ASUS Google Nexus 7 tablet test: great seven

This is one of the reasons why firmwares with new versions of Android OS are often delayed - after all, manufacturers “install” on their devices not a “bare” OS, but framed in some proprietary interface, stuffed with their own programs and drivers. And this customization takes a lot of time and money.

Therefore, it is not surprising that Google decided, in addition to the release of the Android OS, to control the development of phones and tablets - in order to promote its own OS, demonstrating its work on "reference" devices. And although the "corporation of good" does not directly participate in the development, still much in the original product depends on its will. Such products, designed specifically for Google and always running on the latest version of android, make up the Nexus family.

ASUS Google Nexus 7

V different time the developers of Nexus smartphones were the most promising companies at that time: Nexus One, the very first nexus, was released by the Taiwanese HTC, whose decline now seems to be inevitable. The next two smartphones: Nexus S and Galaxy Nexus were presented by the Korean company Samsung, and is still alive. The newest smartphone Nexus 4 is also made by Koreans - by LG (nee Goldstar). Well, the production of the first nexus tablet was taken up by the Taiwanese ASUS, which invented netbooks, and then presented the world with very successful tablets. ASUS Transformer.

Unlike the smartphones listed earlier, ASUS tablet Google Nexus 7 does not have a twin brother, produced under the individual ASUS brand. Even the Nexus 4 is just a Google copy of the LG Optimus G smartphone. But the Nexus 7 is an original product. Moreover, Google and ASUS promoted the tablet well before its release: the companies promised that it would be the most productive of the mini-tablets, with the highest screen resolution in this segment, but at the same time the price for it would start at $ 200 for the younger model. ...

Well, dreams of two hundred dollars have remained dreams for Russians, but the price of 10 thousand rubles (you can see the more beautiful number 9990 on the price tags, but you and I understand the essence of this marketing technique) also looks very adequate. Much less powerful mini-tablets are sometimes more expensive.

Appearance

The design of the Nexus 7 is another illustration of how an item can look better from the side and rear than from the front. Actually, only the screen adorns the front surface. If it is off, then we see a nondescript black glass in front of us.

But on the sides, the view is already much more interesting thanks to the metal edging:

Well, on the rear surface it is still better - there is textured and very pleasant to the touch soft-touch plastic. The tablet is really nice to hold in your hands:

There are only three hardware buttons: turning on / locking the screen and two volume control buttons combined into a rocker. All these buttons are located on the top right side:

At the bottom there is a micro-USB port and a 3.5 mm headphone jack:

The version with 3G (hurray, there are already such models) on the left side at the bottom you can find a slot for a micro-SIM card.

Unfortunately, the GSM module does not allow you to turn a tablet into a full-fledged phone (as, for example, in Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 P3100), but high data rate (HSDPA) is available on 3G networks.

Also in the photo, on the metal edging, you can see contacts of unknown origin - it is assumed that various accessories will be released soon, which will finally explain the purpose of these contacts. However on this moment we have not seen such accessories yet.

Screen

The Nexus 7 uses a 7-inch screen with a resolution of 1280x800 pixels - this is the most a high resolution among mini-tablets. And if the 10-inch iPad 3 and 4 are a cut above in this parameter among all other devices in their class, then iPad mini seriously loses to the nexus.

The type of matrix is ​​TFT IPS and although IPS is not a panacea, the screen looks really great. This also applies to color rendition and viewing angles.

Interface and software

Since Nexus is a special family of Android devices designed to carry a "pure" OS (or, as they say in the advertisement, Pure Google), there is no ASUS proprietary interface here. The version of Android in the tablet is the most current, 4.2.1 and about updates, believe me, you don't have to worry - as soon as 4.3 or some 4.2.4 comes out - it can be installed on the tablet on the same day.

In general, the interface of Android 4.2 does not differ much from Android 4.1, although you can see that the designers have chosen to move towards minimalism - a fashionable trend nowadays. Although this was understandable when moving from 3.x to 4.x.

Moreover, Google decided that it would be advisable to unify the interface for tablets and phones. That is why the virtual buttons "back", "home" and "recent applications list" here look the same as on the phone and are located on the bottom panel in the middle of the screen.

