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Android 4.2.2 on Nexus 7 Review

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Earlier this month, Google started rolling out the long-awaited Android 4.2.2 update for its Nexus devices including for the Nexus 4, the Nexus 10, the Nexus 7 and the GSM Galaxy Nexus. In particular, due to several issues plaguing it, Nexus 7 owners had been looking forward to the software’s arrival. After spending quite a bit of time with the update, it’s time now to go in-depth with the Android 4.2.2 update for the Nexus 7.

Read: How to Get the Nexus 7 3G Android 4.2.2 Update Right Now.

Back in November, Google rolled out the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean update for owners of the Nexus 7 and the Galaxy Nexus. Both the Nexus 4 and the Nexus 10 came stock with the software on board. The software arrived with a number of handy features, many of which I started using on a regular basis. Quick Settings has been one of my favorite features in Android 4.2 and I’ve actually started using lock screen widgets quite a bit as well.

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Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean is the latest Android update from Google.

In addition to those features though, the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean seemingly brought some bugs along with it, including some devastating ones for Nexus 7 owners. Nexus 7 owners began complaining about stability issues, random reboots, Bluetooth problems, abnormal battery drain, slow charging and more. That said, many owners started to be on the lookout for Android 4.2.1, the first incremental update for Google’s new version of Android.

Android 4.2.1 arrived some weeks later but it didn’t address any of these issues. Instead, the update was solely focused on a bug wherein December was missing from the calendar in the Contacts application. A noble bug fix but it still left Nexus 7 owners who were experiencing issues, wanting a much heftier update in terms of fixes.

Read: How to Get the Nexus 7 Android 4.2.2 Update Right Now.

I was one of those people. While I did not encounter some of these bugs in the first few days with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, I started to notice a few of them arise in the weeks after installing. Needless to say, I was also hoping that an Android 4.2.2 update would alleviate my issues.

That update started rolling out, finally, several days ago, and as I always do, I decided to wait for the Over-the-Air update rather than manually installing the software, even though that method was available.

It took several days, I didn’t see the software arrive until last weekend, but finally, Android 4.2.2 is up and running on my Nexus 7. That said, here are my thoughts on Jelly Bean’s latest update.

Installation Process Was Seamless

While the wait time for the Over-the-Air update may have been a little slow for my tastes, the Nexus 7 Android 4.2.2 installation process went off without a hitch which was a bit of a consolation prize. Often times with updates, Android or otherwise, there can be some issues. I’ve never experienced any with my Nexus 7, and Android 4.2.2 was no different.

The 47MB download doesn’t take long to pull from Google and the installation process was much faster than the Android 4.2 update which took a bit of time to get on board my tablet.

Once the device restarts on its own, Android 4.2.2 will be on board, and for those that have had Android 4.2 installed, the user interface will look no different than it did before.

New Features Are Nice

However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t some subtle changes on board Android 4.2.2. In fact, there are a few new useful features that I’ve come to start appreciating over the past few days. Neither of these are big additions but like Android 4.2, just because they are small, doesn’t mean that you won’t grow to love them.

Quick Settings Toggle

With Android 4.2.2, Google delivered a feature called Quick Settings, a menu that can be pulled out of the Notification Bar at the top of the screen. It has become one of my go-to Nexus 7 features as I use it to quickly switch Wi-Fi networks (I own the Wi-Fi only model) and get in an out of Airplane Mode in a jiffy when I am flying.

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Now, users can long press to turn Bluetooth or Wi-Fi on or off.

Google has simplified these settings even further in Android 4.2.2. In Android 4.2.2, users can now use a long press to switch Bluetooth on and off or Wi-Fi on or off. This, while not groundbreaking, will definitely help to make life a little simpler.

I do wish that Google changed all of the toggles to a long press but that may not come until it rolls out another update. If it even comes at all. As is though, it’s still a nice addition.

Download Notification

Another added feature is a download notification in the Notification Bar that shows off the completion percentage of a download and an estimate at how long it might take to arrive.

