Google Android Tablets Reviews
14,345 Reviews

Tesco Hudl vs Google Nexus 7 comparison review: Which budget tablet is best?

£119 inc VAT

Manufacturer: Tesco

Which budget tablet should you buy? Tesco Hudl vs Nexus 7 2013.

Tesco Hudl vs Google Nexus 7

Tesco has launched its own-brand Hudl tablet but how does it compare to the popular Nexus 7 from Google? Find out in our Tesco Hudl vs Google Nexus 7 comparison review.

Google set a benchmark for budget tablets with the original Nexus 7 and the 2013 model is an improvement, albeit a more expensive one. So can the Tesco Hudl match up to the flagship Android tablet? Read on to find out.

See also: The 9 best budget tablets: What's the best budget tablet of 2013?

Tesco Hudl vs Google Nexus 7: Price

Tesco has undercut Google on price and is one of the reasons to opt for the Hudl over the Nexus 7. It costs £80 less at £119 and can be purchased for even less money. Clubcard Boost lets you use any Clubcard vouchers for double their value so the Hudl can be yours for £60 worth of vouchers.

The story doesn't end with price, though. The Nexus 7 has a few reasons why you might want to shell out those extra pounds.

 

Tesco Hudl

Google Nexus 7

16 GB + Wi-Fi

£119 (or £60 of Clubcard vouchers)

£199

32 GB + Wi-Fi

n/a

£239

32 GB + 4G

n/a

£299

Tesco Hudl vs Google Nexus 7: Design and build

These two tablets have quite different designs but share good build quality. Which one you prefer the look of is up to you, but the Nexus 7 is thinner and lighter than the Hudl making it easier to hold in general and for long periods of time.

If you want some colour, the Hudl comes in blue, red and purple as well as black. See also: What's the best Android tablet of 2013?

 

Tesco Hudl

Google Nexus 7

Size

193 x 129 x 9.9mm

200 x 114 x 8.7 mm

Weight

370 g

290 g

Tesco Hudl colours

Tesco Hudl vs Google Nexus 7: Screen

There's no difference when it comes to screen size and although both have IPS panels and therefore good viewing angles, the Nexus 7 outpaces the Hudl in a couple of ways.

Firstly, and the most obvious, is that its resolution is higher meaning more pixels which are packed tighter together for a crisper result. It's not that the Hudl is low-res, it's higher than the iPad mini, but the Nexus is the best in class.

Less obvious but something we've discovered is that the Hudl's screen is occasionally unresponsive, which is not a problem we've found with the Nexus 7 at all.

 

Tesco Hudl

Google Nexus 7

Size

7 in

7 in

Resolution

1440 x 900

1920 x 1200

Pixel density

243 ppi

323 ppi

Tesco Hudl vs Google Nexus 7: Processor

The Nexus 7 has double the RAM of the Hudl and although both tablets have a 1.5 GHz quad-core processor, they are different chips. We could quote you benchmark results but far more important is the real world performance.

Tesco has done a good job with the Huld and although the tablet is nippy in general its performance isn’t flawless. It struggles somewhat with web browsing, for example. Google's tablet, as you would expect from the maker of Android, runs silky smooth across the board.

 

Tesco Hudl

Google Nexus 7

Processor

1.5 GHz A9

1.5 GHz Snapdragon S4 Pro

Cores

Quad-core

Quad-core

RAM

1 GB

2 GB

Google Nexus 7 2013

Tesco Hudl vs Google Nexus 7: Storage

It's swings and roundabouts when it comes to storage because the Hudl only comes in one model but has that illusive microSD card slot for expansion. The Nexus 7 has no such capability but comes in a larger 32 GB storage model which adds only £40 to the price.

You've got to pick which best suits your needs.

 

Tesco Hudl

Google Nexus 7

Storage

16 GB

16/32 GB

microSD

Yes (up to 32GB)

No

Tesco Hudl vs Google Nexus 7: Cameras

Tablet photography shouldn't be a top priority but if it is, you're better off with the Nexus 7. It's rear camera takes far better shots and doesn't have focusing issues like the Hudl.

Despite the higher resolution of the Hudl's front facing webcam, the Nexus 7's secondary shooter actually provides a clearer and more natural looking image. Testament to the fact you can't just rely on a specification sheet.

 

Tesco Hudl

Google Nexus 7

Rear

3 Mp

5 Mp

Front

2 Mp

1.2 Mp

Tesco Hudl vs Google Nexus 7: Connectivity

Connectivity comes in many different shapes and forms and although the Nexus 7 and Hudl both provide the usual dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS, they each have features which are not found on the other.

Which ones will come in handier to you will depend of your needs but the Hudl has a micro-HDMI port for connecting the tablet to a larger display such as a TV. However, the Nexus 7 supports video output through the microUSB port if you buy an MHL adapter.

Meanwhile, the Nexus 7 comes in a model with 4G support giving you data on the go. It also has NFC and Qi wireless charging.

Tesco Hudl software

Tesco Hudl vs Google Nexus 7: Software

There's little different in terms of software because Tesco hasn't done an Amazon and heavily customised Android. The Hudl comes with Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean which is almost entirely vanilla apart from some pre-loaded widgets and a T icon in the corner which takes you to a hub of Tesco services.

The Nexus 7 comes with the more up-to-date 4.3 Jelly Bean which mainly adds restricted accounts as well as other minor tweaks. The Hudl will be updated in the future but you're better off with the Nexus 7 if you want to make sure you have the latest version.

Tesco Hudl vs Google Nexus 7: Battery life

Battery life is wildly variable for tablets depending on how much you use them with up to a number of days between charges if you just pick it up occasionally to check facebook or browse the web.

The bottom line here is that the Nexus 7 has better battery life offering a few more hours of video playback than the Hudl.

Follow Chris Martin and @PCAdvisor on Twitter.

Tesco Hudl Expert Verdict »
Post Review
Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean
1.5GHz quad-core A9 processor
Mali 400 GPU
16GB Storage
microSD (up to 32GB)
1GB Memory
7in IPS display (1440 x 900, 243ppi)
3Mp rear camera
2Mp front camera
Bluetooth 4.0
GPS
Dual-band Wi-fi 802.11a/b/g/n
stereo speakers
microUSB
Micro-HDMI
193 x 129 x 9.9mm
370g

The Nexus 7 is the overall better tablet here, outclassing the Hudl in almost every area. The Hudl is cheaper and provides a microSD slot and micro-HDMI port, though, so if you can't stretch the extra £80 it's still a good alternative.

There are currently no price comparisons for this product.
Advert for the complete guide to the ipad mini

Send to a friend

Email this article to a friend or colleague:


PLEASE NOTE: Your name is used only to let the recipient know who sent the story. Both your name and the recipient's name and address will not be used for any other purpose.


IDG UK Sites

Sonos smashes price barrier with Play:1 speaker

IDG UK Sites

How to improve iPhone battery life in iOS 7 and iOS 6: power-saving tips

IDG UK Sites

How to stop your laptop getting stolen while travelling

IDG UK Sites

How agile thinking leads to better branding