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Google just conjured up its platonic ideal of an Android tablet: killer specs, the most pristine possible software, and a £160 price. Wil this be the Android tablet that finally makes Android tablets exciting? Is Amazon going to lose?
The Nexus, a slim, trim piece of gear packed with the latest Jelly Bean release of Android, falls mostly in line with what we were expecting: built by Asus, the Nexus holds a 1.3Ghz quad-core Tegra 3 processor, NFC, and 1 GB of RAM, and a 1.2MP front-facing camera — all with two different storage variants: 8 GB and 16 GB. That’s a damn good level of muscle behind a 7-inch, 1280×800 screen.
It’s also clear from the price — £160 for the 8 GB model and £200 for 16GB — that this thing is aiming squarely to extinguish the Kindle Fire. So far, it’s the only tablet that isn’t an iPad that’s managed to make large groups of people care in the real world, owing, yes, largely to the fact that it’s cheap. If Google can manage to not only sell a cheap Android tablet, but an Android tablet that doesn’t scare off moms and non-geeks, the Nexus hit the ground with serious momentum — it’s sure as hell kicking the Fire’s arse in about every other category.
What it’s lacking, however? Amazon Prime, and all the super myriad goodies that come with that in the US. We’ll see if Google can give you as compelling a list of things to do on your tablet as Amazon has. Let’s just hope, like the Kindle Fire, it makes it across the pond to Britain too. [Google]
Updated: Google has announced the Nexus 7 will be available at the same time as the US receives it, with pre-orders being taken today, and shipping in July.
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Pffft..need this in the UK, now. Also the link just gives an ‘unavailable in your country’ spiel unfortunately!
I’m so sick of companies that only launch their products in the US. DON’T THEY KNOW WE OWN THEM?!
(I’m only half joking.)
I worked at a summer camp in the US and had to convince the kids we had electricity. Maybe they struggle to believe that we can charge the tech once we get it?
Hang on – aren’t you Australian or something?
Originally, but I’ve been in London like eight or nine years now, so it’s very much my home.
Convict stock don’t like to be reminded of it
The way the British economy and the Eurozone are looking, you’ll be lucky to own anything shortly. You’re welcome for the Marshall Plan though.
You’re not joking at all if you’re to look at it from a legal perspective
It will be released here too.
yes but its Fugly! look at the size of that bezel!
Very true, that is a chunky monkey of a bezel.
Looks pretty similar to other 7in tablets to me. It’s not like these things need to be as portable as phones, and a bit of bezel makes them easier to handle without accidentally tapping the screen.
Also, keep in mind that they’re using virtual navigation buttons here, so that black area at the bottom isn’t all bezel, some of it’s screen.
So no European launch?
Nothing’s been announced yet — fingers’ crossed we see this at some point.
£130?!? Done. £150? Still done. Just take my money…
Oh wait, we’re not getting here in Britain because, as usual, we get shafted by our selection of overpriced premium tablets and lousy budget tablets. It’s perverse.
Come on Google, shake things up and bring it over here ASAP.
Even at £200, I think it’d have a fighting chance. I’m so sick of seeing £350+ tablets.
You and me both, and yes even at £200 I’d still go for it, given the alternatives.
Yeah, I’m a bit sceptical about the £130 price but I’d certainly go upto £150 for it.
If nothing else it’ll hopefully raise the game for other manufacturers who’ll be happy to exploit the UK market.
Once again an announcement I’ve been looking forward to, ending with me mouthing the words, “Ah shove it up your American arse then!”
I feel bad for laughing at your comment, but yes :p
bottom left icon, what is it for?!
Bottom left app? That’s the Google Play store.
Na, I was on about on the keynote, and it was currents. :/
I guess the phone UI means it’s default mode is portrait instead of landscape.
PRE-ORDER LINK PLEASE!!!!!!!
Google play for Pre-Orders.
8gb – £159
16gb – £199
Sold !
Yep sold!
Sold but only if you can get an order through. Doesn’t seem like anyone here has been successful yet
I have
Same here. Instant purchase, basically.
Wasn’t so easy earlier on in the evening
Pre-ordered too. Very excited.
And the rest of Europe? Oh well importing at least got easier from the UK
Dammit, keep getting error at the checkout :’(
Yep I get the same error !!!
Yeah me too
Ditto, trying everything – refreshing the browser, loggin out and in – nothing is working! ahhhhh!
