When Google announced its new Nexus 7, it said the tablet would be available to purchase on July 30. Amazon and Best Buy have decided to launch the tablet sooner and are both selling the device online and in some retail stores.
The Nexus 7 was Google's first tablet under its Nexus brand. The 7-inch slate was a hit with consumers and tech fans because it came with impressive specs and an equally impressive price tag. The company waited a full year to introduce its successor and, just like the original, the new Nexus 7 has very impressive specs and attractive pricing.
Google announced the new Nexus 7 at a press event it held on July 24. The company also announced the next major release of its mobile operating system, Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. The Android update adds a few new features like profile controls, Bluetooth LE support, improved speed, and a few other tweaks. The Nexus 7 is the first device to ship with the latest version of Android pre-installed. Google is offering the Nexus 7 in two storage capacities, 16GB and 32GB, and with connectivity options of Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + 4GLTE. The LTE equipped Nexus 7 will support Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile's 4G LTE networks. The 16GB W-Fi Nexus 7 costs $229 and the 32GB is priced at $269. Google is only offering the 4G LTE model in 32GB and it's priced at $349. The company said the tablets would be released on July 30.
Amazon and Best Buy have decided to kick things off early and are both selling the tablet online and in some retail stores. The Nexus 7 features a 7-inch 323 pixels per inch (ppi) 1920 x 1200 HD IPS (in plane switching) Corning scratch-resistant Corning Glass display, is powered by a 1.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor and an Adreno 320 graphics processing unit (GPU), runs Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, includes 16GB or 32GB of internal storage, 2GB of RAM, a 5-megapixel rear camera with auto-focus, a 1.2-megapixel front facing camera, stereo speakers with surround sound and Frauhofer audio technology, dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, NFC, 4G LTE radio in Wi-Fi + 4G LTE model. The tablet also includes a microUSB port, Slimport for 1080p HDMI output, microSD expansion slot with support for up to 64GB microSD cards, wireless charging capabilities, a 3,950 mAh battery offering up to 9 hours of active use, 9 hours of HD video playback, 10 hours of web browsing or e-reading, and 300 hours of standby time.
Amazon is selling the 16GB and 32GB Nexus 7 Wi-Fi models for $229 and $268.98 with free shipping. There have been reports that some Best Buy retail stores have the Nexus 7 in stock and are selling the tablet, but it would be a good idea to call ahead before heading out.