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The Notification bar now offers status on downloads.

Again, nothing earth shattering here, but it’s nice to know how long some of my bigger downloads might take and it’s a feature that I’ve come to rely on after using Android 4.2.2 extensively.

Other Features

There are other features on board Android 4.2.2 like new notification sounds and apparently a faster loading Gallery application but I don’t find the new notification sounds to be particularly better than the old ones and I haven’t been able to notice any type of significant difference in the loading time of the Gallery app.

Random Reboots Fixed It Seems

After Android 4.2, many Nexus 7 owners were complaining about a random reboot issue where in the device would, out of no where, randomly reboot without warning. Some owners were experiencing it multiple times a day.

My Nexus 7 never had a serious issue though I will say that it did randomly reboot once back in December. That, fortunately, was the only time that I experienced the problem.

Those that were experiencing the issue though are telling me that the issue has been resolved in Android 4.2.2. And despite the infrequency of my random reboots, I’ll say that I haven’t experienced one in Android 4.2.2 yet and I’m hoping it stays that way.

Bluetooth Issues Resolved

One issue that I did run into was the Bluetooth issue that many Nexus 7 owners were complaining about. Owners complained of choppy sound, bad sound, and terrible connections. I am not a huge Bluetooth user but I definitely experienced some of this when I used my Nexus 7 while paired with a Bluetooth device.

So far, so good with Android 4.2.2. I hooked up a headset with the Nexus 7 and everything seemed to be back to normal. The sound was crisp and clear, something that was not always the case in Android 4.2 Jelly Bean.

Charging Time Seems Improved

Another issue that I ran into with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean were slow charging times. It would take many, many hours for my Nexus 7 to charge all the way to 100%, something that was certainly not the case in Android 4.1.

I was hopeful that Android 4.2.2 would solve this issue as it made my Nexus 7 tablet virtually unusable. I simply lost patience with the time it took to charge it.

Screenshot_2013-02-20-10-14-31

Charging times on the Nexus 7 appear to have been improved from Android 4.2.2

Fortunately, things seem to have improved. I didn’t have to wait for an eternity for the Nexus 7 to charge though I will say that it still seems a bit slower than it was in Android 4.1. That could be my imagination but it seemed to zip in Android 4.1 and while it’s faster in Android 4.2.2, it still doesn’t fly like I remember.

Battery Life

My Nexus 7 battery life was good in Android 4.2 Jelly Bean despite the charging issues and thus far, battery life is solid in Android 4.2.2 as well.

Nexus 7 owners had been complaining about battery drain issues in Android 4.2, issues that I never saw.

So while I can’t confirm that there is a fix for those in Android 4.2.2, I can confirmed that my Nexus 7 isn’t experiencing any abnormal battery drain with the new update and seems to be holding a charge quite well.

Should You Install Android 4.2.2?

If you’ve been experiencing any issues with your Nexus 7, I recommend installing the update. Not only has there not been any major issues discovered in this bug fix update, but it has fixed several issues that were lingering since last year.

In particular, the Bluetooth issue has dissipated and it appears that the random reboots were handled as well. My Nexus 7 is also getting great battery life and the slow charging times that once affected it, seem to have gone away as well.

So because it seems to fix rather than break, I think it’s safe to install this update on the Nexus 7.

What’s Next for the Nexus 7?

With Google seemingly tackling many of the issues that had been haunting owners since the release of Android 4.2 Jelly Bean back in November, it could be that the next update for the Nexus 7 is Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie.

android-key-lime-pie-evolution-of-android-640x128-575x1151

Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie will almost assuredly come to the Nexus 7.

Google is rumored to be showcasing the software at Google I/O in May, and given that the Nexus 7 is less than a year old, we imagine that it will be one of the first to receive the software upgrade when it arrives.

Let’s just hope that it’s relatively bug free when it does get the update and its new features.

