If you're on a quest for a new mini tablet, the brands "Nexus" and "Galaxy" might have caught your attention. Or, more specifically, the new 2013 Nexus 7 and the Galaxy Note 8.0 might have made the cut for your shortlist.
Size
The Note 8 is six percent taller and 19 percent wider
The first thing you'll notice on the store shelf is that the Galaxy Note 8.0 is the significantly bigger tablet. Specifically, it's six percent taller and 19 percent wider than the Nexus 7.
The Note 8, however, is an extremely thin tablet. It's eight percent thinner than the Nexus 7.
Build
Both tablets are made of plastic, though you get a matte black on the Nexus 7 and a glossy white or brown for the Note 8.
Weight
The Nexus 7 is 14 percent lighter, but both tablets are relative featherweights
As the smaller tablet, it's no shock that the new Nexus 7 is 14 percent lighter than the Galaxy Note 8.
Display
The Note 8's screen is quite a bit larger, but the Nexus 7's is much sharper
Screen size is one of the advantages for the Note 8. It's noticeably bigger (the Nexus 7's screen only gives you 77 percent as much area), and it also has physical/capacitive navigation keys. The Nexus 7's onscreen navigation bar means apps' usable area is even less than that 77 percent.
Screen resolution, however, is a huge advantage for the new Nexus 7.. Despite that smaller screen, the Nexus gives you 125 percent more pixels than the Note 8 does.
Processor
Both processors are speedy, but the Nexus 7's has an edge in overall performance
There's little to worry about with either tablet's processor, but the Nexus 7's Snapdragon S4 Pro is going to deliver slightly faster performance.
RAM
RAM is all tied up, at 2 GB a pop
Good to see that neither Asus nor Samsung skimped in the RAM department, as each tablet packs a healthy 2 GB.
Storage
Storage is an advantage for the Note 8
The Note 8 gives you a bit more storage, with 32 GB and 64 GB base options, with the addition of a micro SD card slot.But Nexus doesn't.
Wireless
Samsung will sell you either a Wi-Fi only or Wi-Fi with LTE version of the Note 8. So far there's only a Wi-Fi version of the new Nexus 7, though Google says we'll see a 32 GB LTE model eventually.
Battery
The Note 8 has a higher capacity battery, and should deliver slightly longer battery life. We wouldn't say battery life is a concern on the Nexus 7, but when you have a razor-sharp display and an ultra-portable form factor, it's hard to also deliver industry-leading battery life.
Cameras
Camera pixel counts are similar
Both cameras are pretty much par for the course for tablets. Adequate rear cameras for the occasional shot, and HD video for the front-facing cameras.
Stylus
The Galaxy Note's S Pen stylus might change how you use your tablet
This is probably the biggest reason to choose the Note 8 over the Nexus 7. If you like working with a styus, Samsung's S Pen is tightly integrated with the Note's software, letting you transcribe handwriting, jot notes, and get an overall more precise level of control.
Infrared
The Note 8 has an infrared blaster, so you can use it as a remote control for your TV
If you like to use your tablet as a TV remote control replacement, then look no further than the Note 8. The Nexus 7 doesn't have an IR blaster on board.
NFC
The Nexus 7 has an NFC chip
If you want to transfer files to a nearby device with a quick bump – or be prepared in case NFC payments ever catch on – then the Nexus 7 has an NFC chip. Samsung skipped NFC on the Note 8. Probably not a deal-breaker for most of us. But it still would have been a nice bonus, considering the Note's higher price (more on that in a moment).
Software
The Nexus 7 runs Android 4.3 and gives you stock Android, while the Note's TouchWiz opens ...
Both devices run Android at the core, as well as the Google Play store and the standard suite of Google apps.
The Nexus 7, though, runs the latest version of Jelly Bean, and also runs stock "Pure Google" Android. The Galaxy Note 8.0 has the glitzed-up Samsung TouchWiz UI on top. We typically prefer stock Android, but the S Pen integration has TouchWiz, in this case, actually offering some improvements.
Starting prices
At $230, the 2013 Nexus 7 is an excellent value
Right now you can snag the Note 8 for US$20 less than its suggested retail (both directly from Samsung and at Amazon). But even at $380 it's still much more expensive than the new Nexus 7.
Wrap-up
How important is a stylus to you? Are you willing to sacrifice sharp screen resolution and an extra $150 in order to have that tight S Pen integration? If so, then you'll probably want to take a long look at the Galaxy Note 8.0.
But if a stylus isn't that important to you, then the Nexus 7 offers a razor-sharp display, an ultra-light form factor, and a rock-bottom price. The only other real sacrifice is screen size, so if you can live with that, then the Nexus 7 is probably the best tablet value on the market right now.
