS LCD (1280 x 800) | 7.0″ PLS TFT (1024 x 600 pixels) |
| NVIDIA Tegra 3 Quad-core 1.3GHz | TI OMAP 4430 Dual-core 1 GHz |
| ULP GeForce GPU | PowerVR SGX540 GPU |
| Android 4.1 Jelly Bean | Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich |
| 1GB RAM | 1GB RAM |
| 16GB storage (no microSD slot) | 16GB storage (with microSD slot) |
| 1.2MP front camera, no rear | 3.15 MP camera, VGA front camera |
| 720p HD video recording | 720 HD video recording |
| Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n |
| Bluetooth 3.0 | Bluetooth 3.0 |
| NFC | Infrared |
| microUSB v2.0 | microUSB v2.0, USB On-the-go support |
| Li-Ion 4325 mAh | Li-Ion 4000 mAh |
| SRP: TBA (Php17k in gray market) | SRP: Php12,990 |
The price of the Nexus 7 will definitely be higher than the Galaxy Tab 2 when it arrives here and aside from a quad-core chip, you will also be getting better display with a higher resolution and IPS panel, NFC support, and a slightly higher battery rating.
However, the Galaxy Tab 2 does come with its own set of advantages. For a lesser price, you’ll get the coveted microSD slot which is a big plus for devices with big screens. You’ll also get a rear camera, USB OTG support (another favorite), and IR support.
So what to choose?
Google Nexus 7? Even if there’s not a lot of apps/games that can fully take advantage of its multi-threaded processing, based from experience, having quad-core will still give you a big performance boost. Games are smoother and so is HD video playback. And then there’s that 1280 x 800 IPS display which really looks good when you’re watching your HD videos.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 2? Having microSD support is a big deal for a 7-inch tablet since most games made for tablets are bigger and you would be wanting to put a lot of videos for catching up with your TV shows while on the go. If that’s not enough, USB OTG should add more space for those HD movies.
Here’s my take, if you can manage or willing to work around the space limitation the Nexus 7 imposes, and if you can get it at around the $249 price tag (from a place in the US with no state tax), then by all means get one.
However, if you want a trusty everyday 7-inch tablet you would be using for surfing, FB, checking mails, Skype, casual gaming, and if you don’t care much about high quality video playback, don’t bother spending extra, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 should be fine.
What’s your take?
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