Google Nexus 7 Tablet Review

Are you looking to buy the Google Nexus 7 Tablet? We test out the Google tablet to see how good it is, how easy it is to use, and how child-friendly the Nexus 7 tablet really is.

Here’s how we got on in our Google Nexus 7 review.

What Does The Google Nexus 7 Tablet Look Like?

What Were Our Initial Impressions Of The Tablet?

As a gadget-loving household, it shouldn’t have really come as a massive surprise that Eliza feels the same about brand new shiny electronics as her Mum and Dad do. Despite very limited screen time, she picked up how to use the iPad incredibly quickly.

So when we were sent the Nexus tablet to test out how user-friendly it is for the purposes of this post, I was curious to see how easy it is for children to use too.

We were sent the Google Nexus 7 tablet, the 16GB version, with a 1.2MP front camera, in black.

What We Liked About The Google Nexus Tablet

• The size and weight – the Google Nexus 7 has a 7inch screen, so is very portable. It’s a perfect size, inbetween the iPad and iPhone. This makes it small and light enough to use lying down in bed without turning into Flat Stanley
• It uses Chrome as the default browser, and combined with the screen size makes it ideal for internet use. There’s a 1280 x 800 pixels resolution screen so video also looks great
• You can do some pretty cool things with the home screen (as well as apps, you can have live widgets with the news, time, weather, RSS and so on). As it’s a Google tablet it integrates really well with Google features

What We Didn’t Like About The Nexus 7 Tablet

• It’s not quite as intuitive and easy to use as the iPad (but that may have a lot to do me never having used an Android device before)
• And because it’s not quite as intuitive, I’m sure there’s a whole load of other things and shortcuts it does that I have no idea about. Sure I’ll work it out soon though

What Is The Battery Life On The Google Tablet?

• The battery life seems good. While I wouldn’t say it’s there’s the 9.5 hours Google claim it has, it does seem to last a while

Is It A Baby Tablet? How Easy Is It For Kids To Use The Google Tablet?

• My toddler found it very easy, and was quickly swiping across the screens and opening apps. She also found and opened YouTube within seconds.
• But can she turn it on and off by herself? Well, no. Unlike the iPad, which has the central control button, the on / off switch is to the side and she’s not quite sussed that out yet.
• This is a good thing, so we can easily tell her it’s broken so she can’t use it (although I’d actually rather she used the tablet than watched any TV, as she’s learning so much that will be useful for the future, and it requires much more skill, coordination, interactivity and brain power than just staring at a screen).

What Apps Are Available For The Google Nexus 7 Tablet?

• The Google Nexus 7 runs the Jelly Bean Android operating system
• You can download apps – both paid and free –  from Google Play. Most major apps, including lots for children, are available (and all the Peppa Pig ones, which is very important). Y
• You can’t do FaceTime, which she’s used to from Apple devices,
• but the front camera means you can use Skype if you have an account.

Would I recommend the Google Nexus 7 Tablet..and would I buy it for use by children?

Yes! I found it easy to use, especially for web browsing. The best thing is the size and weight, making it very portable. And for children? It’s cheaper than an iPad so you don’t have to be quite so anxious about sticky hands or getting it ruined. If you were trying to decide between buying purpose-made tablet for children (e.g. the Kurio or Leap pad-type ones) I’d go for this one every time, as it does everything these do – and more – but is also suitable for adults. If you’re in the market for an iPad Mini but don’t want to pay the price it’s a fantastic alternative for this size.

How Much Does The Google Nexus 7 Costs And Where Can I Buy The Google Nexus 7 Tablet?

It costs £159.99 and you can buy it from here.

(affiliate link).

Once you’ve read this post, read these:

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