Nexus 7 vs iPad Mini: Can’t Pick? This’ll Help

While there are numerous tablets around at the moment, two of the best of the small tablets are the iPad Mini and the Nexus 7 from Google. If you are in the market for a small tablet then really you will be choosing between iOS and Android and this might not be easy. Of course there are other things to consider, these include the display, the battery life and perhaps more importantly, the price tag.

Google Nexus 7 vs iPad Mini

If you want an Apple tablet then the iPad Mini is more affordable than the full size iPad 4 with their Retina screens at $329 for the 16GB Wi-Fi version, and it is very portable. What you actually have to weigh this up against is the fact that the Nexus 7 from Google offers users deeper customisation, and for those on a budget the tablet is cheaper at $199 for the Wi-Fi version. They are both fast tablets and they also both offer IPS displays which are sharp. So which of these two smaller tablets would be the best buy first?

Price: When it comes down to price and value then the Nexus 7 will win over the iPad Mini. There is also the Kindle Fire HD and the Nook HD, both falls into a similar price range. Google wanted to keep costs down on the Nexus 7 so as to draw in customers. Apple put their focus on profits and the build quality of their devices, which puts them in the top range category. Another thing that iPads are well known for is their iOS software and exterior styling. On the other hand if you are working to a budget then you could make savings of $129 if you buy the equally capable Nexus 7. The Nexus 7 3G will set you back $299 in comparison to the LTE version of the iPad Mini, which comes with the price tag of $459. So for those who have to watch what they spend, the Nexus 7 is the winner no matter which way you look at it.

Design: Design and Apple are twins and there is no denying that the iPad Mini is among the best of the iPad range when it comes down to looks. It is thin, light and has a back in aluminium. The design of the Nexus 7 can sort of compete with it as it has great styling too; the back comes in soft plastic and the tablet doesn’t look chunky. On saying this, the iPad Mini is the lighter of the two and it also has a more premium build. This means that the winner here has to be the iPad Mini.

Display: With its higher ppi the Nexus 7 should win when it comes to the display, even with both tablets having the IPS display. Unfortunately this is an area where Google and Asus allowed things to slide and the calibration of the screen is off. Reports from around the internet have said that this means that the colours on the Nexus 7 are not as rich, despite the number on the specs sheet, which are impressive. The device comes with 216ppi and the iPad Mini has 163ppi. However the text on the iPad Mini seems to be sharper and it also has colours that are rich and contrast which looks better. When viewing photos and video on the iPad Mini they are better and this is helped by the slightly larger display.

Hardware: The hardware on the Nexus 7 is the winner due to the quad core processor, which is 1.2GHz. The iPad Mini shares the same processor as the iPad 2, which is a dual core A5 from Apple. Geekbench tests showed that the Nexus 7 was the faster of the two tablets, being twice as fast as the iPad Mini. On the other hand the A5 processor has what it needs to ensure that iOS 6 runs very smoothly and this could be helped by the GPU, which is world class.

So in regards to the processor the Nexus 7 has to be declared the winner, while Apple win when it comes to GPU.

Software & apps: Software wise if you want customisation then it would have to be the Nexus 7 and Android. This is the more customisable of the two operating systems and users have multiple home screens along with widgets, app shortcuts and users can install custom ROMs. Those choosing iOS 6 and the iPad Mini will miss out on all of this, and due to this fact the Nexus 7 wins in this category.

When it comes to tablets then you have to give thought to apps as well. This is a category in which the iPad Mini is the clear winner. The App Store is home to many more apps optimised for tablets, than what Google and the Play Store offer. Therefore you would have to choose between apps or software here.

Battery: In regards to battery life on the two tablets, they are both great. Users of the Nexus 7 will get around 8.5 hours and the iPad Mini will give you are around 10 hours. As the iPad Mini gives a little more, this makes it the winner.

Bottom line: In conclusion the tablets are pretty well matched and what this may mean is that the best one for you would be decided by whether you prefer iOS 6 or Android, how much you want to pay and whether LTE is needed.