Analyst predicts a new Nexus 7 for I/O release that I would love to buy
Analysts often make all kinds of predictions when an event like Google I/O is coming up, but few have the success and historical accuracy of Mingchi Kuo. Although you can never know with these sort of predictions, Kuo is well connected and has been reliable in the past. As a result, his report on what the new Nexus 7 by Google will look like has me quite excited.
Most importantly, the price will stay the same at $199, but that isn’t too bold of a prediction. What is most interesting to me is the massive display upgrade to a 7-inch 1,920 x 1,200 resolution panel, which would result in a 323ppi pixel density for a true 7-inch high-res display. Interestingly, if the display is increased to a 7.5-inch panel, the pixel density would be almost exactly the same as the Nexus 10.
Kuo does say that the bezel of the Nexus 7 will be getting smaller with this new version, but perhaps the device will remain about the same size and the display will get a bit bigger. While this would theoretically not impact portability, a slightly larger display could help the new Nexus 7 better compete with the larger iPad, and that is a change that I would welcome.
In addition to the new display, the updated Nexus 7 is said to be running Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, which makes sense based on other reports we have seen. Other hardware upgrades include a rear 5MP camera, wireless Qi charging, and a larger 4,000mAh battery. While these upgrades make a lot of sense and aren’t too surprising or groundbreaking, they will be quite welcome. Qi wireless charging across more Nexus devices simply makes sense, and the rear facing camera was blatantly missing from the first Nexus 7.
Sadly, there is no mention in this rumor of expandable storage or HDMI out capabilities for the Nexus 7. I’m coming to terms with the fact that Google doesn’t seem to be in favor of removable storage anymore, but I don’t see why the new Nexus 7 (or, potentially, the 2013 Nexus 7) can’t have an MHL port like the Nexus 4. However, despite these few shortcomings, on the whole this rumored Nexus 7 has me quite excited. Especially if the display is upgraded as expected, I’ll probably be buying the new Nexus 7 the first chance I get.
Would you be happy if Google released a Nexus 7 with these specs, or are you hoping for something else in Google’s next small tablet? Let us know in the comments.
[9to5Google]
