Google Nexus 7 vs Samsung Galaxy Note

We see how the Samsung Galaxy Note ‘phablet’ compares to Google’s brand new Nexus 7 slate.

Form

Google Nexus 7 - 198.5x120x10.5mm, 340g
Samsung Galaxy Note - 146.9x83x9.7mm, 178g

At first it might seem a bit daft that we’re comparing a tablet to a smartphone, but when you consider the size difference between the two is only a couple of inches the line between phone and tablet really is beginning to blur here.

Google’s Nexus 7 is built by Asus, a manufacturer we’ve come to expect excellent build quality from and with this flagship Android Jelly Bean device the company doesn’t disappoint. It’s as robust as any of Asus’ own Transformer tablet devices with the same high-level of fit and finish.

The back panel has been rubberised and textured to ensure it won’t slip out of your hand during use and round the edge of the device is a sturdy metal bezel.

The front looks much like any other 7-inch slate but the proportions are decent-looking – Asus has made the screen bezel narrower on the longer sides while still keeping it a fairly standard thickness along the sorter edges.

This does give it more of a smartphone-like style and could mean it’s easier to grip in landscape view than portrait mode, though we doubt the portrait orientation would give you much trouble really.

The Nexus 7 measures 10.5mm thick so it’s a fairly svelte device and at only 340g it’s one of the lighter tablets out there.

The Samsung Galaxy Note takes many style cues from its smaller Galaxy S2 cousin and considering that particular device looks as contemporary as ever (despite being usurped by the Galaxy S3) this can only be a good thing.

The proportions are much the same, although scaled up, meaning it has a thin bezel along the edges and wider sections at the top and bottom of the front panel. In fact, there’s more than a passing similarity to the Nexus 7’s shape albeit in a slightly smaller package.

Overall the handset has a very solid feel to it and seems well-built, although the back panel is very thin, springy and plasticky when you remove it, but when it’s actually seated on the device it doesn’t detract from the otherwise ‘premium’ finish.

The back panel also has a textured surface making it both attractive and easier to hold. Naturally being a smaller device the Note is also thinner and much, much lighter device than the Nexus 7 at 9.7mm and 178g respectively.

Both form factors are very solid and well put together as well as being highly portable while having flattering proportions and styling.

It has to be said, however, that the Galaxy Note is certainly the more portable of the two being smaller, thinner and lighter and yet still boasting a sizeable 5.3-inch screen.

Of course, that is still a compromise as you lose a few inches from the Nexus 7’s larger display, as well as other factors such as the difference in processing power, which we’ll come to in more detail later.

In the end, these are equally viable on form factor due to the quality of build and design.

Winner – Draw