And this decision, in my opinion, is doubtful. First, what is the point of this unification? The tablet and the phone are held differently even in the hands, which means that the location of the buttons should be different. Second, why hasn't Google still figured out how to get rid of these buttons altogether? They occupy the same place. There are great examples of interfaces where no buttons are required, but the functionality does not suffer. Notable representatives: BlackBerry Tablet OS on the BlackBerry Playbook and MeeGo on Nokia smartphone N9. If at one time Google did not hesitate to adopt ideas from "live" iOS, then it is hardly worth talking about the dead MeeGo and the dying BlackBerry OS. After all, even iOS uses only one button - and no one seems to be particularly complaining. And most importantly, it does not take up precious screen space.

If you rotate the screen to landscape orientation, then the absurdity of the location of the bottom buttons becomes even more obvious:

The biggest change in Android 4.2 top panel notifications. More precisely, now there are two panels: notifications and quick settings... Swiping down on the left side of the screen will open the notification panel:

And if on the right side of the screen - access to quick settings:

Now this is much more convenient than it was.

The keyboard has remained practically unchanged. But it's nice that the switching of the input language is still assigned to the button - doing it through the menu of the bottom panel or stroking the "Space" button is still much less convenient.

And this is how the keyboard looks in portrait orientation:

Also, the main innovation of version 4.1 migrated to version 4.2 - the Google Now assistant program.

The application displays the tips the user needs (from the point of view of the application): the weather forecast, the way to the house (by car or by public transport- can be selected in the settings), places of interest nearby, as well as information on aircraft flights or match results, if you have ever searched for Google help something related to airplanes or sports.

Performance and multimedia

The ASUS Google Nexus 7 is not a very nimble tablet. It is noticeably weaker than modern flagship phones like Samsung. Galaxy Note II or LG Nexus 4. The performance of the Nexus 7 is about the same as that of the ASUS Transformer Prime:

However, this could have been guessed without testing - the tablet runs on the same processor as the Transformer Prime: a quad-core (plus a companion core) NVIDIA Tegra 3. At the moment, this system-on-a-chip (SoC) can no longer be called a modern high-performance system as it was a year ago.

Nevertheless, many modern three-dimensional toys run without problems and lags on the Nexus 7. You can even call the tablet a gaming tablet, but keep in mind that good games take a lot internal memory(2 GB is already commonplace, and the popular Bard's Tale is generally unpacked into 3.5 GB), but it cannot be expanded here. So if you really plan on playing a lot on the Nexus 7, it's best to buy the 32GB version right away. As you know, there is never too much memory.

Also, the Tegra 3 processor does a good job with videos, including in Full HD. In theory. In practice, this is a very capricious processor - you can never know in advance whether this particular video will start on a device with Tegra 3 and how it will work. That is, in theory, you can even play MKV in Full-HD, but in practice - as luck would have it. Maybe, for example, there is no sound or there will be constant lags or something else. And it is difficult to connect these phenomena in any way with the resolution of the video or the codec or even the bit rate.

Camera

The tablet has only one camera - front. That's right - there is no point in spending extra money and space on a rear camera, which is like a dog's fifth leg. But the front camera is useful for Skype.

Test shots ASUS Google Nexus 7

The quality is quite typical for the front cameras modern smartphones and tablets. Nothing special, but it will work for Skype.

It is interesting, by the way, that the "camera" application itself is absent in the tablet. That is, when you talk using Skype or another video chat program, it turns on automatically, but you just won't be able to click your beloved one. Someone even released in Google play dedicated app for Nexus 7 (installation does not require root privileges):

We can only guess why the developer chose the Nikon amateur SLR as the application icon.

Battery

In continuous video playback mode, the tablet worked for almost 8 hours. The result is not bad, although two hours were not enough for the autonomy of any iPad. However, among Android tablets, only the Amazon Kindle Fire HD is better than the nexus in this parameter.

