If you've been toying with the idea of getting a real Android slate but didn't want to spend big bucks for a big device, this is what you've been waiting for. This is the best Android tablet for less than $200 and the best budget 7-inch tablet on the market. For the moment.
Read the full review →Conclusion: We like it
The Nexus 7, built by Asus in close partnership with Google, is without a doubt the best 7-inch tablet currently available. And even better, at just $200 it's among the most affordable tablets you can get. It packs in numerous features typically available only on higher-end devices, including a sharp 1280 x 800 display, and a fast quad-core processor. And given the fact that it's the only tablet to run the latest version of Android (Jelly Bean), it's easy to see why the Nexus 7 is far ahead of other budget tablets, such as the Amazon Kindle Fire and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0. But that doesn't mean it's perfect. The $200 model has just 8GB of storage, and lacks a microSD expansion slot (which you'll probably need if you want to load up some movies). And Android's tablet app ecosystem is still not nearly as robust as the iPad's. But there's no 7-inch iPad (at least not yet), nor is there another 7-inch Android tablet that offers so much for so little.
90-Day Price History
Critic reviews
sort by
Google and Asus smack it out of the park with the Nexus 7, a terrific small-screen tablet that's an incredible value at $200.
Read the full review →While the Nexus 7 isn’t a full-on iPad-killer, it far out-classes anything else offered in the 7-inch category, and most 10-inch tablets too. The Nexus 7 does this by offering smartly designed, powerful hardware and the best Android tablet experience to date.
Read the full review →With a beautiful screen, fast performance, a comfortable design, and overall great media options, the Nexus 7 is easily the best 7-inch tablet available and one of the top tablets on the market.
Read the full review →The Nexus 7 is the best 7-inch tablet yet, combining fast quad-core performance, top-notch design and Google's smart Jelly Bean OS for an amazing price.
Read the full review →If you really want an iPad, you're going to get one ... But if you want a tablet without making so much of a financial commitment, the Nexus 7 is the best choice on the market. Sometimes it pays to be a little late to the party.
Read the full review →Its hardware and software smoothness rival Apple’s, and its luxury humiliates the Kindle Fire. In short, it’s possible that this tablet may finally help solve Google’s chicken-and-egg problem.
Read the full review →Make no mistake: Of today's 7-inch Android tablets, the Nexus 7 is the one to beat, and it is handily one of the best-executed Android tablets of any size you can buy.
Read the full review →$200 for a full-fledged, seriously-spec'd, fully-capable tablet is an absolute steal. Get it. Seriously.
Read the full review →The Nexus 7 is absolutely a worthy buy. We are as pleased with this experience as we were displeased at the execution on Amazon's 7-inch non-tablet... The Nexus 7 is going to become the go-to device for people who find the iPad too large, or find it too expensive.
Read the full review →Google’s tablet is a better choice than the iPad for people on a budget; for those who prefer a lighter, more compact tablet that’s easier to carry and operate with one hand; and for those who prefer Google’s ecosystem of apps, services and content to Apple’s.
Read the full review →It's well built, has good hardware and is priced perfectly. The only downside is really the limited (and not expandable) internal storage... The Nexus 7 isn't just a great Android tablet, it's a great tablet.
Read the full review →Look, if you’re looking for a 7-inch tablet or any tablet of the Android variety, you’d be hard pressed to find anything better than the Nexus 7
Read the full review →The Nexus 7 is the best of its breed, but it also doesn't give me any evidence that the breed is one that really holds all that much promise. Aside from reading books, I think it's pretty clear that a 7-inch tablet is not preferable to a larger one like the iPad or the upcoming Microsoft Surface.
Read the full review →The Nexus 7 is a great play mate, a great travel companion and your best buddy on the sofa. It gives you quality and affordability, without compromising on performance. For that reason, we love it.
