Tablet, or not to tablet?
April 2, 2014 1:44 PM   Subscribe

My Nexus 7 (2012) seems to have bitten the dust. Should I replace it with a bit of cash I have set aside, or would this be a bad idea now it's been around a while?

I want to stick with an Android tablet as I like the way it integrates with Google. I don't want a Samsung thingy (I had shit customer service from them when I had a laptop which failed within a year) and I don't want an iPad. I'd be happy to go with another Nexus, as the faliure in my case seems to have been the result of water damage and my own clumsiness rather than the device itself. Right now, it is switching itself off after a while, won't start unless it's plugged in and charging, and occasionally has an unresponsive touch-screen - it's time it went to the great handbag in the sky, I think.

I've heard there might be a new one coming out, so I was wonddering whether the current model is a good buy or not. It's still relatively expensive - £229 on Amazon new for the 32GB, not keen on bying used or refurbished as I'd prefer the protection of a warranty. If it lasts me longer (and I promise to keep it safe) I don't mind, but I also don't want something that's at the end of its useful life as well. I use my tablet for internet, reading magazines, taking notes (written or with camera), puzzles and watching TV on my lunchbreak - it's not vital for my work, but the convenience of being able to internet in bed and relax with a show at work is missed. I don't need it to be faster or better at games etc, but I have heard the 2013 is better than the 2012. So hive, what's your advice?
posted by mippy to Computers & Internet (8 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
Response by poster: Sorry - I should have mentioned that I'm in the UK, in case it isn't obvious. Also, I don't have a smartphone, mostly because I have/had a tablet.
posted by mippy at 1:46 PM on April 2, 2014


Honestly, the 2013 version is much better than the 2012 Nexus 7 due to the addition of TRIM, which keeps the flash storage fresh. If you don't want a Samsung or Apple device, the Nexus is the only one I'd recommend.
posted by Amity at 1:50 PM on April 2, 2014 [2 favorites]


The 2013 is indeed better than the 2012. I have a 2012, my friend has a 2013. Side by side, the display on his looks much nicer. That's the main thing you'll notice.

There's probably not a great deal more than that to differentiate them, unless you're taking photos or playing very demanding games.

It seems reasonable to expect that the 2013 version will receive updates to the OS for a while longer than the 2012 version.

The 2012 model stands up pretty well for its age, though. I have every intention of keeping mine for a few years yet.
posted by pipeski at 1:52 PM on April 2, 2014 [1 favorite]


A 2014 version of the nexus 7 is likely to come out in Jul-Sept of 2014. That's months away and you don't have a tablet now. I have the 2013 Nexus 7, my wife has the 2012 Nexus 7. I notice a cpu difference between the two for task switching and the speed at which the keyboard pops up.

If you were happy with your 2012 (other than it's death), you might be able to get an asus memo pad - Asus manufactured the N7 (2012 and 2013), the memo pad has lower specs for a lower price. If you can wait 3 months, given what happened last year, about a month before the N7 2013 came out most retailers started to push out their 2012 stock with 20%+ off. However, one of the things which has cause so many to like the Nexus 7, is the generally low price with good components mean that there isn't really a lot of other great options out there.

If you really want to go the budget/adventure route, you could import one of the many tablets made by Ainol. I haven't looked in a while, but their build quality seems pretty decent given the sheer low cost of their products.
posted by nobeagle at 2:15 PM on April 2, 2014


The 16gb 2013 model is cheaper.
posted by Poldo at 2:42 PM on April 2, 2014


I adore my 2013 N7, and doubt that the next model could improve my experience in any appreciable way. The 2012 model aged terribly, but I expect many people will still be happily using their 2013 models for years to come.
posted by gsteff at 7:52 PM on April 2, 2014


I am a big fan of my Nexus 7 2013—it's a very nice device, and the upgrade from the 2012 is substantial. The question of whether to wait is difficult. It seems like you use your tablet a good amount, so it might be worth it to pick one up—but there are whispers that the Nexus 8 (8.9" tablet) is coming out in the second half of the year.

I'd still pick one up. It seems like you enjoy using your tablet, so having one for the next 6 months instead of waiting is probably best. And if you find the Nexus 8 really nice, you can always sell your 7 later on.
posted by markbao at 8:02 PM on April 2, 2014


I love my 2013, but I don't have anything to compare it to. I do frequently notice how beautiful the display is. Watching streaming TV is absolutely astounding and even casual games like Candy Crush often make me think, "Wow, that color is gorgeous."

Something I've done when trying to decide whether to upgrade a device, especially when there are whispers of a big new fancy coming soon, is to buy a stopgap device. I see a bunch of 2012s available online in the US- it looks like you can get one through Amazon UK for 160 pounds and I bet you can find better deals in your market. I don't know if that's enough of a price drop for you to make you feel like it's worth it for the next six months as a holdover until the 2014 comes out (or doesn't and so you just buy a 2013), but something to consider!
posted by Snarl Furillo at 8:23 PM on April 2, 2014


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