Total

In my opinion, Google and ASUS have a good product. Already from advertising, we understand that Nexus 7 is focused on family entertainment: content consumption while sitting on the couch or with children on the carpet. Of course, for the consumption of "adult" content (nothing seditious - I mean modern 3D games and full-length films in Full-HD), it is hardly suitable, there is not enough memory. But for simple and beautiful three-dimensional arcades, cartoons - just right. It is also convenient to use it as a book reader (for those who do not like E-ink devices) - iPad mini is too expensive in this sense, and Nexus 7 is just right. In the metro, it is very convenient to read from the nexus, holding the tablet with one hand - thanks to the low weight, the hands do not get tired.

Well, and most importantly - with the Nexus 7 we will always have the most current version of Android, not stuffed with, moreover, all sorts of excesses that waste precious memory - this is often the fault of large vendors.

Related Articles

• Tablet overview Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact: optimal choice Mine new tablet Sony decided to make it compact. While Apple is rumored to be killing the iPad mini, Sony, on the other hand, has ditched 10 inches in favor of eight. Looking ahead, let's say that it is in the case of a Japanese company ...
• Etuline Tegra Note 7 tablet review: budget monster from NVIDIA It seems that NVIDIA has seriously decided to enter the mobile device market. First there was the Shield handheld game console, then the Shield Tablet, and now the "regular" Android Tegra Note 7. The name, let's face it ...
• Tablets that can replace smartphones: ZOOM selection It is finished! The market defeated the famous stubbornness of Apple and the company not only recognized the existence of "phablets" as such, but even harnessed to full-fledged competition in this market with two models at once. Meanwhile, the white flag on the towers ...
• NVIDIA Shield Tablet test: play me everywhere Game console on Android is already an objective reality. Only this reality did not come from dubious startups (a stone in the OUYA garden), but was embodied by a large brand that has proven itself well in the production of high-performance ...
• The five most anticipated tablets of fall 2014 Today we will tell you about the most interesting tablets which will go on sale this fall. Some of them were shown at IFA, others are only rumored so far.
• Transformer test Acer aspire Switch 10: the next stage of evolution The leitmotif of today's review of a tablet-laptop, that is, a transformer, called Acer Aspire Switch 10, are two indisputable facts that, by and large, served as the impetus for the creation of this product. It is possible ...
• Bestsellers: tablets of the first half of 2014 In today's Bestseller article we will talk about the most popular tablets of the first half of 2014. Traditionally, we will divide the rating into four categories - from the most budgetary to premium devices.

The Nexus product line is unique in the world mobile technologies... Born in the head of the Google corporation, but assembled by other manufacturing companies, these are devices with the purest Android on board. Without any graphic changes or additions.

The history of the appearance of the Nexus models, or rather the reason for their appearance, is quite simple. Google didn't like the fact that manufacturers were changing their operating system beyond recognition. We changed the interface, technical characteristics, and also introduced our own unique adjustments. By doing this, they put users in an uncomfortable position, because they update the firmware to latest version became almost impossible. Deciding to put an end to this, the development department of Google came up with the idea of ​​creating their own devices on "pure" Android'e. The company did not assemble these devices themselves, but entrusted this task to eminent and influential companies on the market.

The first device from the line was released in 2010 and was called the Google Nexus One. The smartphone was assembled by HTC, which remains faithful to the partnership with Google today. In fact, the Google Nexus One was a close relative of the HTC Disere. The only difference was in the price. Branded HTC phone sold a little more expensive. Technically, it was the most powerful smartphone that time. In addition, it was sold at a fairly attractive price. For $ 529, the buyer received a device with 3.7 inch screen, 5-megapixel camera and the most powerful processor at that time Qualcomm Snapdragon 1 GHz. HTC Desire, having similar characteristics, at the start of sales, was released for $ 600. The Nexus One is the first smartphone to run Android 2.1 Eclier. Official update ended on version 2.3.6.

