Should I buy a sealed Nexus 7?
November 11, 2018 9:22 AM Subscribe
I'm looking for a small device that I can use exclusively for writing (paired with a bluetooth keyboard). I know someone selling a brand new, sealed Google Nexus 7 (2nd Gen), a device with a form factor I love (used to have one). Will this older device (running Android 6, I believe), experience lag or any other issues when paired with a bluetooth keyboard? Both have Bluetooth 4.
Response by poster: The battery is new. I thought the battery would only lose charge if it was used.
posted by dobbs at 9:50 AM on November 11, 2018
posted by dobbs at 9:50 AM on November 11, 2018
No, lion batteries lose charge from the date of manufacture, even if not used.
posted by TheAdamist at 9:58 AM on November 11, 2018
posted by TheAdamist at 9:58 AM on November 11, 2018
I don't think you'll have lag issues. You may or may not have battery issues, the storage conditions have a big influence on battery health.
It really depends on the price.
$30 -- Sure!
$100 -- Nope!
It's really hard beat the Amazon Fire 7. It's $50. It's brand new.
posted by gregr at 10:23 AM on November 11, 2018 [2 favorites]
It really depends on the price.
$30 -- Sure!
$100 -- Nope!
It's really hard beat the Amazon Fire 7. It's $50. It's brand new.
posted by gregr at 10:23 AM on November 11, 2018 [2 favorites]
Yeah, the Fire being stuck with Amazon's crud is not actually that easy to get around if you're not particularly tech-savvy, and that $50 leaves you stuck with really obnoxious ads. Without ads brings you up to $65. I have one. I don't regret buying it, but I hardly use it because I wind up preferring my much smaller phone for virtually everything. And it charges super slowly.
That said, the Nexus 7 is so old now that I would consider "sealed" a drawback--I'd definitely want to see it opened and running and battery tested before I'd pay any amount of money for it, unless you're really sure this person is going to give you your money back if there's a problem. If you're expecting to write on it, I would also want to check first to verify that whatever app you intend to use for writing is actually still going to run well on Marshmallow and on an older device. Are they willing to open it to let you try it first?
posted by Sequence at 12:18 PM on November 11, 2018
That said, the Nexus 7 is so old now that I would consider "sealed" a drawback--I'd definitely want to see it opened and running and battery tested before I'd pay any amount of money for it, unless you're really sure this person is going to give you your money back if there's a problem. If you're expecting to write on it, I would also want to check first to verify that whatever app you intend to use for writing is actually still going to run well on Marshmallow and on an older device. Are they willing to open it to let you try it first?
posted by Sequence at 12:18 PM on November 11, 2018
I have one, although it's a 1st gen, and runs Android 5.1.1. It's pretty slow. The battery life is actually still fine, albeit taking about 8 hours for a full charge. It's fine with some apps, annoyingly slow with others. It spends most of its time in a drawer as we have other cheap tablets around the house that perform much better. You're sensible to avoid a 2nd gen, which won't be massively faster.
posted by pipeski at 4:45 PM on November 11, 2018
posted by pipeski at 4:45 PM on November 11, 2018
Just for anyone that finds this thread after asking a similar question, I have a Nexus 7 and use it daily. The accelerometer is basically dead, the OS stopped getting upgrades about a year ago, and video playback often crashes (for example, in the YouTube app) with a reboot required to get it going again.
However, it's significantly more powerful than the original model iPad Mini that I also use daily. The browser is useful for all but the biggest and dumbest mobile websites. App support is pretty decent, for example I'm using the Steam streaming app with few problems. I don't play any current games on it, so your milage might vary. Bluetooth works well, and I've used it with gamepads, keyboards and mice. Battery life is still very good. For about half its life I've been charging wirelessly, which has reduced wear on the USB port.
I bought it new for A$50 just before xmas of 2015. You would probably want to pay less than half that now, if you feel like rolling the dice.
posted by krisjohn at 11:25 PM on November 11, 2018
However, it's significantly more powerful than the original model iPad Mini that I also use daily. The browser is useful for all but the biggest and dumbest mobile websites. App support is pretty decent, for example I'm using the Steam streaming app with few problems. I don't play any current games on it, so your milage might vary. Bluetooth works well, and I've used it with gamepads, keyboards and mice. Battery life is still very good. For about half its life I've been charging wirelessly, which has reduced wear on the USB port.
I bought it new for A$50 just before xmas of 2015. You would probably want to pay less than half that now, if you feel like rolling the dice.
posted by krisjohn at 11:25 PM on November 11, 2018
I use my Nexus 7 daily and it works fine and the battery holds a charge. It was bought shortly after it was released. The screen resolution is excellent. I also charge it wirelessly. Second gen and runs Android 6.01. I would go for it if you could use it and see how long the battery holds a charge.
posted by Ferrari328 at 10:49 AM on November 12, 2018
posted by Ferrari328 at 10:49 AM on November 12, 2018
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Unless it's almost free I wouldn't go for it. You can can an Amazon fire hd 8 for super cheap refurb. Loading Google apps will take some work,but it'll be more supported.
posted by TheAdamist at 9:44 AM on November 11, 2018