The renewed version of the Nexus 7 is an improved version of this one, so mind that this review is for the former version of the same product. However, many of the wonders of this handy tablet are still a trademark of the new versions.
This a very portable device, light and small to carry around but also big enough to have a roomy screen to read, watch videos, play video-games, browsing, emailing and so forth.
The screen has one of the highest resolutions out there, even though it is not the latest tablet in the market, and the images are crisp, neat and the colours vivid and wonderful. Touching is intuitive and responsive with most things, a bit sluggish with games and that is the game's fault (tested by me!)
The 32GB memory allows you to download and play comfortably medium-sized games and apps and it is more than enough for every day use. The 1GB RAM memory is OK (the new model has 2GB), I would have liked it bigger, but I have never found a problem with this one despite using the tablet daily for many different purposes and having many apps running at the same time.
This tablet is extremely easy to use, with barely two buttons to operate. The upper one is Power/Standby button, and the lower is Volume/Up and down. The only tricky thing is to introduce the SIM card in the almost invisible lateral card slot.
I find this tablet perfect for travelling regarding portability and because it has both wi-fi and 3G, so you can swap then to your liking. I usually use free wifi spots while holidaying or travelling, and the wi-fi works smoothly. I use the 3G SIM card at home with a data plan and a times, and with my router's wifi at others. In short it is very versatile!
If you a regular book reader this is also a fantastic tablet. I have a proper Kindle device and I have barely used since I bought this tablet. Kindle for Android is way nicer, way colourful, way neater, way clearer, and way better for your eyes than the original Kindle or Kindle Paperwhite, and the only decent option if you read graphic novels or illustrated books on a regular basis.
My tablet has fallen onto the floor several times, bounced like a hero, and I have never had a problem with the screen, in fact, not even a scratch! Perhaps it was the carpet :O
DOWNSIDES
> The old version of the tablet, mine, has no expandable memory as there is no SD card slot. However, 32 GB is a lot for a tablet. I have tons of apps, many of them quite bulky, and I've never felt I needed more. If you are a serious gamer, well, you might need much more!
> The battery takes a while to recharge. If it is completely empty you will need about 5-6 hours. The battery lasts about one day of full use if you are connected to the Internet and keep it in standby, but it runs out quickly if you play games.
> Unlike the new Nexus 7, the model I have has no frontal camera or phone capability (beyond Skype via web), so you cannot install messaging programs like LINE, WhatsUp, WeChat, you cannot take photos (just of yourself with the front camera) and cannot install programs like Instagram.
> The sound is clear, great with earphones, but not its best feature. However, if you don't use these, you will notice that the clarity and sound volume varies depending on the position of your tablet, especially if you are moving or frolicking around in bed, as the sound's speaker is just a tiny one a the bottom of the device. Move your table around until you get the sound as it should be!
> The main problem I had in the past are problems associated with the updates of the OS. I have had three major upgrades of Android since I bought it. The first two upgrades improved immensely the performance of my tablet and I was extremelly happy. That was until the Lollipop upgrade. As this is an 'old' tablet, the new system is slugging my system down and affecting responsiveness to touch. Moreover, the device used to start-up in about 10 seconds, and now it takes one minute on the clock!
> The battery is not removable or accessible, and no life expectancy is mentioned anywhere.
TIPS
> When you first buy this, the 3G does not work, as the device uses wi-fi for initial settings. That is the tablet's bossy decision! So, even though my 3G SIM card was properly inserted and activated, the device would not set up. Use a free wifi spot in your city if you don't have wi-fi at home.
> You reboot by "constantly" pressing the Power button for at least 15 seconds. The machine will reboot then. I have rarely found necessary pressing the button 15+ seconds. Simple trick, but it works every time!
> Ditto if after recharging overnight your tablet does not switch on by the normal slight pressing of the Power button. Don't panic. Press if for at least 15 seconds, and problem solved.
> Avoid using landscape mode unless necessary (games and some graphic books use it by default, so there is no way around that) because I have found this setting to be associated with a series of crashes that rarely happen while using portrait mode.
> Press the Power and Sound buttons at the same time to take a screenshot of your screen. Forget those stupid apps asking you to root your tablet's system, blah blah blah. There is no need!
> Use the Sound button to pass page in your Kindle (tick that option in the Kindle settings) if you want.
> The tablet gets hot while gaming. Use a cooling surface as a support, a table hard mat, or a hard-cover book, a china tray will cool down the machine fast.
***
Despite its age, and not being the latest 'it' thingie, this tablet is well designed and it is way superior to many of the tablets in the same price range, or over, regarding versatility and quality. Even more expensive tablets have worse features and less screen resolution than this 'old' Nexus 7. I use this tablet all the time, and no major problem to this day, despite me having travelled with it to many many countries and carrying it with me every single day in my bag.
I absolutely love my Google Nexus 7! Asus is the builder of this table, so Kudos to the compmany for producing such a sound awesome piece of gadgetry.