Google Nexus S. HTC hands over the baton to Samsung

At the end of 2010, Samsung launches the next google-device - Google Nexus S. This time the smartphone from the search engine was a "younger brother" of the Samsung Galaxy S, which went on sale half a year earlier. Nexus S continued the tradition of its predecessor and turned out to be slightly cheaper and slightly weaker than the main flagship. The screen is slightly worse, the performance is slightly lower, the lack of slots for memory cards: all this was done in order to reduce the competition between devices to a minimum. Nexus S was under Android 2.3. It was possible to upgrade to version 4.1 Jelly Bean. Galaxy S has only been updated to 2.3.

Galaxy Nexus. Same Samsung

Google decided to continue cooperation with the Korean manufacturer and the next device was again entrusted to Samsung. The Koreans took the new Nexus build very seriously. The Galaxy Nexus is more than just a relative of the original flagship. The Galaxy Nexus does not have buttons on the front, which has become an innovation in the world of mobile devices. It is now possible to control the phone using virtual keys... All this is a service of Android 4.0. In October 2011, an official presentation took place, which Google and Samsung held together. However, Google removed the name from the name.

Nexus 7. ASUS continues old traditions and makes its own adjustments

The device, which made a lot of buzz both in the press and among users, entered the market in 2012. It was not next smartphone in the Nexus line. Google decided to release a tablet. The development of Nexus 7 was entrusted to ASUS and they did not disappoint. Since this model, it has become customary to write a number on Nexus devices. The number represents the diagonal. The seven-inch Nexus was introduced to the world at the same time as Android 4.1. Many feared for the Nexus 7. After all, competitors in the market of electronic devices are not weak: iPhone 4S and Sony Playstation Vita. But the Nexus 7 survived. For only $ 250, consumers received a tablet with the most powerful internals: Nvidia Tegra 3 processor (4 cores), HD display, 1 gigabyte random access memory and 16 built-in. There was also a version with 8 gigabytes of memory, the price tag of which was $ 200. Everyone was happy with the tablet, from buyers to critics. It is not for nothing that the Nexus 7 won the Gadget of the Year and Tablet of the Year awards from the prestigious T3 publication.

Nexus 4. Behind the LG machine

Deciding not to delay the release of the next Nexus devices Google decides to release the new Nexus later that year. A new version of Android 4.2 was also presented. The new device is the smartphone again. This time LG was the manufacturer. Nexus 4 (smartphone diagonal is 4.7 inches) turned out to be very high quality in terms of design and concept. The functionality was also fine, but the first thing that caught my eye was the combination of glass and plastic back cover. A light pattern shimmered beautifully under it. As for the characteristics, the Nexus 4 was still at the forefront of progress: Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor (4 cores), 8 or 16 gigabytes of internal memory, HD display and so on. However, this model has one significant drawback: the absence of a memory card slot made life much more difficult for many users. Nexus 4 also did not support LTE networks, but this problem was quickly dealt with by craftsmen. There were no more complaints. On the contrary, the model had an innovative function Q1 - the system wireless charging devices.

Nexus 10. Return of Samsung

The next gadget heralded return of Samsung to the development of Nexus devices. As the name suggests, this is again a tablet. Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 were unveiled at the same time. The ten-inch tablet was radically different from its predecessor, the Nexus 7. It's not just the screen diagonal. The design has been completely redesigned and redesigned. The Nexus 10 looked more like one of Samsung's tablets than a standalone device. They gave out rounded edges. The technical stuffing was not at the peak of progress this time. However, the situation was saved from a part by the display: a 10-inch matrix, a resolution of 2560x1600, a pixel density of 300 ppi. So high-quality display not even the iPad with its Retina and 264 ppi density can boast. The Nexus 10 display is still considered the benchmark today. Nothing more good can be said. The success of the Nexus 7 has not been repeated. The device went by for the most part unnoticed and did not find respect among Nexus fans.

Nexus 7 sample 2013. ASUS is back in business

ASUS did not rework their own concept. They also did not reinvent the wheel and try to surprise people with a certain technological revolution in new version tablet Nexus 7. If we can describe all the work done in one word, then "technological evolution" is best suited. The new incarnation of the Nexus 7 is thinner, lighter, faster. The insides have been updated: Snapdragon processor S4, 2 gigabytes of RAM and 16 (32) internal memory. Full-HD display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080. Added support for LTE and memory card slots. Now critics have nothing to find fault with.

