Retina iPad Mini vs. Google Nexus 7: Spec Showdown

Apple has finally unveiled a Retina display version of its iPad mini, one year after the original model's release—which was right about when people first started complaining that the iPad mini's screen wasn't sharp enough. Apple also gave a serious boost to the internal hardware, thanks to the new A7 chipset, and introduced a new gray color option.

That said, when Google updated its popular Nexus 7($99.99 at Amazon) tablet earlier this year, it really made people stand up and take notice. At just $229, the Nexus 7 offers a full high-definition display, quad-core processing power, accelerated Nvidia-powered 3D graphics, and 16GB of internal storage in each base model. Now that Apple has sharpened up its iPad mini, which one should you get?

This is a tougher comparison than it first appears. Right out of the gate, the Nexus 7 is $170 less expensive than the iPad mini with Retina Display—it's a little more than just half of what Apple's tablet costs. The iPad mini's 7.9-inch display features 2,048-by-1,536-pixel resolution, which is exactly the same as the iPad Air's except in a smaller display size. In comparison, the Nexus 7 has an almost-as-sharp 1,920-by-1,200-pixel, 7-inch screen. The slight variations in numbers add up to almost identical pixel densities of 323ppi (Nexus 7) and 326ppi (iPad mini), a difference that's impossible to see in real life. Suffice to say that both tablets display ultra-crisp text and graphics.

The Nexus 7 is also a bit smaller and lighter than the iPad mini, and by some measures is more comfortable to hold. As is almost always the case with Android-powered tablets, the Nexus 7 display has a theater-style aspect ratio of 16:9, while the iPad mini continues with its more traditional 4:3 display. That makes browsing Web pages and reading books easier when holding the iPad mini in portrait mode, because you have more screen width to work with. But it's also a bit less pocketable—although we're talking overcoat pockets here, not pants pockets—and while the iPad mini has an admirably thin bezel, it's also a little tougher to hold as mentioned above, since there's barely any place for your thumb to rest without accidentally touching the display.

Both tablets come with 16GB of storage at the indicated prices, and have 32GB versions available for $40 more (Nexus 7) and $100 more (iPad mini). With the iPad mini, you can even buy 64GB and 128GB versions, although at $599 and $699, they're mighty expensive.

Other similarities: Both tablets also feature 5-megapixel rear cameras and 720p-capable front-facing cameras for video chats and selfies. Both have 4G LTE versions available on a variety of carriers, for $80 more (Nexus 7) and $130 more (iPad mini). But there's no Sprint version of the Nexus 7, and Verizon models still aren't widely available at the time of this writing. Regardless, Apple being the more expensive of the two is a running theme here, as you can see.

The final, and perhaps largest difference, has to do with apps. Apple has over 475,000 iPad-optimized apps in the App Store. Google has a tiny fraction of that available for Android tablets, although it counters by saying that all regular Android phone apps still look good when expanded to fit the Nexus 7 display—a claim we agree with in some situations and not others, depending on the app. And at just $229 for the Nexus 7, how important access to Apple's app catalog is for you could be the deciding factor as to whether to spend the extra money.

So which tablet do you prefer: the iPad mini with Retina Display or the Google Nexus 7? Let us know in the comments below.

Apple this week also unveiled a new flagship tablet called the iPad Air, as well as the new Mac Pro and an updated lineup of MacBook Pros. For more, check out PCMag's hands on with the iPad Air and iPad mini With Retina Display.