Read the full review →Google's tablet is easily our favourite Android tablet, blowing past the excellent Asus Transformer in our esteem with its lightweight design and low price. We've seen other tablets in this price range before, but none have come close to delivering the performance of the Nexus 7.
Read the full review →Despite these woes, the Nexus 7 stands out as a really excellent tablet, one that shatters expectations for a contract-free, budget-priced handheld device. It lacks some features, but what’s here is all handled beautifully and nears Apple-like quality and design, with a price that can’t be beat.
Read the full review →What you’ve got here is a fun machine. ... Even those who want a tablet just to fiddle with should and probably will be considering this device first in the near future – unless they want an iPad.
Read the full review →... for $200 the Nexus 7 isn't only the best of the $200 options but it is really the best choice among any of the Android tablets thanks to its improved software and its top-notch hardware.
Read the full review →So it will suit those with wide (if not deep) pockets who want some Android games, or a bit of music on the go (but more likely streaming video somewhere static).
Read the full review →It’s not perfect just like other tablets on the market, but it’s the significantly lower cost compared to the iPad plus the power and capabilities on offer that make it perfect for someone who wants to buy a tablet but can’t justify paying over £400 for one.
Read the full review →The Nexus 7 is the absolute best 7” tablet . With no questions it offers way more bang for the buck than the Kindle Fire.
Read the full review →Google’s first tablet is undeniably impressive. Asus has done an almost miraculous job for the money, providing a device that not only matches its competition, but surpasses it on many fronts.
Read the full review →This is the best Android tablet you can buy at any price. When you factor in the low price, it's probably the best tablet for the money you'll find as well. If you can live in the cloud, and Google Play has enough of the content you're looking for, go buy one.
Read the full review →Google appears poised to reclaim any tablet ground lost since the introduction of Amazon's forked version of Android. It may not tread a lot of new ground, but the Nexus 7 is a solid performer and easily the best tablet a couple of hundred bucks or pounds can buy.
Read the full review →If you’re in the market for any tablet, there’s no reason why the Google Nexus 7 shouldn’t be on or near the top of your list... there’s nothing else close at the moment that can match its sheer offerings at its phenomenal price point.
Read the full review →At $199 I find it hard to not recommend the Nexus 7. I have found it fit into my usage patterns whether it be for checking RSS feeds, watching movies or reading books. It truly is a premium device (with a few compromises) at an impulse purchase price level.
Read the full review →Google appears poised to reclaim any tablet ground lost since the introduction of Amazon's forked version of Android. It may not tread a lot of new ground, but the Nexus 7 is a solid performer and easily the best tablet around for the thriftier buyer.
Read the full review →Aside from its limited storage, there’s little I can fault with the Nexus 7. It’s fast, light, and cheap, but it also feels like it costs twice as much ... I’m still not convinced Google actually understands tablets, but the Nexus 7 proves it’s at least trying to.
Read the full review →Google's first tablet is a great portable device packed with power that's perfect for media consumption and gaming. Starting at $200 and with a ton of bonus content tossed in, the Asus-manufactured Nexus 7 is an excellent purchase if you've been thinking of getting a high-quality tablet without the...
Read the full review →If this is what Android slates looked like from the start, they wouldn't still be playing catch up with the iPad. The Google Nexus 7 is extremely fast, has all the major features covered and is priced incredibly attractively to make you easily forgive the few corners cut.
Read the full review →The Nexus 7 tablet is a mighty little tablet that packs quite a punch without burning a hole in your wallet.
Read the full review →With the rock solid CPU, great price, and the latest version of Android under it's belt, it's really hard to go wrong with the Nexus 7.
Read the full review →It’s not an “iPad killer” by any stretch, but it certainly gives someone who doesn’t want a 10-inch tablet an alternative that worth looking at.
Read the full review →Could this be the device to kick start Android’s tablet presence? Could it be the first Google branded device to be a real hit? Yes it could, but only time will tell. What we can say with certainty is that you won’t find a better tablet at this price on the market right now.