Nexus 5. Queue for LG

Now is the time to update the range of smartphones. The five-inch Nexus was created by the LG team. Outwardly, it is not much different from the second generation Nexus 7. Moreover, they are similar as twin brothers (except for the size, of course). But in order to somehow dilute the strict and boring look of the smartphone, the device went on sale in three color versions: strict black, white and deep red. But the Nexus 5 distinguished itself with its filling: Qualcomm Snapdragon 800, 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal memory (32 are also present) and a Full-HD display. All this magnificence is worth $ 350. For the version with 32 gigabytes of internal memory on board, you will have to pay another $ 50. The Nexus 5 has a "technical cousin" the LG G2, which sells for $ 300 (!) More. Along with the five-inch Nexus, the new Android 4.4 KitKat was presented.

Motorola Nexus 6 is the name of the next brainchild of Google

The name can already say a lot. The development was carried out by Motorola, and the diagonal of the new smartphone this time will be 5.96 inches. The device will run Android 5.0 Lollipop. The technical characteristics are as follows: Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 2.75 GHz, 3 GB of RAM, 32 (64) gigabytes of built-in, support for LTE, GSM. Wi-fi, Bluetooth 4.1 are included of course. There is also a 13-megapixel camera on board. Sales started on October 29, 2014

Summer is already at full speed rushing towards the end, but we still have no reason to be sad. Indeed, quite recently, Google presented several interesting devices, and its most important mystery is still ahead!

What if not technological innovations can brighten up the life of any inhabitant of "Lifehacker"?

Let's start in order.

Smartphones Google Edition

Any Android user knows that in addition to operating system, the manufacturer who assembles the device is also important. The two main competitors in this area - Samsung and HTC - companies that, in addition to quite High Quality products are also famous for different UI skins: TouchWiz from Samsung and Sense from HTC.

However, many people, to put it mildly, do not have much love for them. However, they cannot be demolished or replaced without any consequences. Just for this market segment, both companies released one copy of their flagships - Htc one and Samsung Galaxy S4 with naked Android on board. Both devices are named the same as their standard prototypes, but with the addition of "Google Edition" at the end.

The advantage of these phones is that they came out on the latest version of the OS and will update much faster than competitors who did not sell their soul to the Corporation of Good. However, manufacturers will still update them, not Google directly. Therefore, Nexus devices will not yield to the honor of rolling in new ones. Android version the very first. However, the offer is definitely interesting!

You can buy the Galaxy S4 Google Edition and HTC One Google Edition from the official Google Play store. How to do this is below.

New Nexus 7

The next novelty that has already become available to buyers from all over the world is the new Nexus 7, which was supposed to go on sale only on July 30th. However, such large retailers as Amazon could not resist and started selling it a few days earlier.

It is noteworthy that this is a device from Google, but you can buy it on Amazon for the same price as in the Play Store!

The new tablet features excellent technical characteristics and very tasty prices:

Screen size: 7.02 inches;

Screen resolution: 1920x1200 pixels;

Processor: 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4;

RAM: 2GB DDR3;

Battery: 3950mAh ~ 10 hours of full operation.

The new Nexus 7 entered the market in two versions: 16GB and 32GB. And if the second costs $ 269, then the price of the first is generally ridiculous - $ 229

You can buy the new Nexus 7 both on Google Play and through regular retailers. Most the best way- Amazon, which accepts our bank cards and supplies the device with free shipping to the reseller's warehouse.

Motorola Moto X

We left one more interesting device for last - Moto X from Motorola - a new competitor to LG Nexus 4, which promises to be even slightly cheaper than its predecessor.

It's all about the characteristics of the new Moto:

The smartphone will work out of the box on Android 4.2.2;

Screen size: 4.7 inches;

Screen resolution: 1280x720 pixels;

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro MSM8960DT;

RAM: 2GB;

Battery: 2200 mAh.

The device, like its predecessor, can be purchased with different amounts of built-in memory. But unlike the Nexus 4, the Moto X is 16GB and 32GB.

