Ever since the iPad Mini came out, small tablet users want to know where they should get a great-quality 7-inch tablet. Three of the popular ones are Google's Nexus 7, Amazon's Kindle Fire HD, and of course Apple's iPad Mini.
Spec Comparison
The Nexus 7 has a 7-inch IPS LCD screen with 1,280 x 800 pixels resolution. It runs on Nvidia Tegra 3 processor and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. It has 8/16GB onboard storage and 1GB of RAM. It has a 1.2 megapixel front-facing camera and features NFC and GPS. It has 10 hours of battery life. The 8GB sells for $199 and the 16GB sells for $249.
The new Kindle Fire HD 7-inch tablet comes in 16Gb or 32GB. It runs on a custom Android operating system. It has a 1280 x 800 HD display with polarizing filter and anti-glare technology for rich color and deep contrast from any viewing angle. It features Dolby audio and dual-driver stereo speakers. Amazon says that its dual-band, dual-antenna Wi-Fi does 40 percent faster downloads and streaming compared to the iPad 3. It has a 1.2 Ghz dual-core processor with Imagination PowerVR 3D graphics core with free unlimited cloud storage for Amazon content. It also has reduced screen glare. It costs $199 for the 16GB model.
The iPad Mini has a 7.9-inch IPS LCD screen and run on Apple's new iOS 6 software. It is 23 percent thinner than the fourth-generation iPad, according to USA Today. It has a display screen resolution of 1,024 x 768 and has a 35 percent larger display area than the Google Nexus 7, and is 67 percent larger to surf the Web. It has a A5 dual-core chip, 5 megapixel iSight camera on the rear of the tablet which can shoot 1080p HD video, 4G LTE and Wi-Fi support as well as the new Lightning connector available on the iPhone 5. It comes with a FaceTime HD camera and 10 hours of battery life. It has Wi-Fi that is twice as fast as previous generation iPads. It will sell for $329 for the 16GB model.
Let's Figure It Out
Both the Kindle Fire HD and Nexus 7 tablets are cheaper than the iPad Mini for the 16GB. Both displays are also better than the Apple small iPad.
In spec comparison iPad Mini vs Nexus 7, Information Week announced the iPad Mini to be the winner because it's thinner, lighter, LTE 4G and has more storage options. But the price is "significant enough that it's hard to call a clear winner." The LTE adavantage is also over the Kindle Fire. The Nexus 7 and Kindle only offer Wi-Fi only options.
Allvoices.com said that the Amazon will continue to compete with competitors because of its vast online warehouse of more than 18 million e-books, songs, movies, and TV shows, as well as Android apps.
"Kindle Fire HD is here to stay and will go toe-to-toe on competitors like the iPad Mini, Google's Nexus 7 or the Nook from Barnes & Noble. So, Kindle Fire HD and iPad Mini should fair well because of well laid infrastructure behind them, and I would say Nexus will struggle in the future."
A spec comparison by CNET determined that the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HD tablets are the best options because of higher-resolution HD screens so that text, images, and videos are sharper and "more pleasing to the eye." Also, those on a budget will appreciate the lower starting prices.
CNET writer Jacqueline Seng said that the iPad Mini is "definitely out."
"Like my colleague Aloysius Low, I'll giving the iPad mini a miss due to the low-res screen, which doesn't justify its high price tag," Seng said. "However, there are many people out there who covet the sleek, aluminum looks of Apple's products, as well as those who have already purchased a lot of iOS apps. Our misgivings probably wouldn't stop them from standing in line for the mini tablet."
Reuters reported that the iPad Mini's price tag of $329 was higher than many analysts expected and they think "the gadget might struggle to compete with the cheaper Amazon Kindle Fire and Google Inc's Nexus 7, which have prices starting in the $159-$199 range." Also, they think that the device may also lure buyers away from Apple's flagship 10-inch tablet.
According to Reuters, Nomura Equity Research said that "Demand for Google's Nexus 7 and Amazon's Kindle Fire is unlikely to be much affected by the launch of the mini given the significant price gap."
However, Apple will enjoy a nice holiday season with its new iPad Mini and it's sure to bring in new customers who may not be able to afford the other more expensive iPads.
Also, in new reports, the first batch of the white iPad Mini tablets sold out quickly. According to eWeek, Apple's website swapped out the Nov. 2 shipment date just 20 minutes after the tablets went on sale. It now has a date two weeks past the order date. As for the black iPad Mini version, the device is still listed as shipping by Nov. 2.
So, out of these three tablets, which one is best for you? Sound off below!