Google Officially Discontinues Nexus 7 Tablet

An anonymous reader writes: Google's 7-inch tablet has disappeared from the Google Store, where a note in red type simply states that the device is no longer available for purchase. "The Nexus 7 was first released back in 2013, so it's fair to say it had a good run. The Android-based tablet received great reviews, but what really made it a long-term success was the fact that it was affordable and continually received updates from Google. Manufactured by Asus, the Nexus 7 was even treated to Android Lollipop, the latest version of the operating system, although not with bug-free results. The discontinuation shouldn't come as a big surprise, however, as Google pulled a similar move back in March with the Nexus 5 smartphone, not to mention the Nexus 9 tablet's release last fall."

Comments

"although not with bug-free results"

[bill_mcgonigle]

If Google can't even make Lollipop work on its own hardware, how much of an endorsement is that for other manufacturers to put their efforts into Android? Clearly it's not because Google is underfunded.

Re:"although not with bug-free results"

[drinkypoo]

2) The 2013 Nexus 7 (often referred to by its internal codename, flo), using a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro (APQ8064), pretty much the same as the Snapdragon 600 at a slightly lower clock speed. This runs Lollipop well due to newer hardware. This is the device that was just discontinued.

Well, it runs 5.1 well. Many users, including myself, had problems with 5.0 on the Nexus 7 2nd. I had it murder the battery for no reason, and it was generally chunky and unresponsive. 5.1 seems to have solved that, though.

Re:No mention of iPad in the summary?

[gstoddart]

there are many high-quality Android tablet alternatives in every form factor imaginable, the Nexus 7 isn't needed so much

I'll tell you why that's patently untrue.

A Nexus 7 was essentially guaranteed to get the Google branded Android, with no customizations and other crap by the manufacturer.

I don't care what Samsung or any other vendor has created in terms of their own stuff, their own store, and crap which is going to be unsupported or prevent me from getting updates.

With Google dropping a Nexus 7, everything is now likely to be a version of Android in which someone has decided to add their own crap -- primarily with the intent of collecting ad revenue or their own store.

I want none of this crap. I want a vanilla Android. Not the shit Samsung or any other vendor has foisted on it.

A Nexus device means you will have proper support from Google. Not be stuck with whatever shit the marketing department somewhere else came up with.

So now the question becomes when I want to replace my Nexus 7 if I buy a Nexus 9, or I buy a low end iPad.

Because I have no interest whatsoever in a non-standard Android.

Luck of the draw

[barlevg]

My 2012 N7 is still going strong (if a bit sluggish under Cyanogenmod 11). And I've heard from a few iPad owners who've had their devices die within months. Consumer electronics is a crapshoot--sometimes your device is essentially immortal (got a 2005 Dell Inspiron that's still doing great), sometimes it dies well before its time. I'd love to see aggregated statistics for median longevity for various tablets from various manufacturers. Would guess that the N7 wouldn't top the list, but would also guess it wouldn't be on the bottom either.

Re:No mention of iPad in the summary?

[gstoddart]

No, all you did is miss my point about how I'm uninterested in building my device from a kit.

I don't want to buy it, root it download a new OS for it .... because I simply don't have any interest in it.

Will this magical thing perform its own updates and provide a mechanism to keep it up to date?

Sorry, the only "ignorance" I see here is you consistently suggesting I do exactly what I've already said I'm not interested in doing.

Fucking open source people always think people are willing to jump through hoops to install this shit.

What part of I don't want to fucking install a different OS on a device I've bought is beyond your comprehension here?

By the time we're talking about rooting it, putting on a boot loader, and installing another OS ... we're well and truly into the "I don't want to play this stupid fucking game". And yet you keep saying it.

I want a piece of consumer electronics, not some fucking make work hobby project.

So why don't you get it through your head that my idea of fun is not having to manually be involved in maintaining my tablet at this level? Because it's a waste of my damned time.

Nexus 7 (2013) Best All Around Tablet Ever(so far)

[nevermore94]

I know that many will disagree with me, but I still think that the Nexus 7 (2013) was the best all around tablet ever made. I have owned 5 tablets (3 different 7", 2 different 10") and my Nexus 7 (2013) is the only one that I still use on a daily basis and I would recommend it to anyone to buy (if they still can). I just bought my mom one last month. It has been the perfect size for me, just small enough that I can easily throw it in a jacket pocket or palm it while walking down the hall to a meeting, and big enough that I can show a coworker some information on the screen during the meeting or a watch a movie on a plane. The price/performance ratio has been unmatched by any other tablet that I have ever encountered. Nice wide full HD high resolution screen and stereo speakers for movies, 2GB of RAM, plenty fast processor, and no unnecessary bloated custom software. My only complaint ever has been the lack of a MicroSD slot that 3 of my other tablets had. Due to the 4:3 resolution the Nexus 9 never interested me.
I really hope that Google will be announcing a suitable successor at I/O this year.