Tablet Faceoff: Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 vs. Google Nexus 7

If an 8-inch stylus-enabled Samsung Galaxy Note wasn't your cup of tea, Don’t worry, Samsung just announced a new addition to its Galaxy Tab lineup several days ago and is expected to hit shelves in this month. The Galaxy Tab 3 sports a 7-inch, 1,024-by-600 pixel display, and runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, etc. So how does Samsung’s latest – the Galaxy Tab 3 – compare to the Google/Asus Nexus 7?

Size

Compared to Google Nexus 7, The Galaxy Tab 3 promises a more sleek and stylish design that is comfortable to hold in one hand. The Galaxy Tab 3’s smaller bezel makes it about six percent shorter and eight percent narrower than the Nexus 7.

Build

Both of the two devices are made of plastic chassis. The Tab’s backside is smoother, and it also has a removable battery cover. The Nexus 7’s rear has a grippy texture to it, and can’t (easily) be opened.

Weight

Both tablets are light.

Display

The resolution of the Tab 3's LCD is 1024 x 600, which isn't much of a match for the 1280 x 800 display on the Nexus 7. The Nexus 7 is growing a little long in the tooth.

Processor

The Tab3 powers with a mystery processor, but we do know that it’s a dual core chip clocked at 1.2 GHz. The Nexus 7’s Tegra 3 is a known quantity and will almost certainly be faster than whatever mid-grade chip Samsung squeezed into this new Galaxy Tab.

RAM

Both tablets have 1 GB of RAM.

Storage

The tab 3 arrives with 8 GB or 16 GB of internal space, and up to 64 GB of additional space via a microSD card slot. The Nexus 7 comes in 16GB or 32GB of non-expandable memory.

Wireless

Samsung says the Wi-Fi-only Tab 3 will be available beginning in May, followed by a 3G model for making calls and browsing the web untethered sometime in June. Like the Nexus 7, it maxes out at HSPA+ 21 speeds (that typically means between 4-8 Mbps in real world speeds).

Cameras

The Tab 3 features a 3-megapixel rear camera, 1.3-megapixel front facer, while Nexus 7 only has a 1.2-megapixel front camera.

Battery

There probably isn’t much to worry about here. Crappy display + mid-range processor + decent sized battery should mean plenty of uptime for the Tab 3. Ditto for the Nexus 7, only with better speed and a better (but not exactly mind-blowing) display.

Software

Both slates run Android. Samsung gives you its TouchWiz UI slapped on top, but you still get Google Play, and all the fun stuff that goes along with it.

The Nexus 7’s big advantages are that it runs a newer version of pure Android, and it will always be more up-to-date than the Tab 3.

Wrap-up
Samsung didn't reveal how much the Galaxy Tab 3 will retail when it begins to arrive this month. So which do you choose? The Nexus 7 or the brand new Galaxy Tab 3? Or Wait for the 2nd-gen Nexus 7, which might be announced at Google I/O 2013 in a couple weeks. Welcome to show your opinions.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 vs. Google Nexus 7: Should You Spend the Extra Bucks for the S-Pen?

Samsung said Tuesday the galaxy note 8.0, a competitor to iPad mini and Nexus 7, will hit stores in the U.S. this Thursday. The South Korean electronics giant said the small 8-inch tablet (features S Pen stylus) will only be available in a Wi-Fi version and sell for $399, much more expensive than the rival. The model comes with 16 gigabytes of storage. So Should You Spend the Extra Bucks for the S-Pen? Several days ago, I have compared the specs and other features of the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 and Apple iPad mini and today I will continue to introduce you how it stack up against the Nexus 7.

Size

The galaxy note 8 has a large display, but is quite thinner than the Nexus 7.

Weight

The two tablets weigh roughly the same, with the Nexus 7 tipping the scale just a hair more than the Note 8.

Display

Just like their name says, galaxy note 8 features an 8-inch screen while the Nexus 7 has a 7-inch display. If you can sacrifice that (diagonal) inch of real estate, the Nexus 7’s screen should appear sharper.

Processor

Both tablets sport quad core processors. The Note’s offers better performance, but for everyday use, both will more than suffice.

RAM

In this aspect, Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 doubles the Nexus 7’s 1 GB of random-access memory (RAM).

Storage

The storage edge goes to Samsung’s tablet. It offers larger internal flash memory options and can be expanded via microSD. The Nexus 7 doesn’t have a microSD slot.

Wireless

If you’re looking for a Wi-Fi only device, both deliver. As far as (more expensive) mobile data options go, the Note has LTE and the Nexus 7 settles for HSPA+.

Cameras

Galaxy note 8 has two cameras: a 5-megapixel main camera and a 1.3-megapixel user-facing camera. The Nexus 7 has no rear camera. So if you want to take photos with your tablet, just get the Note 8. Anyway, Megapixels aren’t everything.

Battery

People always want to take battery capacity with grains of salt, as many other factors combine to determine actual uptime. With that said, the Note 8.0’s battery holds a bit more juice.

Intangibles

Since the release of the Note 10.1, Samsung has been working to improve the user experience in its Note family of tablets, adding software enhancements that probably should have been there from the get-go.

The Galaxy Note 8.0’s stylus (S Pen) sees some upgrades, with greater integration into the Note’s Touchwiz software. Unsheathe the stylus, and the Note will prepare for pen input. Hover the S Pen over the screen, and select apps will respond accordingly (like previewing a post in Flipboard).

Apart from the S Pen, Samsung’s multi-windows feature, which allows for two simultaneous apps to run on the screen, has been thankfully enhanced too. Multi window is easily the best feature on the Note 8.0, especially when you need to copy and paste something between two apps.

The Nexus 7’s X-factor is its price. The 7-inchNexus 7 exists only for $200, much cheaper than Samsung Note 8. In the software aspect, Google Nexus 7 ships with the newest version of Android (4.2.2, Jellybean). It will also get future updates much quicker than Samsung’s tablet will. The Nexus 7 also sports “pure” (unskinned) Android, which many customers prefer over manufacturer UIs.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is a stunning tablet with a truly useful stylus, but the price is a little expensive. So which is for you? Are you going to get the Galaxy Note 8.0 or Nexus 7?