Google Nexus 7 Tablet: Jelly Bean And Much More

When designing the Nexus 7, Google wanted the tablet to be comfortable to hold. Asus and Google have achieved this goal by giving the Nexus 7 rounded corners and edges and a soft back. The tablet is very comfortable to hold in a single hand. And while the textured back of the tablet makes it easier to grip than some others we've seen, the tablet could still slide out of your hand if you don't provide a little resistance.

The Nexus 7 measures about 7.81 x 4.72 x 0.41 inches and weighs approximately 0.75 pounds. Although the Nexus 7 has a similar footprint to many other 7-inch tablets, its footprint is most similar to the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0, as you can see in the chart below. It's also worth noting that the Nexus 7 is the lightest of these four tablets.

 
With the exception of a black bezel and the 1.2 megapixel front-facing camera, the Nexus 7's front is largely consumed by the 7-inch display which supports a resolution of 1280x800. This display is covered in scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla glass for durability. Although it's not impossible to get fingerprints on the Nexus 7's display, the tablet's oleophobic coating seemed to do a better than average job at avoiding fingerprints than many mobile devices we've tested recently.

Viewing angles with the Nexus 7 are excellent and it is possible to read the screen outdoors in direct sunlight, though the Nexus 7 faces the same challenges in direct sunlight as other tablets: reflections and glare.  Overall, visibility under direct sunlight was comparable to other tablets we've seen, if not a little better.

The Nexus 7's front-facing 1.2 megapixel webcam is located at the top of the device, in the center of the bezel. On the left edge of the tablet, you'll find a microphone as well as a 4-pin connector. The right edge of the tablet houses the Power/lock key and the volume key. The microUSB port and 3.5mm headset jack are located on the bottom edge of the Nexus 7.

When you flip the tablet over, you'll notice the soft, textured surface of the Nexus 7's back cover. This textured surface does not attract fingerprints. The Nexus 7's NFC area is located in the upper half of the tablet on the back near the Nexus logo. A speaker grill can be found near the bottom.