Google Nexus 7 review

The first Android Jelly Bean device is the best budget tablet available on the market. The portability, performance and price are unmatched, but is it cut out for business use?

IT Pro Verdict

In terms of value for money, the Nexus 7 is unmatched. The performance provided by the Tegra 3 chipset is excellent, and even though it is not optimised for business use, the Nexus is a valuable all-round device to have, especially if you stock it up with content for the commute.

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Nothing else on the market comes close to the Nexus 7. For under 200 you get NVIDIA's quad-core Tegra 3 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 7in IPS display, Android Jelly Bean and excellent build quality. But is it a smart buy for IT pros?

Business use

Despite the beefed up specification, out-of-the-box, the device is configured for personal use, not business use.

The Nexus 7 does not ship with any productivity applications, like Documents to Go or Polaris Office. You do get the core Google apps Gmail, Play, Google+, Maps, Calendar and built-in support for all kinds of email accounts, including Microsoft's Exchange.

Google Nexus 7 - Home screen

The Nexus comes with standard Google apps pre-loaded and 15 credit for the Play Store

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The biggest omission is the lack of 3G connectivity. Internal storage is limited too, with either 8GB or 16GB and no SD-support. UK users are also unable to access Google's Music, Magazine and TV services at this time, will also pose a problem for users that demand on-the-go usability.

There's also no rear-facing camera or native camera application, meaning you'll have to make do with the low-grade 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera.

These may seem like major flaws, but they don't detract from the overall value of the Nexus 7. The 3G connectivity has been left out to keep the price down and it is possible to get around connectivity issues via tethering to your smartphone.

Google is offering 15 credit for use on its Play store. Just sign-in with your Google account and 15 is deposited on your Play account,

We'd recommend checking out Max Payne, GTA III, and Shadow Gun if you want some entertainment for the commute. Failing that, you can always use it stock up on productivity applications and make the Nexus 7 more office-friendly.

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