Ten years ago today, Google released the 2nd-generation Nexus 7, just days after a surprise announcement. Back then, Android tablets still felt fresh and exciting. It seemed like anything was possible, and things could only improve from there. Well, we know what happened next. But the depressing state of the tablet market to come was in no way the fault of the Nexus 7. In fact, this is still one of the best Android tablets ever made, and it’s worth looking back and showing it the honor and respect it deserves.

  • Lifted_lowered
    link
    English
    31 year ago

    No android tablet since then you mean. I loved that thing. I still use Pixel phones but I caved and bought an iPad. Even the Pixel tablet can’t compare.

      • Lifted_lowered
        link
        English
        21 year ago

        Sheer processing power, stylus compatibility, and interoperability with computers of the same brand, which Samsung does too. I want an Android tablet that has as good a stylus and CPU speeds, then I would be right on it, because Android is a superior mobile OS in many ways. I loved my Nexus 7 and my ASUS Transformer but they just weren’t there yet.

        • @Mr_Blott
          link
          English
          7
          edit-2
          1 year ago

          interoperability with computers of the same brand,

          Literally the opposite of my definition of interoperability 😂

          • Lifted_lowered
            link
            English
            11 year ago

            True, that was poor word choice. I guess it would just be “operability?” Or “integration?”

            • @Mr_Blott
              link
              English
              21 year ago

              “Forced ecosystem”

        • Mike Stevens 🇦🇺 S23UM
          link
          fedilink
          English
          21 year ago

          Honestly can’t say enough good things about my Tab S8. I use it for editing photos in Lightroom Mobile, and it works so damn well with the stylus. Very responsive and fast.

        • @chrizfitz
          link
          English
          21 year ago

          So is it the ipad pro you’re talking about? Are the high end Samsung tabs comparable?

          • ImaginaryFox
            link
            fedilink
            31 year ago

            I haven’t been satisfied with the iPadOS software compared to the S23U. Feel like that utilizes multitasking and stylus functionality way better which would be much more appreciated on the large screen of the iPad. Little things like edge panels, one hand operation +, and stylus being built in and having options like smart select pop right up when I take it out leads me me to using it more. Then the limited folder options on top of that and worse external monitor support feels like all that power that can run a full on desktop is wasted and held back by the mobile OS.

            One thing I do love about the iPad is that I can rely on long term security updates, since majority of my use is as a glorified comic reader along side my kindle for ebooks. It does make it easier to tolerate iPadOS, and pretty the only reason I chose it over the Samsung despite finding myself using the S23U way more even when I have the iPad available. I ended up expecting less from the iPad than my phone. I don’t know if it would have ended up that way even if it had more features, or if it was just me adapting and accepting iPadOS for what it was.

            • @chrizfitz
              link
              31 year ago

              Thank you for a detailed post with pros and cons. With everything it’s not black and white,

            • Lifted_lowered
              link
              11 year ago

              Agreed about the software. I wish we had a base Android tablet with the same hardware as the iPad Pro.

          • AnonymousLlama
            link
            fedilink
            21 year ago

            I remember the high end Android tablets being in a rough place because of app performance and layouts (where some apps still don’t offer a really good tablet centric layout, they give you a big mobile layout)

            I remember looking at the Galaxy tab range about 5-6 years ago and while they had good processors, they seemed to struggle on multi-core performance and smoothness.

            It could totally be a different scenario today, but it feels like their reputation has been set, the Android tablets are a poor man’s iPad (which is a bit funny considering how expensive some can be!)

            • Lifted_lowered
              link
              11 year ago

              This is basically it, we just need better hardware in android tablets and maybe more optimization, Google is trying with tensor but it is a ways off.