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Why Buyers Should Skip the Nexus 7 Deals

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The New Nexus 7 release date is set for next week and we are already seeing a collection of Nexus 7 deals for last year’s model which retailers are cutting the price by as much as $50.

For many users the Nexus 7 from 2012 is a good device and it will soon run the same Android 4.3 update as the new Nexus 7, but there are still too many advantages to recommend buying last year’s Nexus 7 over the new 2013 Nexus 7 model.

Buyers that are looking at a cheap Nexus 7 compared to a Kindle Fire HD may find a much better overall experience and save some cash, but in the realm of $200 Android tablets the $230 new Nexus 7 remains a top pick.

The biggest Nexus 7 deals are available at Staples. The retailer no longer offers the old Nexus 7 online, but users can pick up the 2012 Nexus 7 in stores with savings of nearly $50. The Nexus 7 32GB is $199, a drop in price from $250 and the 16GB Nexus 7 is $179, a drop from $199.

Nexus 7 deals offer up to $50 off, but aren't worth the savings for many users.

Nexus 7 deals offer up to $50 off, but aren’t worth the savings for many users.

Toys R Us and Office Depot also offer the old Nexus 7 32GB for $50 off, but many retailers show the Nexus 7 2012 model as out of stock and that may not change.

Unlike Apple it doesn’t look like Google plans to sell the old Nexus 7 as a cheap Android tablet option. The new Nexus 7 already took over the Google Play Store and we are quickly seeing existing inventory dry up online and in stores.

Why You Should Skip Nexus 7 Deals

Here are six reasons Android tablet buyers should skip the Nexus 7 deals available as retailers clearance the old tablet in favor of a new Nexus 7 tablet.

https://youtu.be/5LysTmwDan8

Better Display

Users that plan to read, game and surf the web on the Nexus 7 will enjoy a better experience on the new Nexus 7 thanks to a 1920 x 1200 resolution display. Even if you don’t plan to watch 1080P movies on the Nexus 7, the improved screen will deliver better looking text and photos in books, on the web and in apps.

The Nexus 7 2 arrives as the new Nexus 7, with pre-orders today for a Nexus 7 2 release date of July 30th.

The new Nexus 7 delivers a super-sharp HD display that’s worth the extra cost.

For a glimpse at what this would look like, take a look at an older Android smartphone and then at a new one like the Samsung Galaxy S4 or the iPhone 5 and you’ll see the difference in text on a high-resolution tablet display.

Better Cameras

The new Nexus 7 adds a rear-facing camera for the first time. This 5MP camera may not be the best thing for taking family photos, but it will open up access to more apps and make it easier to take photos of notes and other important things you need to remember to save in Evernote or another app.

The Nexus 7 2 features a 5MP rear-facing camera.

The Nexus 7 2 features a 5MP rear-facing camera.

The Nexus 7 on clearance only features a front facing camera which is good for video chat, but makes it tough to share what you are seeing with the person on the other end. With the new Nexus 7, you can switch cameras to show off a pet, new kid or your vacation.

Easier to Hold With One Hand

The Nexus 7 deals offer a tablet that is small enough to hold with one hand, but the new Nexus 7 is slimmer and lighter, making it easier to hold with one hand while using the device.

The new Nexus 7 design is familiar but new.

The new Nexus 7 design is familiar but new.

If this is the first table you are buying, a device that is 2mm thinner, 6mm narrower and a difference of 50grams might not sound like a lot. But, when it comes time to read a great book, play a game for an hour or watch a movie the thinner, lighter Nexus 7 will make a difference.

LTE and Verizon

The new Nexus 7 is available in an option that includes LTE support. This allows many users to add it to a Shared data plan for around $10 a month and use it anywhere there is a cell phone signal. This new model works on AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon.

The Nexus 7 deals are currently only for WiFi models, and if Google offers a clearance on the old Nexus 7 with AT&T and T-Mobile users won’t get speeds that are as fast.

Better Nexus 7 Battery Life

Even with a thinner design the new Nexus 7 offers better battery life. This, and the fact that some original Nexus 7 owners complain of very slow charging is enough to make the new Nexus 7 an attractive option.

Wireless Charging

Like the Nexus 4, the new Nexus 7 supports wireless charging with a Qi wireless charger. There is no official Nexus 7 wireless charger available, but users should be able to purchase a third-party wireless charger for the new Nexus 7.

HDMI Support

The new Google ChromeCast, a $35 device that connects to any HDTV, solves some of the downside to not having HDMI out on the old Nexus 7, but it won’t handle everything.

Nexus 4 Slimport HDMI Adapter Review - 7

A SlimPort HDMI adapter like this will add HDMI out to the new Nexus 7.

With a Slimport HDMI adapter users can connect the new Nexus 7 to a projector or to a HDTV to present or to play Android games on a bigger screen.

Longer Support

The old Nexus 7 will soon run Android 4.3 just like the new Nexus 7, and it is possible that both tablets will run the rumored Android 5.0 update that could arrive later this year.

That said, at some point Google will stop issuing updates and new features for the first Nexus 7. Apps may also begin to demand more powerful tablets to deliver great looking graphics and fast responsive gameplay.

In short, the new Nexus 7 2 will see updates and accessories for longer than the old Nexus 7. If you plan to keep the Nexus 7 for a long time, this is something to consider.

1 Comment

1 Comment

  1. Erik C.

    09/17/2013 at 9:40 am

    Thanks for the article. Now I’m torn between the old and the new. Of course, time is quickly running out on the opportunity to even get the 2012 model, but I’d like your thoughts on two factors:
    The 2012’s Nvidia Tegra 3 vs. the 2013’s Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 (I’m hearing from owners of last year’s model that the Nvidia is superior, but I wonder if that only really applies to game play and not video).
    And you mentioned longer support for the new model. As I understand it, Nexus gets a minimum of 4 years of auto updates, and after that one can just install them manually.

    Ah, and one more thing. I wonder if the new unit will be as easy to unlock and root. I’ve been told that rooting, adding custom roms, overclocking, etc can have a great impact on performance and the overall experience (positively so). One friend’s benchmark numbers were dramatically improved once he tinkered.
    Thanks!

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