Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) unveiled its latest Nexus 7 tablet yesterday, adding another competitor to the increasingly crowded (but increasingly popular) tablet market. Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) undoubtedly expects to take a bite out of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)‘s iPad Mini market sales, but the world has seen many would-be competitors crumble under Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s iProducts. Let’s take a look at the cold hard facts to see if Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)’s Nexus 7 has what it takes to compete.
| Nexus 7 (non-cellular model ) | iPad Mini (non-cellular model ) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $229 | $329 |
| Screen | 7″ HD | 7.9″ HD |
| Storage | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Memory (operating speed) | Qualcomm S4 Pro, 2 GB | A5, 512 MB |
| Battery | 9-10 hours | 10 hours |
| Weight | 0.64 lbs | 0.68 lbs |
| Thickness | 0.34″ | 0.28″ |
Source: Google and Apple
What’s to like
The Nexus 7 has two things going for it: price and speed. At $229, the cost of Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)’s latest product once again highlights Apple’s inaccessibility to a potentially huge portion of the tablet market. For an entry-level tablet buyer, Nexus’ $100 “discount” is an attractive lure that no 0.06″ thickness (we can’t all be tech geeks) will ever change.
The Nexus 7’s other main win comes from its massive memory — four times that of the iPad mini’s. QUALCOMM, Inc. (NASDAQ:QCOM)‘s Snapdragon S4 Pro packs a powerful 1.5 GHz punch, putting 2 GB of fast and furious computing power in the hands of Nexus users.
With similar storage, battery life, and a slight weight-thickness trade-off, the two devices’ other specs are similar enough that consumers’ decisions probably won’t be based on these factors alone.
Source: Google
Why wait?
The Nexus 7 is thinner, lighter, and faster than its predecessor — but its comparison with the iPad mini doesn’t guarantee it first place in the larger game. In the fast-changing tech world, comparing Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)’s latest gadget to Apple’s 275-day-old product can be like, well, comparing Apples to oranges. If Moore’s Law is any evidence, Apple’s next iPad mini (expected sometime between September and November ) will be more than capable of competing with Nexus’ speed.
Despite the higher price point, the iPad mini already offers an extra 0.9″ of screen to stare at. The iPhone has been criticized for its smaller screen size compared to many of Samsung’s and Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)’s offerings, and Apple has made sure to not make the same mistake with its miniature iPad.
Source: Apple
The bigger picture
Apple and Google aren’t just carving out claims in the tablet world — the larger mobile device market could ultimately dictate who wins and who loses. The Nexus 7 will run on Google’s Android, the world’s most popular operating system.
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) unveiled its latest line of Droid smartphones earlier this week, putting more affordable Android devices (prices start at $100) in the grasp of millions of consumers. Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ)’s original Motorola Droid brought Android to the forefront of mobile systems, but this latest line-up could be Verizon’s version of BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY)‘s “Z10 moment.” In an interview with CNET, Lopez Research analyst Maribel Lopez noted: “Samsung has totally overrun the Droid brand. All of the cool factor that was once Droid now belongs to the Galaxy brand.” Luckily for Google, Samsung’s smartphones also run on Android.
Apple’s pushing for universal access, as well. The company’s sleek syncing offers Mac and iPhone users seamless linking and compatibility capabilities that could be the true determining factor behind the Nexus vs. iPad debate.
Google’s latest Nexus 7 is an impressive product, but investors and consumers will have to wait to see what the next iPad mini has in store before any crowns can truly be claimed.
If the latest tablet mania is any evidence, it’s incredible to think just how much of our digital and technological lives are almost entirely shaped and molded by just a handful of companies.
The article Google’s Nexus 7 vs. iPad Mini: Just the Facts originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Justin Loiseau.
Fool contributor Justin Loiseau owns shares of Apple and Google, as well as a cracked Android phone and a seven-year old iPod. You can follow Justin Loiseau on Twitter @TMFJLo and on Motley Fool CAPS @TMFJLo.The Motley Fool recommends Apple and Google. The Motley Fool owns shares of Apple, Google, and Qualcomm.
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