Unboxing the Nexus 7

Unboxing the Nexus 7

Nexus 7 Unboxed! Finally.

Unboxed: Google Nexus 7

It’s been a while since I was last excited for an Android tablet. Android is making huge strides for smartphones but their OS still isn’t ready to compete with iOS on the tablet platform. However the Google I/O presentation of the Nexus 7, especially with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, got my hopes up again. The promise of a smoother and faster Android experience on a tablet was definitely promising so I was thrilled when the Nexus 7 finally landed on our doorstep a few days ago. We’ll put this through the paces and give you a full review in a few days but for now we’ll share our unboxing.

Before that let’s do a quick refresher on the stats, as well as the official promotional video.

Google Nexus 7 Promotional Video “Camping”

Google Nexus 7 Spec Sheet

  • Quad-core Tegra 3 processor
  • 1GB RAM
  • 8GB or 16GB internal storage, no micro-SD slot
  • WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
  • Bluetooth
  • 7-inch 1280×800 HD display (~216 ppi)
  • Scratch-resistant Corning glass
  • 1.2MP front-facing camera (no rear-facing)
  • 4325 mAh Battery
  • Microphone
  • NFC (Android Beam)
  • Accelerometer, GPS, Magnetometer, Gyroscope
  • 198.5 x 120 x 10.45mm
  • 340 grams
  • OS: Android 4.1 Jelly Bean

Ridiculously hard to unbox, lol

We’ve unboxed hundreds of products in the last few months and I have to say that the Google Nexus 7 is one of the hardest unboxing experiences ever. I don’t know if Google and ASUS just wanted to make sure that the tablet was secure or they don’t realize that unboxing is part of the over-all customer experience, lol. Anyway, what made it hard?

Getting that printed carton cover off is a hassle

The box as a carton cover that tightly hugs the inner box. Pushing the actual box out of it our pulling the cover is hard.

The black box. Not in the picture is the black tape of doom underneath.

Next there’s the “black tape of doom”. The actual black box has tape underneath it that’s impossible to remove unless you have a knife. Lastly opening the actual box is a feat in itself. It’s so tight that we ended up just shaking it until the lower part became loose enough for us to pry it open, lol.

Freeeeedooooooooooom! Finally unboxed it.

Still don’t believe me it’s hard to unbox? Watch the video below which shows a montage of different tech blogs and writers trying to unbox the Google Nexus 7. I share their pain, haha!

Okay let’s get to the Tablet!

After removing the lid of the box the first that will greet you is the Nexus 7 tablet covered in thin, glossy, and transparent plastic. If you’re used to 10-inch tablets like the iPad, this will look much smaller. However that’s not really a bad thing as you’ll find out when you start using it.

Meet the Google Nexus 7!

The design of the body of the Google Nexus 7 is simply topnotch. You will not feel that this is a product you paid $200 (here in the PH 8GB models sell for Php13,000) for. The rubberized back helps a lot with the grip and it definitely doesn’t feel cheap at all. The actual screen is gorgeous as well with no physical buttons. In fact the front part is all screen save for the 1.2-megapixel camera at the top part.

Back of the Nexus 7
Nexus 7 side view

For the physical controls there are only actually two on the right side. One for the sleep/wake and the other one is the volume rocker. At the bottom you’ll find the micro USB port (for charging and data transfer) and the headphone jack.

What else is in the box? Charger, micro USB to USB cable, and a bunch of manuals.

Lightweight Form Factor

The Nexus 7 is very slim and lightweight. It weighs just 340 grams which is almost half of how much the new iPad weighs (652 grams). It’s also slightly lighter than the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus (345 grams) but the difference is not that much. The form factor and the weight lends itself to being more portable and prolonged usage. Let’s face it: your arms will get tired with 10-inch tablets unless you put it on the desk/table. WIth the Nexus 7 you can have long reading or browsing sessions without getting “arm fatigue”.

Display and Project Butter

We’ve only been using it for around two days now but we’re definitely impressed with how much the user experience has improved compared to previous Android tablets. The animations and transitions are much more smoother, probably thanks to Google’s Project Butter which came with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. There’s still lag every now and then though, especially if you use live wallpapers, but it is still a “major major” improvement.

Set-up screen! Got Google?
Nexus 7 review coming soon! Watch out for it!

The 7-inch 1280×800 HD display is also pretty great considering the price you’re paying for this tablet. The difference is obvious when you put it side-by-side the new iPad’s Retina Display but don’t think that it’s bad. In fact the display on the Nexus 7 can wipe the floor with almost all other 7-inch tablets in the market today. Colors are crisp and vibrant and this is reflected in the photos, images, and videos.

Full Review Coming Soon

As far as initial impressions go, we’re definitely happy with the Nexus 7. Our only worry right now really is the lack of the microSD slot. This is a huge deal because most of the Google media streaming services are not yet available here in the Philippines. Unless you’re the creative, innovative, and determined techie type that will find workarounds, this is issue can be a pain in the ass.

Watch out for our full review in the next few days!

Nexus 7 is available at WidgetCity

To those asking where they can buy the Nexus 7 here in the Philippines, WidgetCity is offering the 8GB model for Php13,500. It’s priced higher than the $200 primarily because of shipping, taxes, and of course some profit for them. If you can’t wait then you might want to order from them. Here’s the link to their FACEBOOK PAGE and a link to their WEBSITE.

Good combo. Galaxy S3 with the Nexus 7. 50GB of Dropbox storage will definitely help with the Nexus 7. x.x

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