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Nexus 7 LTE Release: Everything Buyers Need to Know

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The Nexus 7 2 launched back in late July and just a few days afterward, it went on sale at retailers around the United States. However, Google still needs to fulfill one of the promises it made back at the new Nexus 7 launch as it still hasn’t released the Nexus 7 LTE in the United States for AT&T, Sprint and Verizon Wireless.

Towards the end of July, it became clear that Google had a new Nexus 7 up it sleeve. The device’s launch finally took place in San Francisco at a rather informal media event in San Francisco where the company detailed three big name products. The new Nexus 7 which is dubbed Nexus 7, the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update and the ChromeCast.

The Nexus 7 LTE release is close. Here's what you need to know.

The Nexus 7 LTE release is close. Here’s what you need to know.

The star of the show was arguably the Nexus 7, a tablet that the company has put up against the iPad mini and the Kindle Fire HD and a device that will likely carry the company’s banner into battle against the likes of the iPad mini 2 and Kindle Fire HD 2.

Google’s new Nexus 7 improved upon the last version by trimming the weight of the design, adding a high resolution display, including a 5MP rear camera for the first time, while also adding 4G LTE data speeds.

While all of those features are fantastic, many consumers zeroed in on the 4G LTE data, something that never came to the original Nexus 7 and a feature that wasn’t even available on the Nexus 4 smartphone.

4G LTE, for those not aware, means that the Nexus 7 will be able to pull down cellular data that can, at times, be as fast as the speeds found on a home Wi-Fi network. In other words, it transforms the Nexus 7 into a powerful tool on a commute home or whilst on a road trip. What’s more, the device comes in one flavor, a flavor that is compatible with AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon.

Problem is, Google hasn’t said much about the Nexus 7 LTE since launch, leaving prospective buyers in the U.S. wondering when it might arrive. For now, we’re stuck with “coming weeks” but there is still some news afoot.

Here, we take a look at everything buyers need to know about the upcoming Nexus 7 LTE.

September Release

Know this. We still don’t know when Google plans on releasing the Nexus 7 LTE in the United States. The company is still sticking to its “coming soon” line, the same line it gave consumers in late July. The same line that appears on the Google Play Store. However, what we do know is that a September release date is extremely likely.

For whatever reason, Google decided to first confirm the Nexus 7 LTE release month in Japan, announcing that it would be hitting shelves in late September. This, after Asus Italy confirmed that the device would be hitting Italy in September.

Read: Nexus 7 LTE Release: New Date, Already On Sale.

The new Nexus 7 LTE release date should land in September for the U.S.

The new Nexus 7 LTE release date should land in September for the U.S.

Then earlier this week, we got another sign. UK carrier O2 confirmed that it would be releasing the Nexus 7 LTE on September 13th, all but confirming a global launch in September.

The Nexus 7 LTE U.S. release date has narrowed due to these pieces of information. At the worst, we should see it arrive by the end of September, at the very best, sometime in the last days of August or perhaps early September. Remember, it was the first to get the Nexus 7 Wi-Fi only.

So, it looks like Google’s “coming soon” line actually is starting to ring true.

Retailers in Mix

Don't be shocked if retailers pick up the LTE model.

Don’t be shocked if retailers pick up the LTE model.

One of the things that Google championed at its Nexus 7 launch event was the fact that it was making its Nexus 7 2 available through a host of retailers, ensuring that buyers had a wide range of places to buy from.

However, we weren’t sure if the company would extend that to the Nexus 7 LTE but there are signs now that we could see at least a few retailers offer the device on physical shelves.

The Nexus 7 LTE is already on sale through a couple of different retailers in Europe. That doesn’t necessarily mean that retailers in the U.S. will get the device but it does mean that there is a chance.

Google really hammered the wide availability thing home and consumers shouldn’t act surprised if the device lands on more places than just the Google Play Store.

There Will Be Nexus 7 LTE Deals

We’ve seen a number of deals crop up for the new Nexus 7 and while we won’t see Google budge from the $350 Nexus 7 LTE asking price, don’t be surprised to see deals for the LTE model as well.

The deals haven’t been massive, just small little price cuts here and there, but $350 is already extremely cheap for an LTE powered tablet of the Nexus 7’s caliber so any price cut is fantastic.

Those who are keen on slashed prices rather than smaller discounts will likely have to wait until Black Friday.

Major Issues Fixed

Consumer Reports issued a warning, suggesting buyers avoid the Nexus 7 until Google fixed some issues. Fortunately, it appears that the company has done just that as a new update has seemingly taken care of both touchscreen and GPS issues that were afflicting the tablet for weeks.

There are users who are still complaining about the touchscreen problems but it appears that it’s fixed it for a few. The GPS issues seem to be resolved.

Android 4.3 still isn’t perfect, there are some minor bugs, but the major Nexus 7 issues have been ironed about, something that should put Nexus 7 LTE buyers at ease.

12 Comments

12 Comments

  1. Vic Matson

    08/29/2013 at 2:56 pm

    Aren’t they still having issues with the WiFI version, one would be crazy to buy any of them until the goog gets on the stick!

    • atticusmas

      08/30/2013 at 7:27 am

      They aren’t. Not at all.

      • Vic Matson

        08/30/2013 at 7:53 am

        As of the 28th they were, GPS is/was still wonky. Can you link any evidence to the contrary.

        • kisrita

          09/01/2013 at 9:24 am

          Mine was wonky prior to the update. Works percent since the update. But mind never had any others issues I read about. Maybe there was a bad batch.

          • kisrita

            09/01/2013 at 9:25 am

            Ugh autocorrect!
            Perfect not percent
            Mine not mind

    • Alva johnson

      09/10/2013 at 11:09 am

      Ava. I can see what your saying… Leroy`s rep0rt is nice… last friday I got a great new Lotus Elise from making $7737 this-past/month and more than $10k this past month. without a question it is the coolest work I’ve ever had. I actually started 4 months ago and immediately got minimum $84… p/h. I work through this website, ►►♥♡♥►► Port60.com ◄◄♥♡♥◄◄

  2. ashleyprince2 (@ashleyprince21)

    08/29/2013 at 3:00 pm

    my friend’s step-mother makes $63/hr on the laptop. She has been fired for eight months but last month her paycheck was $17124 just working on the laptop for a few hours. continue reading this…….……WWW.ℛush64.COℳ

    • Dean

      08/29/2013 at 7:02 pm

      Yeah right. If it was that easy everyone would be doing that LOL $17124 yeah right……that’s what most people make in a year and your telling me she makes that in a month LOL nice try

      • Kraygh

        08/29/2013 at 7:40 pm

        “most people”… who work part time at McDonald’s, maybe.

      • Vic Matson

        08/30/2013 at 7:54 am

        It’s spam dude, haven’t you seen the same post before.

  3. Chicka Wawa

    08/31/2013 at 5:17 am

    Lol at the dude who didn’t recognize spam :)

  4. Samuel

    09/11/2013 at 8:08 am

    Google Cust. Serv. Reps have told me on two different occasions that the Nexus 7 LTE is NOT compatible with Verizon’s LTE network (I understand that it is not compatible with the CDMA 3G network), Yet in every post online they indicate that it does Verizon. Can this be clarified?

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