Such pleasure will cost $ 299 and $ 349, respectively. You can buy Moto X in the official Google Play store.

Instructions for buying on Google Play

As you know, Google Play is the store that really makes sure that its devices do not end up in places where company policy does not provide. For example, to Russia and Ukraine. That is why we will have to be a little clever with the order and, in the literal sense, deceive Google by pretending that we are the most Americans.

For this you will need:

A bank card that will allow you to pay for purchases on the Internet;

Google Wallet account;

A drop of cunning.

1. Link the card to your Google Wallet account

After you have entered it, ignore the drop-down sign "Name and home address" and select the item "Add payment method later."

Next, go to the "Transactions" page, then click on the small gear in the upper right corner of the screen and select "Billing information and delivery address". After that, click "Add address" and enter there your American address that Qwintry gave you (if you don't have one yet, it doesn't matter! Register, it will take less than a minute).

Then you should choose a payment method, so click on "Add a card or account" and "Add a credit or debit card", where we enter all the card details, and replace the real billing address with our American Qwintry.

That's it, we're done with the map. Now we need to convince the Good Corporation that we are really in the USA!

2. Disguise as an American

Let's deal with Google first. We go to the "General" tab and change the language to US English, then also change our language in Windows: Control Panel -> Clock, Language and Region -> Change Location. We choose the USA from all the options.

However, this is not all. The final touch - install free program Hotspot Shield. Instructions for work and installation in the Qwintry article. We clear the browser cache and launch it.

3. We order and deliver home

The only thing left is to go to Google Play. Find the device we need. Click "Add to cart". Then - "Continue", confirm the address and payment method and click "Buy".

After a while, the order will be shipped and delivered to the Qwintry warehouse, from where you can send it to your home!

There is no need to fear for the integrity of an expensive cargo: Qwintry packs parcels very carefully and reliably. This is, in particular, what the unpacking of a parcel looks like in the performance of one of the Qwintry clients. A tasty and a postcard is a gift =)

Family smartphones google Nexus came out in early 2010. The first Nexus One smartphone has long been considered a phone made exclusively for developers with no clarity as to whether it will ever be marketed for ordinary users.

This was the first step by Google, with which the search giant clearly defined the concept of its Nexus phone - a smartphone developed by Google itself, which runs on the version of Android that it originally intended.

For a long time, Nexus devices were not popular with ordinary users. They have been used to a large extent by Android developers and fans. In 2016, Google shut down the Nexus project and introduced a new line of devices called the Pixel. It was a really premium series flagship phones which, according to Google, should appeal to regular users.

In 2017, the company introduced the most advanced and. Galagram invites you to remember where it all started and what Google's Nexus phones have become today.

• Release date: January 2010
• Codename: Mahi Mahi or HTC Passion

The phone that started the Google Nexus line is legendary HTC Nexus One. Of course, today its characteristics look just ridiculous, even in smart watch now more memory and more powerful processors... But at the time of the announcement, it was a cool flagship with a 3.7-inch display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon S1 processor and 512 MB of RAM.

The Nexus One had a fancy trackball that could be used instead of optical mouse for more accurate input. The first Google phone had an obscure design good display and a modern (at that time) processor, and was also equipped with a clean version of Android 2.1 Eclair.

• Release date: December 2010
• Codename: Crespo

The second Nexus was dubbed the Samsung Nexus S. A microSD card slot was cut out of its body, and this was a sign that no next Nexus will get this slot. What was the reason? Google engineers were worried that slow SD cards were sluggish Android systems... And that entails a bad user experience, which the company couldn't allow.

The Nexus S ran on Android 2.3 Gingerbread, one of the oldest versions of Android. The Nexus S itself was a plastic phone not outstanding in terms of design. Among other things, it was last phone Nexus with capacitive buttons below the screen: All other Nexus phones since late 2011 have shipped with on-screen navigation keys.

