iPad vs. Nexus 7: Which Wins in a Tablet-Destruction Derby?

March 23, 2018 Apple, Gadgets, iPad, Mobile, Nexus 7, tablets, Tech, youtube

Google’s latest and greatest Android tablet — called the Nexus 7 — is a slick, lightweight and easy to use device according to early Mashable tests. It’s lightning fast, a great video player and costs much less than the new iPad. Then again, the iPad which is widely seen as the tablet world’s gold standard, comes with super-sharp retina display and has that cool Apple cache.

But which device is more durable?

To find out, SquareTrade, an independent warranty provider, just put the Nexus 7 and new iPad through a series of three destructive tests. All three scenarios were modeled after easily encountered real-life foibles. First, the devices were dropped from chest height, then from tabletop height and finally they were dunked in a bathtub.

All three tests are captured in the freshly uploaded YouTube video above. The Nexus 7 proved to be the more hearty tablets in all three instances.

When dropped from chest height, the Nexus 7’s screen appeared fine although it suffered some minor scuffs to its black backing. The iPad’s backing didn’t come out much worse for wear but its screen cracked big-time. Dropped from table height, the Nexus emerged with small dings but remained largely intact. One corner of the iPad sustained major damage (in both drops, it seemed to fall onto one corner) but this time its screen was unscathed.

But the most surprising result came from SquareTrade’s underwater test. The iPad’s visual display and touch screen continued to work after submersion, but all audio functionality disappeared. The Nexus 7, however, came back to dry land working totally fine.

How much abuse to think a tablet should reasonably be expected to withstand? Do the results of this video surprise you? Share with us in the comments.

BONUS: Nexus 7 Review

Google Nexus 7 Tablet Review

Google Nexus 7

The Nexus 7 is essentially Google’s answer the the Amazon Kindle Fire — a 7-inch tablet priced at $199 that’s based around media consumption. In almost every respect, the Nexus destroys the Fire.
Home Screen — Library Widget

The Library widget on the home screen shows the media stored on the device. If you’ve interacted with any of it lately, those titles will be prominent.
App Array

Here’s what the your app screen looks like on the Nexus 7.
Default Google Apps

All the Google-made apps are accessible from a folder on the home screen.
Video Playback

The video player is very responsive, and videos look good on the 1,280 x 800 display.
Browsing Movies

Here’s what browsing movies is like in Google Play
Movie Title

The information you see when you select a particular title.
Magazine Browser

The magazine browser is fast and fluid.
Magazine Browsing, Landscape

Landscape mode allows for a few more titles to fit on the screen.
Magazine Navigation

You navigate by pairs of pages, not single ones, an odd choice — until you realize it forces you to look at more ads.
Magazine Page

Here’s how a typical magazine looks on the Nexus 7. Although layouts look great, they lack some of the interactive features that some magazines on the iPad have.
Text View

If the layout of a magazine is bothering you or it’s too unwieldy, you can switch to Text View.
Magazine Content, Landscape

Here’s a magazine rendered in landscape mode.
Book Collection

The books on the device appear against a white background, with no shelves in sight.
Book Reading View

Here are the options you see while reading a book. They disappear quickly if you don’t touch the screen, leaving only the text.
Book Reading, Landscape

This is how a book looks when you’re reading in landscape.
Music Playback

The Google Music player isn’t nearly as intuitive as iTunes, but it’s passable.
Launching Google Now

You launch Google Now by sliding your finger up through the app-page icon.
Google Now

The Google app automatically brings you local information and weather.
Google Now, Landscape

Google Now fits a little more on the screen in landscape.
Chrome

This is how the Chrome browser looks on the Nexus 7.
Chrome Menu Zoom

Chrome helpfully lets you zoom in big on hard-to-tap menu items.
Google Maps

The Nexus 7 renders those 3D Google Maps just fine.
Maps With Local Results

The execution here is very slick.
Nexus 7, Backside

The leather-like back of the tablet makes it easy to hold.
Right Side

The Power and Volume buttons are the only hard buttons on the device.
USB Port

On the bottom, the Nexus 7 has a USB port for charging and data I/O.
Left Side

Not much here, except for those four metallic dots, which could be used for future accessories.
Top

Also very clean
Versus iPad

Here’s the Nexus 7 alongside a retina iPad.
Nexus 7 Packaging

The colors on the package are vibrant.
Made by Asus

Asus’ branding is smaller than Google’s on the device, but the charging plug makes it clear who made the Nexus 7.