Google put the pressure on their main rivals with the announcement of their latest Nexus tablet.
Google have announced the impending arrival of the new Nexus 10 tablet. Available from mid-November, the tablet comes with an array of features that not only match, but out-perform, the iPad 3 in some departments. Unveiled on Google’s blog earlier this week, the Nexus 10 is probably the first Android tablet that offers serious competition to Apple’s iPads. No doubt that won’t sway die-hard Apple fans, but it could be enough to convert a few fence-sitters over to the Android OS.
Specs and Features
The Nexus 10 has undeniably impressive features, which become even more so when you compare them to the iPad 3.
Like the iPad, the Nexus has front and rear cameras, stereo speakers and comes with either 16GB or 32GB storage. The device also has a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor and 2GB RAM.
So far, so good.
Where the Nexus really takes on Apple, however, is its display: a 2560 by 1600 screen. Given that one of Apple’s main selling features for the iPad 3 was its ‘retina display’, the 3′s 264 pixels per inch pale in comparison next to the Nexus’ 300ppi.
The Nexus 10 is also tiny. Weighing in at just 603 grams, the device’s unibody plastic chassis means that it is just 8.9 millimeters thick. These measurements aren’t life-changingly different to those found in the iPad 3, but the Nexus still comes out both thinner and lighter than its rival.
Like a computer, Google’s new tablet opens up the possibility that several people can share the same device but enabling different user accounts. Unlike the iPad, the Nexus 10 is specifically aimed at families and marketed as a device that can be used at home in lieu of a computer.
Running Android 4.2, Google Play has a heavy presence on the laptop, in a similar manner to Apple’s in-house apps. As well as renting movies through Google Play, TV shows are now available and users can purchase video to build up their own Google Play library. Additionally, several magazines are now available through the marketplace, as well as a catalogue of music from Warner record label.
Drawbacks
The one potential drawback of the Nexus 10 is that it isn’t 3G or 4G enabled. This means you either have to be within range of a wi-fi signal to get online, or set up your cell or computer as a wireless hotspot. There’s already speculation around whether Google will release a version with 3G capabilities later (as they have done with other models) but the company haven’t commented either way.
Price
The Nexus 10’s pricing is where it really beats Apple’s iPad. Costing $399 for the 16GB version and $499 for the 32GB version, this Nexus tablet comes with a higher price tag than some of its predecessors. However, when you compare that to Apple’s pricing, which runs at $100 more, the Nexus’ potential appeal becomes brighter.
With Christmas around the corner, consumers will be counting their dollars. The Nexus 10 doesn’t run Apple’s intuitive and user-friendly iOS, nor do Google Play and Android apps come with the same reputation and security that Apple’s marketplace and apps do. When it comes to tech specs, however, the Nexus more than holds its own. Not only does it have a better screen than the iPad 3, but it’s thinner, lighter and cheaper too.
The Nexus 10 will be available to purchase online and in over 2,000 Walmart stores from Tuesday November 13th.
Hannah is a freelance writer from London, UK. Having completed a degree in English, she discovered a passion for all things digital, and enjoys nothing more than writing about online communication, marketing and anything Apple-related. When she's not researching the latest app releases or ogling new gadgets, Hannah enjoys writing about personal development, yoga, and exploring the world. | Google Plus