Hm, I hope we need to go through the checkout process… I hope I haven’t just ordered 800 of these things.
hahahaha I won’t be far behind…. feels like I’ve pressed teh checkout button rather few times
hahahaha I won’t be far behind…. feels like I’ve pressed the checkout button rather few times
SSCREAAAMMMMMMMMMMMMM
We may need a Giz Support group at this rate
I imagine it’s just first night teething problems…OR VAPOURWARE.
Aghhh don’t mention the “V” word !!!!
Very tempting! Doesn’t help that I already have 2 iPads and a HP Touchpad running Android with the decision making process…I have always loved that 7″ size though, ever since the Playbook.
By the way, Congrats on passing 3000 Facebook fans!
Aw shucks, thanks dude.
Wowsers bowsers 3000 fans! Congrats indeed.
I’m in !
16GB Ordered !
Me too.
SUCCESS!
Am I the only person bothered by the lack of sd/micro sd slot? I haven’t seen it mentioned anywhere and 8gb seems a bit small given all the media potential.
It makes sense given the drive to the ‘cloud’ that Google is pushing. Makes the lack of mobile data a bit painful, though. Thankfully, I’ve got WiFi where I’ll use it most, and unlimited data/tethering – plus the option of a mobile wifi dongle to avoid hogging my phone – if I’ll need it while out and about.
Since I started using Google Music and Google Drive, my Transformer’s massive storage capacity has been basically empty. 8GB is more than enough.
Released yes, but for how much temains to ne seen. £200 for the 8gb would be my guess.
A reliable branded tablet for a low price may help keep those cheaper no name chinese tablets out…
The prices are on the link
£159 for 8GB.
£159 for the 8gb, £199 for the 16gb, and both with £15 credit.
You cant even Troll Right Taf
Not Trying to troll darrell, i could never take your crown. I will buy one @ £200 as second tablet knocking around the house will keep the little ones hands off my iPad..
Troll, me, never
surely you must have me confused with someone else. I’m an educator, it’s unfortunate that my job is to educate the incredibly dense.
“So dense that light bends around him”
Looks great for the price! Definitely tempting! Why can’t we have phones this price?
Because Apple bleads the market for all it can get and other companies don’t have the sheer volume of orders to reduce prices. I suspect Google are selling these things pretty much at what Asus are charging for them.
SGS3 is £500 and they sell millions, this is £159 and they haven’t sold any.. surely they could sell a good Nexus phone sub £200? But I’m no businessman..
“this is £159 and they haven’t sold any”, wtf, it was just released today, and several Giz people have already pre-ordered. As you say, you are no businessman.
?
I was making a point that this has a great price, even though they haven’t had ” the sheer volume of orders to reduce prices.”
I’m just wondering aloud why tablets (especially this one) seem such good value compared to phones.
Am I wrong in thinking that is the Android Phone UI? Is 7 inch too small to use the tablet UI?
That is a good point. I’ve seen 7 inchers running the tablet UI before, so perhaps Google have changed this for Jelly Bean. That a bit of a shame IMHO, those three virtual nav buttons are swimming in a sea of black that could be put to better use.
I’m assuming that it displays differently in portrait mode than landscape.
I am tempted but I just bought my 2nd CSC and we have 2 iPads and a Kindle in the house as it is.
The only downside I can see from this is the lack of an SD card (or micro) slot.
Might wait for the Sony Tablet S to drop in price – or keep an eye out on Sony’s Outlet store.
Do you guys remember this? http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/09/asus-eee-pad-memo-me171-me370t-and-high-end-transformer-prime-t/
16gb ordered
As an android tablet owner, even I’m tempted by this device. Heck, I think it’s more powerful than mine (Asus Transformer TF101. Can be very laggy and prone to crashes. Especially in the browser.). The one thing that is missing that worries me a little is a microSD port. That’s a key selling point of android tablets, expandable storage. It was for me anyway. I’d be lost without my microSD, but then I’ve been converting my DVD collection to digital files to watch on it. Not everyone will be doing that!
It just seems odd, given that there is a focus on media on this device.
Curse of the Channel Islands again… “Not available in your country” :\
I’ve been put off the iPad so far by the price. £160 is a very good price though – I can see these selling like hot cakes
i agree i would like to own this tablet but… why can we expect to pay nearly double the americans also?
We aren’t! Based on USD-GBP exchange rate in June to date: $199 for the 8Gb works out at around £154 – a 4% mark-up, whilst the 16gb works out to around £193 – a 3% mark-up.
Given the usual £1:$1 used in US to UK conversion by some other tech manufacturers, it is actually pretty fair when you consider the considerable fluctuations in the exchange rates over the last few years.
16gb ordered.
Considering getting a Galaxy Nexus to go with it.
Might as well have gone to the bleedin’ conference!