Battle of the 3 Best Tablets under 10-inch (Part 1)

As 2013 draws to a close, we decided to pit three of the best tablets in recent times namely the ASUS Google Nexus 7 2013, LG G Pad 8.3 and the iPad Mini with Retina Display. Hopefully, this comprehensive comparison will help you decide which one to get.

Design and Construction

All of the three candidates are well-crafted and are every bit as gorgeous in their own right. However, when it’s all said and done, we think that the V500 and the new iPad Mini 2nd Gen gains a slight edge over the Nexus 7, mainly because of the more durable material used to fashion its body. Moreover, the top and bottom bezels of the Nexus 7 are a tad too thick for our liking.

ASUS Google Nexus 7 2013 = 0
LG G Pad 8.3 = 1
iPad Mini with Retina Display = 1

OS, UI and Apps

Much like the previous category, the software part really all boils down to preference than anything else. Of course, we can’t really compare iOS and Android as both platforms has its own advantage over the other.

That said, we’ll focus more in comparing the two Android slates in the list. And for that here are the pros and cons of the LG G Pad 8.3 and Nexus 7.

OS Version: As you would expect, the Nexus 7 Mark II has a slight advantage over the G Pad 8.3 in this criteria for the reason that it runs on Android KitKat while the latter is still on Jelly Bean. Hardware-wise, the LG’s slate can handle the latest OS version; the only question is when the update will come.

OS Update: Speaking of firmware updates, the Nexus 7 2013 will , of course, be among the first devices to get the latest patches/upgrades if ever there is one. The G Pad 8.3, on the other hand, may or may not get an update at all.

Another thing to point out is longevity. In the case of the Nexus 7 2nd Gen, as long as the hardware components can support future updates, Google will continue to seed updates for this tablet. I wish I can say the same for the G Pad 8.3, but manufacturers have a tendency to forgo software updates for older devices.

Software add-ons: If you’re not the type who likes the Vanilla Android experience, you’ll certainly appreciate the enhancements that LG added to the Optimus UI. On top of that, there are a few useful tweaks like “Knock-On” and “Quick Remote” available at your disposal.

With all the bases accounted for, we feel that Google Nexus 7 2013 proves to be the better Android tablet compared to the V500 in terms of software. The gap between the two isn’t that wide and can easily be disregarded if you’re not too particular about the OS version and updates.

Meanwhile, the iPad Mini 2 benefits from the wide array of “iPad-optimized” apps on iTunes App Store, as well as the uncluttered user experience brought by iOS 7. This makes it an obvious choice, should you opt for a non-Android tablet.

ASUS Google Nexus 7 2013 = 1
LG G Pad 8.3 = 1
iPad Mini with Retina Display = 2

Display

In this category we’ll rank the candidates based on the screen size in relation to the device’s actual size and pixel density, as well as the other aspects that makes up a good display.

Size: Of the three contenders, the LG G Pad has the biggest display which measures 8.3-inch. Next in line is the iPad Mini 2 with 7.9-inch and last is the Nexus 7 2013.

Because of the bigger display, the V500 is relatively taller than the rest at 217mm. The iPad Mini, on the other hand, has the same height as the Nexus 7 despite of the almost 1-inch difference in screen size. It also goes to show how much real estate on the front Google wasted for the N7’s thick bezel.

Resolution: In spite of having the largest panel among the group, the LG G Pad has the least amount of pixels packed inside its 8.3-inch display. Leading the pack in this category is the Apple’s horse which sports 2048×1536 resolution.

The Nexus 7 has the same resolution as the G Pad. However, the smaller screen size allows the Android slate to achieve a similar pixel density at the iPad Mini with Retina Display at 323ppi. Don’t get us wrong here, the G Pad’s pixel density is also pretty respectable. But when push comes to shove, the Nexus 7 2013 and iPad Mini 2 will definitely come on top in this regard.

Quality: All of the three candidates had a very solid outing when it comes to display quality. Viewing angles are good thanks to the IPS panel, and we didn’t have any issues using it outdoors.

Brightness: Although we didn’t encounter any issues with regards to brightness, we noticed that the Nexus 7 2013 is brighter than the other two. Our theory is backed by Anandtech’s data which shows that the new N7 goes well beyond 500 nits at its brightest.

The battle for second best is neck-to-neck with the iPad Mini 2 gaining a slight advantage with 450 nits followed by the G Pad which has max brightness of 345 nits. (Data according to PhoneArena).

It’s a close call, but based on the data the iPad Mini with Retina Display comes up on top in this segment, followed by the Nexus 7 which is comes in a close second place.

ASUS Google Nexus 7 2013 = 1
LG G Pad 8.3 = 1
iPad Mini with Retina Display = 3

The first part of our two-part Battle of the three best tablets under 10-inch ended as a one-sided affair in favor of the iPad Mini with Retina Display. Will Apple’s slate come away victorious or will the Android contenders rally back to bring home the bacon? Stay tuned for the second part to find that out.