Size
The Note 8 is six percent taller and 19 percent wider
The first thing you'll notice on the store shelf is that the Galaxy Note 8.0 is the significantly bigger tablet. Specifically, it's six percent taller and 19 percent wider than the Nexus 7.
The Note 8, however, is an extremely thin tablet. It's eight percent thinner than the Nexus 7.
Build
Both tablets are made of plastic, though you get a matte black on the Nexus 7 and a glossy white or brown for the Note 8.
Weight
The Nexus 7 is 14 percent lighter, but both tablets are relative featherweights
As the smaller tablet, it's no shock that the new Nexus 7 is 14 percent lighter than the Galaxy Note 8.
Display
The Note 8's screen is quite a bit larger, but the Nexus 7's is much sharper
Screen size is one of the advantages for the Note 8. It's noticeably bigger (the Nexus 7's screen only gives you 77 percent as much area), and it also has physical/capacitive navigation keys. The Nexus 7's onscreen navigation bar means apps' usable area is even less than that 77 percent.
Screen resolution, however, is a huge advantage for the new Nexus 7.. Despite that smaller screen, the Nexus gives you 125 percent more pixels than the Note 8 does.
Processor
Both processors are speedy, but the Nexus 7's has an edge in overall performance
There's little to worry about with either tablet's processor, but the Nexus 7's Snapdragon S4 Pro is going to deliver slightly faster performance.
RAM
RAM is all tied up, at 2 GB a pop
Good to see that neither Asus nor Samsung skimped in the RAM department, as each tablet packs a healthy 2 GB.
Storage
Storage is an advantage for the Note 8
The Note 8 gives you a bit more storage, with 32 GB and 64 GB base options, with the addition of a micro SD card slot.But Nexus doesn't.
Wireless
Samsung will sell you either a Wi-Fi only or Wi-Fi with LTE version of the Note 8. So far there's only a Wi-Fi version of the new Nexus 7, though Google says we'll see a 32 GB LTE model eventually.
Battery
The Note 8 has a higher capacity battery, and should deliver slightly longer battery life. We wouldn't say battery life is a concern on the Nexus 7, but when you have a razor-sharp display and an ultra-portable form factor, it's hard to also deliver industry-leading battery life.
Cameras
Camera pixel counts are similar
Both cameras are pretty much par for the course for tablets. Adequate rear cameras for the occasional shot, and HD video for the front-facing cameras.
Stylus
The Galaxy Note's S Pen stylus might change how you use your tablet
This is probably the biggest reason to choose the Note 8 over the Nexus 7. If you like working with a styus, Samsung's S Pen is tightly integrated with the Note's software, letting you transcribe handwriting, jot notes, and get an overall more precise level of control.
Infrared
The Note 8 has an infrared blaster, so you can use it as a remote control for your TV
If you like to use your tablet as a TV remote control replacement, then look no further than the Note 8. The Nexus 7 doesn't have an IR blaster on board.
NFC
The Nexus 7 has an NFC chip
If you want to transfer files to a nearby device with a quick bump – or be prepared in case NFC payments ever catch on – then the Nexus 7 has an NFC chip. Samsung skipped NFC on the Note 8. Probably not a deal-breaker for most of us. But it still would have been a nice bonus, considering the Note's higher price (more on that in a moment).
Software
The Nexus 7 runs Android 4.3 and gives you stock Android, while the Note's TouchWiz opens ...
Both devices run Android at the core, as well as the Google Play store and the standard suite of Google apps.
The Nexus 7, though, runs the latest version of Jelly Bean, and also runs stock "Pure Google" Android. The Galaxy Note 8.0 has the glitzed-up Samsung TouchWiz UI on top. We typically prefer stock Android, but the S Pen integration has TouchWiz, in this case, actually offering some improvements.
Starting prices
At $230, the 2013 Nexus 7 is an excellent value
Right now you can snag the Note 8 for US$20 less than its suggested retail (both directly from Samsung and at Amazon). But even at $380 it's still much more expensive than the new Nexus 7.
Wrap-up
How important is a stylus to you? Are you willing to sacrifice sharp screen resolution and an extra $150 in order to have that tight S Pen integration? If so, then you'll probably want to take a long look at the Galaxy Note 8.0.
But if a stylus isn't that important to you, then the Nexus 7 offers a razor-sharp display, an ultra-light form factor, and a rock-bottom price. The only other real sacrifice is screen size, so if you can live with that, then the Nexus 7 is probably the best tablet value on the market right now.
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