32 Comments

32 Comments

  1. Rabid Rotty

    02/20/2013 at 2:08 pm

    Bluetooth may be fixed for the most part, but with my bluetooth keyboard , from the lock screen I can no longer enter my pin and have to use the touch screen since after the update

  2. kian

    02/20/2013 at 6:23 pm

    i updated mine. it shutdown after downloading the file and displayed the android updating.. but after that. when i checked the version in the settings. it was still 4.2.1 T______T i’m using the gsm galaxy nexus.. what’ll i do? help me pls? i dont want to backup & update it manually again.

  3. KT

    02/20/2013 at 8:24 pm

    This was a nice write up of the u got on Nexus 7. Well I don’t have a Nexus 7, instead I have the Nexus 4.
    One thing I was important for me was the battery draining and charging.
    I totally agree to what Adam wrote above. My Nexus 4 takes 2:30 + hers to charge to 100% and drains off in a matter of hours when using the phone.
    I have no clue whats draining it so bad. I just got the 4.2.2 update this morning on my device. So am eager to see if there is any significant changes in battery. Cheers.

  4. Tito Doni™ (@AsmoroDoniTito)

    02/20/2013 at 10:01 pm

    streaming youtube problem not fixed

  5. Joe Dow

    02/21/2013 at 3:41 am

    In order to fix the streaming issue turn off Google currents

  6. Selden

    02/21/2013 at 5:23 am

    Easiest way to toggle Airplane Mode: Press and hold the power button, then choose.

    Charging is (and always has been) *much* faster in Airplane Mode, since the various radios are turned off.

    • KT

      02/21/2013 at 5:37 am

      @selden….haha if one has to do that then there is no point. The phone charges faster in the phone switched off completely…
      There is no point switching in airplane mode. A phone shouldnt perform like that. What happens to the calls and messages we miss!!
      Do you have a overheating problem on Nexus 4. My phone overheats in mins after running multiple programs in the background. I feel bad to feel the heat on this awesome phone!!
      Hope Android will rectify the
      1. battery draining
      2. Overheating
      3. and charging issues asap.

  7. Mohd Aktar

    02/21/2013 at 5:39 am

    Nexus 7 is one of the best Android tablets i like the features and it is comfortable to use.

  8. George

    02/21/2013 at 3:52 pm

    Me too have to say I prefer it to the ipad which I have passed on to my partner. Its easier to hold and I like the 7in format etc. Never had any stability issues etc, seems very reliable.

  9. mmandatoryfield

    02/22/2013 at 7:51 pm

    Updated mine and am still having battery drain issues :(

  10. Jonathan

    02/24/2013 at 12:39 pm

    I was experiencing good battery life on my Nexus 7 UNTIL 4.2.2 came along. Now it’s draining about 50% faster than it was before.

  11. Ana

    02/24/2013 at 4:57 pm

    Same as Jonathan but with the Nexus 4 – as soon as I updated, the battery started to drain abnormally. Now, it needs to be plugged in halfway through the day because batt is at 0% charge.

    • fletch75Fletchguy

      06/28/2013 at 3:48 pm

      Have you done a battery refresh since you have owned it? Most devices today if the battery has ever gone to complete zero need to be refreshed then recharged.

  12. dade

    03/05/2013 at 2:41 am

    mine still have the random reboots. not so often now, only 2, 3 times a day.
    Sending it back.

  13. Fave

    03/10/2013 at 6:46 pm

    Same as Jonathan. Drains fast and won’t take a full charge most of the time.Real disappointed.

  14. Mike backhouse

    03/11/2013 at 2:20 pm

    So what happened to the tethering option , no mention of this above

  15. Mike

    03/14/2013 at 12:22 pm

    I had a nexus 7 and returned it. Since android came to market I have never seen so many products seemingly in a constant beta cycle. I felt like I was quality control instead of Google and manufacturers releasing these things so they work out of the box. It works then a software release and it doesn’t. Its patched with another release and broken with another. Can you blame them? We keep buying these buggy products. To much fragmentation and questionable quality control. I am not an apple fan. I love my galaxy nexus through its buggyness. Its was free though with contract. This stuff is way to expensive for a company to be testing it on the public!

