Google Nexus 7 vs. Kindle Fire, Nook Tablet, and Galaxy Tab 2 7.0

As expected, Google unveiled its own 7-inch tablet today at the start of the company’s I/O conference. Asus is helping Google build its tablet, co-branded once it’s available in mid-July. Google’s Nexus 7 is clearly going head-to-head with other low-cost Android tablets, including Amazon’s Kindle Fire and Barnes & Noble’s Nook Tablet — but how do they compare?

The Nexus 7 has the specs advantage when it comes to its processor, featuring a quad-core Tegra 3 — the first 7-inch tablet to do so. Google is also shipping the Nexus 7 complete with the company’s new Android 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system, making it the most up-to-date 7-inch Android tablet out there. There’s also a 1.2-megapixel front camera, which places it ahead of the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0’s offering, but there’s no rear camera on the Nexus 7 — so if you use a tablet to take photos then you’ll be disappointed. Unlike the rest of the 7-inch competitors, the Nexus 7 includes NFC support — but a lack of 3G connection means you’ll have to use Wi-Fi to get connectivity on this particular tablet. There’s an option for 8GB or 16GB, but at $199 for the base model it’s clear that the Nexus 7 will be a popular choice for budget tablet shoppers this summer.