• Release date: November 2011
• Codename: Maguro

Legendary Nexus from Samsung was released in 2011. At the time, it was equipped with a "huge" 4.65-inch display with an HD resolution of 1280 × 720p. A notable feature of the Galaxy Nexus was its slightly curved design, like the original Samsung Galaxy S prototype. It also had a removable back cover for easy access to the battery. But the next Nexus were already solid without the possibility of opening the cases.

And yes, the Galaxy Nexus was a platform for the announcement of Android IceCream Sandwich and the era of on-screen navigation buttons. The new face of Google's mobile operating system looked stylish, futuristic and already more like Apple's iPhone.

• Release date: November 2012
• Codename: Mako

LG's Nexus 4 was one of the most important phones Nexus and the reason for this was not only that it worked for stock Android and promised timely updates systems and top performance. His business card has become an affordable price.

The starting price of the Nexus 7 in the US was $ 299, which is, for a minute, half the price. Apple iPhone and Samsung Galaxy at the time. The Nexus 4 has become an attractive purchase not only for developers, but also for ordinary users.

This phone from the Nexus line was made in the style of LG devices. Many will remember it for its glass back and pixel iridescent pattern on the back.

• Release date: November 2013
• Codename: Hammerhead

The 5-inch Nexus 5 has become a versatile smartphone for many people and has stood the test of time, remaining responsive even after a few Android updates... Another convenience that carried over from the Nexus 4 was support for wireless charging, especially useful function, which manufacturers still put in their devices.

And while Google set out on a mission to fix the problem the Nexus phones had in terms of camera quality, the Nexus 5 fell short of the effort. Its 8MP main camera was a huge step from mediocre rear camera Nexus 4, but it still fell short of the iPhone 4S / 5 and Samsung Galaxy S3 / S4, neither in terms of speed nor in terms of image quality.

The Nexus 5 also suffered from CPU heat issues and terrible throttling, with the only solution being to place it in the refrigerator for maximum clock speed. Despite some technical problems, the Nexus 5 was one of the most successful Google phones... He was very different affordable price and nice design, especially in the red color of the case.

• Release date: October 2014
• Codename: Shamu

The largest 6-inch Nexus 6 was released by Motorola in October 2014. Motorola was not chosen by chance: after all, Google recently acquired part of Moto's business and several important patents of the company. Regardless, the Nexus 6 is one of the least popular phones from the Nexus line.

What is the reason is difficult to say: maybe in its price or in the dimensions of the case. Various sources, including official Google reports, indicated that sales of the phone were significantly lower than expected.

The Nexus 6 also had a poorly calibrated AMOLED display which showed very unnatural colors. It was the first phone with Android firmware 5.0 Lollipop on board. Even now, this unit is still being sold elsewhere in the US and Europe. Google cut the price of the Nexus 6 to $ 299, making it one of the most affordable Nexus phones on the market.

• Release date: September 2015
• Codenames: Bullhead and Angler

After a setback in 2014, rumors surfaced that Google could kill the Nexus line entirely. But in 2015, the Google Nexus is back on the scene. The company unveiled two Nexus smartphones at once: a 5.7-inch phablet from Huawei and a more compact 5.2-inch phone from LG. Both gadgets were powered by Android 6.0 Marshmallow.

Among the chips, both devices received front-facing stereo speakers, a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner and a modern USB Type-C connector. The Nexus 5X was powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor, while the Nexus 6P comes with the Snapdragon 810. Apart from the display diagonal, the processors were the biggest difference between the two.

• Release date: September 2016
• Codenames: Sailfish and Marlin

In 2016, Google completely shut down the Nexus program, and instead launched a premium line of devices under the Pixel brand. By comparison, the Pixel is a more ambitious project than the Nexus. Google is trying to sell phones to the general public, not just developers and enthusiasts. Pixel smartphones are now premium products with a corresponding flagship price (the younger version costs $ 649). As an OS out of the box, the “pixels” are Android 7.0 Nougat.

Pixel's key features are its clean interface with the most advanced features and system updates, and great camera... Pixel also became the first phone with voice assistant Google Assistant on board. The company's engineers have optimized Android on Pixel and Pixel XL devices so well that they perform better even now than any other Android smartphone.

