iPad mini vs. Nexus 7

 

Apple and Google don't have a lot of love for each other. Yet the two companies' hardware has seldom directly competed. Sure, the iPhone is rival to the Galaxy Nexus and a slew of Android phones. The iPad also does battle with some slow-selling full-sized Android slates. But perhaps the budget tablet market will show us the first true slugfest between the sworn enemies. The Nexus 7 – possibly the best budget tablet on the market – now has to contend with Apple's new iPad mini. How do the two miniature slates compare? Let's take a look …

Dimensions

Both are in the same class of smaller tablets, but there are differences. Though the devices are nearly the same height, the iPad mini is a bit wider and much thinner.
The iPad mini has narrower bezels on the side, which Apple used to keep the form nearly as small, but with a larger display.

Weight

As light as the iPad mini is, the Nexus 7 holds its own. Both slates should be comfortable for extended one-handed use.

Display

Each tablet's display has its pros and cons. The iPad mini offers an extra 0.9 inch (22.9 mm) of diagonal real estate, but the Nexus 7 has better resolution and a significantly higher pixel density.

Processor

At least on paper, this is a big win for the Nexus. It has a quad core Tegra 3 chip, while the iPad mini is rocking the old A5 chip – which first appeared in 2011's iPad 2.
Neither tablet, however, should be too much of a slouch in the performance department.

RAM

The iPad mini's 512 MB of RAM is unconfirmed, but – as it shares much of the iPad 2's components – that's where the smart money is. Consider this another (probable) victory for the Nexus.

Storage

Right now the iPad mini offers more storage, but rumors point to this soon leveling out. Google's upcoming event should reveal an update to the Nexus 7 that puts 16 GB and 32 GB models in the present 8 GB and 16 GB price points.

Wireless

This could change as well, as a Nexus 7 with cellular data is also rumored for Google's event. At present, though, only the iPad mini is available in a (more expensive) 3G and 4G model.

Battery

Until we put some time in with the iPad mini, these are based solely on estimates. Going off of those, we're looking at similar uptimes.

Cameras

Google and Asus left a rear-facing camera off of the Nexus 7, so the iPad mini comes out ahead here. It has the same shooters that are found in the 4th-gen iPad.

Intangibles

Millions of customers will likely buy the iPad mini, largely because of the App Store. Though Google Play is nothing to sneeze at, Apple's marketplace has a much larger selection of native tablet apps. They will all run in the same resolution (1024 x 768) as they do on the first two iPads.
A huge advantage for the Nexus 7 is its cost. Its US$200 starting price is $130 cheaper than the base model (16 GB, Wi-Fi only) iPad mini. With the Nexus 7 coming out ahead in several other key categories, anyone but die-hard Apple fans would be wise to at least consider Google's tablet.
If you are leaning towards the Nexus 7, though, it would be smart to wait a week or two. You'll probably be able to get twice the storage for the same price as the models that are available now.

Summing up

Apple's pricing is a bit higher than many people expected. Considering that the device's components fall short of the cutting edge, a $130 premium over its rivals is a gutsy move. Because it's made by Apple, it will sell in bunches, but that may not necessarily make it the leading budget tablet. The App Store may be all it needs to outsell its rival, but should we expect more from Apple?
Is the iPad mini better than the Nexus 7? As always, much of that will come down to personal taste. We will, however, attempt to make this distinction even clearer when the iPad mini arrives on doorsteps on Nov. 2.

Source : gizmag