Google Nexus 10 Review

The Google Nexus 10, the third piece to the Google trinity of current Nexus devices is here, accompanied by the Nexus 4 from LG and the Nexus 7 from Asus. As Google's 10-inch offering, the Samsung made Nexus 10 takes on the iPad with Retina display head on, boasting the highest resolution screen around. Thanks to its advanced dual-core processor and the most powerful mobile GPU available, it’s also competitive spec-wise and at £319 for the 16GB version, cost-effective too. It's going to be good, but is the Android tablet ecosystem mature enough to make it the best tablet out there?

Google Nexus 10 review - Design

As with the Nexus 7, Google has opted for plastic with its Nexus 10. On first impression, it feels slightly hollow, however the material is rich in the hand. With a comfortable tactility, the semi-matte back contrasts nicely with the high-gloss fascia and it’s as light as it needed to be for a 10-inch slate. Almost Palm-like, with a Pre/TouchPad aesthetic, it’s a refreshing change from angles and lines we see all too often.

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Being 603g with extremely soft parameters, everything from the weighting to the corners and the contoured back make this tablet a hand’s best friend when in landscape. The plastic finish Samsung has opted for provides excellent grip, meaning the Nexus 10 is one of the few 10-inchers out there that can comfortably be used one-handed.

Despite being just 8.9mm thin, somewhere between the Asus Transformer Prime and the Apple iPad 4, the Nexus 10 is longer than either and when held in portrait is noticeably more top-heavy.

We’re overjoyed to see an HDMI port on the right hand side of the tab, though can’t help but find it ironic that in using it, we’re effectively downsampling our image to 1080p from the Nexus 10's incredible 1600p. On the left of the tablet is a micro USB port and 3.5mm headphone jack while up at the top is a power button and volume rocker. The rear facing camera is surrounded by a rubberised mount that can be removed to make way for the folio case and down below is a dock connector.

Google Nexus 10 review - screen

It’s the screen that really sets apart the Nexus 10 from the competition. Thanks to its 2560x1600 pixel resolution and PPI of 300, Samsung and Google have a class leader on their hands. It’s sharper than the iPad with Retina display and clarity is also better than any other Android tablet, including the Asus Transformer Pad Infinity. With great brightness levels, outdoor viewing and extremely wide viewing angles, in isolation, we can’t fault it.

Side by side with other tablets and it still wins on the clarity stakes. Fine text is ever so slightly more nuanced than even the iPad with Retina display and everything looks head and shoulders above all other Android tablets other than the Transformer Pad Infinity which doesn't trail too far behind. Where the Nexus 10 packs less punch is in terms of vibrancy. Next to the iPad, it’s ever so slightly less saturated at max brightness. 

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