With the Pixel line, the company wants to compete not only with A-brands and manufacturers Android phones but also Apple itself. After all, the camera on the original Pixel smartphone is no worse than on the iPhone.

Google Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2

• Release date: October 2017
• Codenames: Walleye and Muskie

The second generation Pixel phones bring another significant change: the XL 2 now has a modern bezel-less design, while the smaller Pixel 2 still has bezels around the screen. Both phones have front-facing speakers and no 3.5mm audio output. Headphones will have to be connected via the USB Type-C port using a special adapter.

In addition, the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are expected to be powered by the flagship Snapdragon 835 chip, which is more powerful and more energy efficient than the first generation Pixel processor. And of course, Android 8.0 Oreo is preinstalled out of the box on both the younger and older versions.

The concept of the seven-inch Nexus tablet has not changed: the tandem of the two largest companies in their industries - ASUS and Google - is still trying to make a modern and powerful gadget, but at the same time affordable for the masses. If you compare the characteristics of the new device and the previous model, you will notice that almost everything has been improved in it: the screen, and computing resources, and the amount of RAM, and even a rear camera has appeared. It seems that in the new Nexus 7, the developers have done a total work on the bugs and fixed the vast majority of the shortcomings of the previous model. Or at least we tried to do it. Did they succeed? ..

⇡ Appearance and ergonomics

ASUS / Google Nexus 7 (2013) - Factory Box

The exterior of the new Nexus 7 has slightly changed. The tablet as a whole is similar to its predecessor, but there are some differences - and very significant - in the appearance of the device. Perhaps the most important of them: the tablet threw off two millimeters in thickness - from 10.7 mm to a much more acceptable 8.7 mm. In addition, it has become lighter - the Nexus 7 model of 2013 with a built-in modem weighs 300 g, and without it 290 g. The previous model was heavier - 335 grams without a cellular module and about the same 10 grams more in the 3G version.

ASUS / Google Nexus 7 (2013) - bezel

The shape of the body remained the same, elongated. The bezels around the screen, as before, are very large - if desired, the Nexus 7 could fit the display b O larger size. There are no physical keys on the front panel - all navigation keys are touch-sensitive, they are located directly on the screen. Why the developers needed so much free space around the display is unclear. This is probably required by the internal design of the device. On the left side there is a 1.2-megapixel lens front camera and the sensitive area of ​​the sensors.

ASUS / Google Nexus 7 (2013) - full face

The back panel of the tablet is made of plastic with a soft-touch matte finish that is pleasant to the touch. Unfortunately, the "back" of the new Nexus 7 tends to quickly collect "fingers" and dust - so that the device does not lose its attractiveness, it will have to be wiped periodically. Unlike the 2012 version, rear panel smooth, not embossed. As befits any self-respecting person mobile device, The "back" of the updated Nexus 7 is not removable.

ASUS / Google Nexus 7 (2013) - back panel and sides

The sides of the tablet have lost their frankly plastic-looking silver-plated edging, thanks to which the device looks more strict and representative. The arrangement of various elements of the tablet is standard, and therefore everything is in order with ergonomics. The lock / power and volume keys are located on the top of the tablet. There is also a tray for a micro-SIM-card, which can be opened with a paper clip. The micro-USB 2.0 interface (which is actually not micro-USB at all, but SlimPort is a variation on the MHL theme, we'll talk about it in more detail below) is on the right side of the case, and the 3.5 mm audio jack is on the left. A pair of speakers is placed on the rear panel.

ASUS / Google Nexus 7 (2013) - micro-SIM card tray at the top

The tablet is assembled well. When the sides are squeezed, the characteristic color stains do not appear on the screen - the Nexus 7 matrix has a chance to survive some, not too painful blows of fate. Inside the tablet, there is a sturdy magnesium alloy frame that gives the structure the necessary rigidity. But all the external parts of the case are made of plastic - so you should handle the tablet carefully, it does not tolerate a "hard landing" very well.

In the video above, you can watch the Nexus 7 (2013) "drop test": our colleagues at the Android Authority dropped it several times on a concrete pavement and detailed all the damage it received.

⇡ Specifications