Read the full review →The Nexus 7 is a truly excellent tablet. It's not flashy or particularly unique, but achieves greatness at an aggressive price. This will hopefully be the tablet to put Google on the radar.
Read the full review →If you’re considering a Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet…don’t: get this instead. If you’re considering an Android tablet for work, play, and everything else, the Nexus 7 is an impressively good choice.
Read the full review →While I still had hoped for more from Google with its first Nexus tablet, I am at least content with what it provided. It's a solid piece of hardware that is available for very little cash, and it works both quickly and smoothly.
Read the full review →Make no mistake – the iPad is certainly the better tablet. But the Nexus 7 is far less expensive and, despite that, still quite good.
Read the full review →If you're looking for a solid smaller-screen tablet on a budget, the Nexus 7 is now the one to beat.
Read the full review →I had a Google friend hook me up with one of these, and I got to play with it for four hours (so roughly 3 hours more than any tech review site got to play with one). This was the white I/O version they gave away at the dev conference. I ordered one of these almost immediately because you'd...
Read the full review →The hype surrounding this device was...excessive...and like many others I totally bought into it. Having used it for over a month now it has taken it's place as a companion device, ebook reader and PMP for short trips which appears to be what Google's and Asus' intentions for it were. It is...
Read the full review →I've been in the market for a new tablet for a while now and a few of the offerings looked quite good. When the Nexus 7 rumblings started to get louder, though, I decided to listen. And I made the right decision. The tablet is definitely well crafted. It feels great in the hand and for once it...
Read the full review →So I have purposely waited for about 2 months of usage to write this review. In fact I am writing it from my nexus 7 just because I can. Prior to my purchase I was unsure if a tablet would fit in my life, and now I don't see my life without one. I used to use my macbook pro for couch and bed...
Read the full review →I have been loving this tablet. When i reviewed other tablets they sat around, no real desire to use them nightly. The touchpad I owned had the same effect. I really really like this tablet, it is light, easy to use and very nice!
Read the full review →The Nexus 7 to me is one of the hottest tablets on the market right now. It has its size, looks, features, and price all going for it right now. While the storage option may put off some, I for one can let it slide. I know beyond streaming content, there is a lot of cloud based storage options...
Read the full review →Over all the device is great for the price and is something i have recommended to fiends and family with the usual warning about Android tablets being very different than an iPad. ICS with JB really polished the OS and makes it look great. switching from applications and even just swiping...
Read the full review →I was tempted by this product for a long time, and finally decided to purchase it to replace my aging (and now unsupported) original iPad. It's amazing. I should have bought this months ago. The screen is beautiful, the form factor is sleek and stylish, and the Jelly Bean OS makes it work...
Read the full review →The 7 is a super useful, portable, fast, and simple device. I got one at Google I/O and have been reading on it, watching a little TV, sending some email, and using it for work over the past few days. It is my first tablet (though I have played with other people's iPads) and my first Android. At...
Read the full review →Out of the box was happy with the overall look and feel. I had been considering the "New" Ipad for a while but really didn't have the budget for a purely consumption based device in the $400 price range. The nexus offered a great price and a size that i wanted for the small trips I take and daily...
Read the full review →I love this product. It is really easy to sync everything together and the new version of Android is amazing. Everything said in the criteria reviews basically sums it up but I really wish that there was some kind of expandable storage. It forces me to stream everything which isn't all that...
Read the full review →How it stacks up
-
ASUS Nexus 7 (Nexus Tablet) 88 from $240 -
Apple iPad 3rd-gen 97 from $489 -
Apple iPad mini -
Apple iPad 2 92 from $399 -
Microsoft Surface with Windows RT
Other ASUS tablets
-
ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity TF700 82 from $479 -
ASUS Transformer Pad 300 (TF300T) 83 from $364 -
ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime TF201 80 from $428 -
ASUS Eee Pad Transformer (TF101) 75 from $319 -
ASUS Vivo Tab RT from $778