  16. carl carlson

    03/17/2013 at 3:47 pm

    I updated my Nexus7 to 4.2.2 and all works good except the Bluetooth will not pair to my Garmin GDL 39. It did just fine before the update.

  17. Ralph 101

    03/20/2013 at 9:20 am

    I have had the Nexus 7 for 2 days.

    Set up as follows:
    Wifi / GPS / Data off
    Airplane mode on
    Brightness, less than 10%
    No rogue apps appearing in processes / cached process./ no downloaded widgets
    Running Android 4.2.2
    Manufacture date appears to be February 2013.

    I’ve noticed the battery decreasing at a rate of 10% every 15-20 minutes while playing any video games on it, graphically intense or not. i.e. Modern Combat 4, Great Big War Game.
    At that rate the battery will be toast after ~ 2-3 hours.

    I’ve stopped playing those games and came online looking for similar stories. Does that seem normal while playing games?
    If so, I’m going to stop playing games on it, and just use it for email / browsing internet / reading magazines.

    cheers,
    Ralph.

  18. crespelelodie

    03/22/2013 at 4:34 am

    mine freeze and it is slow, the sound keep turning on by itself so I get waken up at night. I regret the upgrade

  19. Tony

    03/22/2013 at 10:12 pm

    when downloading a file to Nexus 7 by Bluetooth How do I accept the transfer on the Nexus? it asks for confirmation but does not show anything to touch to accept the transfer.

  20. Robert Emmons

    03/26/2013 at 7:36 am

    I’m new to Nexus 7, received mine with 4.2.2 installed. It charges slowly. Charging certainly does not fly, or zip. It was down to about 25%, and I charged it for 8 hour. Now it is at 85%. I’d say that sucks.

    Is that normal, or does my charging from 25% to 85% in 8 hours abnormally slow.?

    • KT

      03/26/2013 at 10:32 am

      8 hour….whoa!! That’s crazy wrong. Check your settings. Try to restart ur device and turn all the connections and try charging.

    • Tony

      03/26/2013 at 10:33 am

      Mine will charge in a couple of hours. Seems you have a problem. Tony

    • Tony

      03/26/2013 at 10:37 am

      Battery life is good even playing games. Nexus 4.2.2 seems OK to me.
      Tony

  21. Seana Hepburn

    03/26/2013 at 10:25 pm

    My N7 seems to get 1hr/10% of charge, thought every once in a while battery level will suddenly drop. Still I’ve been getting a good 6-9 hrs before having to plug in. I keep WiFi on, use GPS and Bluetooth often, browse the Web constantly, listen to Pandora or music constantly. Screen is between 30-40% brightness and between 40-60% volume. Charging, on the other hand is horrendous while in use, about 15%/hr, I literally use it on battery for 8 hours and then 6 plugged in for full charge. Turn it off or put it to sleep, and charges farely fast. On another note trying to find a car charger that will give me 2A without modification, because I use GPS and Pandora in the car and current car charger only puts out 1A after mod (had only put out 500mA before) which is only enough to maintain battery level while in use. All because Apple won’t adopt the USB charging standard.

  22. Dave

    04/13/2013 at 10:19 am

    I bought it 3 weeks ago , a great device its addictive can’t put it down,love it.

  23. greg

    06/16/2013 at 12:08 am

    Bluetooth headphones used to work. Now they don’t! Very annoying. How do I fix this?

  24. Carolyn

    12/21/2013 at 8:57 pm

    I downloaded the android 4.4.2 and now my screen is stuck on the google icon is onle there i cant shut it off at all please help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  25. tom

    03/04/2014 at 1:03 pm

    I charged mine fully and now its 85% charged

  26. tom

    03/04/2014 at 1:04 pm

    I got it 4 days ago

  27. miley cyrus

    03/04/2014 at 1:08 pm

    I don’t know try to charge it longer 8pm 3pm

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