Best Tech of 2012

Nexus 7

The Nexus 7 is the first Android tablet to take a significant slice out of Apple's tablet pie. Launched with Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean), the device offers Android fans an affordable way to play with the latest version of Google's mobile operating system, something many won't see on their Android phones anytime soon.

Read: Nexus 7 Review

Combine the latest version of Android with fast performance, a small package and a $199 price and it's no wonder we called the Nexus 7, "the 7" tablet to beat".

Even with competition from the iPad mini, the Nexus 7 holds its own, offering an affordable tablet capable of handling productivity, gaming, reading and watching HD videos. With the latest update to the Nexus 7, Google offers more storage (16 GB) without raising the price from $199.

There's also a cellular model that can connect to AT&T and T-Mobile networks at HSPA+ speeds. Another major plus is that the Nexus 7 will see updates to the latest versions of Android, including Android 5.0 faster than competing tablets.