Samsung Galaxy Tab vs Nexus 7

[McDougal]

Hey all,

It's been a while since I've had a new gadget, and I'm considering my first Android tablet.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 and the Nexus 7 are what I am considering. However, I need help deciding which is the better deal. $200 is my price limit.

For any tablet experts, what is your experience with CPUs? Does it matter if you have a dual-core or quad-core CPU?

Also, is it possible to update Android? The Samsung has version 4.0 while the Nexus 7 has version 4.1.

Basically, what I'm trying to say, is which tablet is the better deal?

Thanks guys for the help!

[Marvin the Martian]

The screen and some of the internals, like the CPU, are better on the Nexus 7, but there is no memory card expansion available, which the Samsung does offer.

The lack of card slot would be a deal breaker for me.....

[McDougal]

A microSD slot would be nice.....but I don't plan on using this tablet as my main music device (use my iPod for that).

The higher-end CPU and hardware of the Nexus 7 is very appealing....lol this is gonna be a hard decision .

[Syndrome]

I'm with the Martian on this one. SD slot or bust. The Nexus 7 is faster though. and it has a standard USB plug, while the samsung has its stupid proprietary one.

[McDougal]

Is it possible to update Android on the Samsung?

[Marvin the Martian]

Originally Posted by McDougal

A microSD slot would be nice.....but I don't plan on using this tablet as my main music device (use my iPod for that).

The higher-end CPU and hardware of the Nexus 7 is very appealing....lol this is gonna be a hard decision .

There's more than just music that takes up space, you know. Tablets are great for watching videos, but video takes up a lot more space than music. And I've heard people with Android phones with the same capacity as the $200 Nexus 7 16GB complain that they're running out of space just from their apps. Some games are quite big, for example.

Originally Posted by Syndrome

I'm with the Martian on this one. SD slot or bust. The Nexus 7 is faster though. and it has a standard USB plug, while the samsung has its stupid proprietary one.

The proprietary cable is a valid point, although it hasn't been an issue for me.

Originally Posted by McDougal

Is it possible to update Android on the Samsung?

http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/gal...GT-P3113TSYXAR
http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Galaxy.../dp/B007P4VOWC

The one on the Samsung site says Jellybean 4.1, and the one on Amazon says ICS 4.0, so I would think that if you got the one from Amazon it would be upgradable. But I don't think it's a terribly big deal even if it wasn't upgradable...there's still about half of all active Android devices that are on Gingerbread, so ICS is just fine. Mine's running ICS and I am happy.

I think unless you up your budget for the higher-capacity Nexus 7, the Samsung would be better. IMO, of course....

[The DarkSide]

Originally Posted by McDougal

Is it possible to update Android on the Samsung?

No, it's not. I sold mine, and it's still stuck in the stone age. Get the Nexus 7,...OR a SG Tab 7.0 Plus.

[Syndrome]

Originally Posted by The DarkSide

No, it's not. I sold mine, and it's still stuck in the stone age. Get the Nexus 7,...OR a SG Tab 7.0 Plus.

Not even if you root it?

[The DarkSide]

Originally Posted by Syndrome

Not even if you root it?

Yes, if you root it you can put ICS on it. I forgot,...McD is a nerd,...kinda like the rest of us.

But the Nexus 7 is the better prospect where hardware and longevity are concerned. I'd get one if I can grab a 3G enabled model,...the iPad mini would go IMMEDIATELY!!!

[Marvin the Martian]

Originally Posted by The DarkSide

Yes, if you root it you can put ICS on it. I forgot,...McD is a nerd,...kinda like the rest of us.

But the Nexus 7 is the better prospect where hardware and longevity are concerned. I'd get one if I can grab a 3G enabled model,...the iPad mini would go IMMEDIATELY!!!

But.....but....

Originally Posted by The DarkSide

Yup, but I personally don't like Android.

[FreeZ5]

It's my understanding that the Samsung is upgradable. You can see that some folks have had problems after the upgrade at the following forum (remember that people tend only to post if they had problems).

http://www.thegalaxytabforum.com/ind...droid-version/

Steve

[The DarkSide]

Originally Posted by FreeZ5

It's my understanding that the Samsung is upgradable. You can see that some folks have had problems after the upgrade at the following forum (remember that people tend only to post if they had problems).

http://www.thegalaxytabforum.com/ind...droid-version/

Steve

We weren't discussing the SG Tab 2,...it was the first generation. The one I OWNED,... Read up on it, as there's no "official" update.

Next,...

[Syndrome]

Originally Posted by The DarkSide

We weren't discussing the SG Tab 2,...it was the first generation. The one I OWNED,... Read up on it, as there's no "official" update.

Next,...

Rockbox isn't 'official' on a sansa clip either.

[McDougal]

I did some research and made my decision. Because the Nexus 7 has better hardware, and I'll probably have this tablet for a couple of years, I've decided on the Nexus.

But, I'm waiting until March to make my purchase, so I can get the 32GB version. I believe the Nexus 7 32GB is more future-proof, so it's the best choice IMO.

Thanks guys for the help, and I'll post pics next month when I get it.

[Marvin the Martian]

Interesting, comparing the Nexus 7 specs to those of my tablet which dates back to the fall of 2011.....

Not that much different really....

http://www.phonearena.com/phones/com...ones/7143,6455

[Jeven]

What would you need local storage for, beyond a few gigs for apps?

The Nexus 7 is way better and gets updates automatically - Key Lime Pie in the Spring, bring it on.

[Marvin the Martian]

Originally Posted by Jeven

What would you need local storage for, beyond a few gigs for apps?

As mentioned before, music, videos, any number of things. There isn't Wi-fi everywhere, and cellular data plans in the North America are a huge rip-off....so the cloud is not an option for everyone.

Originally Posted by Jeven

The Nexus 7 is way better and gets updates automatically - Key Lime Pie in the Spring, bring it on.

The automatic updates are nice, yes.

Originally Posted by McDougal

Can anyone tell me more about Android rooting? Is it kinda like jailbreaking iOS?

This should explain it better than I could....
http://www.androidpolice.com/2010/04...android-phone/

[McDougal]

Can anyone tell me more about Android rooting? Is it kinda like jailbreaking iOS?

[nathan]

I say wait a bit before getting an Android tablet. Mobile world Congress is 3 weeks away and many manufacturers are debuting tablets there. Samsung is rumored to be announcing the Galaxy tab 3 (both 10 and 7 inch) and an 8 inch Galaxy note. Google I/O isn't that far away either (May) which there be a very good chance they'll be releasing a tablet to replace the Nexus 7. Rumors have it that the new Nexus will be lighter than the Nexus 7, have a 1080p display and Tegra 4.

[The DarkSide]

You didn't hear??? Google & Motorola are working on the X Phone,...I can't wait!!!

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-19736_7...out-the-phone/