Tech spec showdown: the new Nexus 7 vs. iPad mini

Summary: Comparing the technical specifications for Google's new small tablet -- and Apple's current one.

Photo illustration: Andrew Nusca

If you haven't heard, Google today announced a revamp of its Nexus 7 tablet computer, which is manufactured by Asus and was first introduced at this time last year, during the company's I/O developer conference.

The upgrade strengthens its hardware bona fides against Apple's iPad mini, formidable in its own right since it was released late last year.

How do they compare? See below.

Operating system

Google Nexus 7 (2013): Android 4.3 Jelly Bean

Apple iPad mini (2012): iOS 6 (for now; iOS 7 is coming this fall)

Display

Google Nexus 7: 7.02-inch (diagonal) display at 1,920-by-1,200-pixel resolution. That's 323 pixels per inch.

Apple iPad mini: 7.9‑inch (diagonal) LED-backlit, multi-touch IPS display at 1,024-by-768 pixel resolution. That's 163 pixels per inch.

Processor

Google Nexus 7: 1.5 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro

Apple iPad mini: 1 GHz dual-core A5

Video

Google Nexus 7: 1.2 megapixels in front, 5 megapixels in back. HDMI.

Apple iPad mini: 1.2 megapixels in front, 5 megapixels in back.

Memory

Google Nexus 7: 2 gigabytes

Apple iPad mini: 512 megabytes

Storage

Google Nexus 7: 16 gigabytes, 32 gigabytes

Apple iPad mini: 16 gigabytes, 32 gigabytes, 64 gigabytes

Audio

Google Nexus 7: Dual-stereo speakers with Fraunhofer surround sound

Apple iPad mini: "Built-in"

Connectivity

Google Nexus 7: Bluetooth 4.0, dual-band Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, NFC

Apple iPad mini: Bluetooth 4.0, dual-band Wi-Fi, 4G LTE

Battery, life

Google Nexus 7: Up to 9 hours of HD video playback, 10 hours of web browsing or e-reading

Apple iPad mini: Up to 9 hours of surfing the web using cellular data network; up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi‑Fi, watching video, or listening to music.

Battery, charging

Google Nexus 7: Wireless or USB to computer.

Apple iPad mini: Power adapter or USB to computer.

Carriers (U.S.)

Google Nexus 7: Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile

Apple iPad mini: Verizon, AT&T, Sprint

Price (U.S.)

Google Nexus 7: $229 (16GB Wi-Fi), $269 (32GB Wi-Fi), $349 (32GB 4G LTE). Ships July 30.

Apple iPad mini: $329 (16GB Wi-Fi), $429 (32GB Wi-Fi), $529 (64GB Wi-Fi), $459 (16GB 4G LTE), $559 (32GB 4G LTE), $659 (64GB 4G LTE). Available now.

Of course, that's just part of the story-these devices will (and should) be more than the sum of their parts. We'll find out more once we can compare them side by side, in the flesh.

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