Related Articles
The follow-up to the Nexus 7 has already leaked extensively, but it looks like the Google-branded tablet could be about to lose one of its initial major selling points: the dirt-cheap price.
US retailer Best Buy has jumped the gun on Google’s announcement later today, posting pre-order pages for the new Nexus 7 — or Nexus 7 II as it’s fondly been dubbed — in both 16 and 32GB sizes.
All the details of the new tablet are present, including expected specs such as a quad-core Qualcomm processor, a higher-resolution display, a 5-megapixel rear camera and of course, Android version 4.3.
The most interesting tidbit however is the price. Best Buy wants $230 (about £150) for the 16GB Nexus 7 2, and $270 (roughly £176) for the 32GB option. That’s more expensive than the current Nexus 7, which costs $199 in the US from Google Play for the 16GB model, or $249 for the high-capacity model.
In the UK the 16GB Nexus 7 costs £159, or £199 for the 32GB option.
These higher prices are by no means a cast-iron guarantee that the next Nexus 7 will indeed be pricier than the current model — Google could sell the tablet cheaper from its own store for example, or the UK price could be different to keep it in line with the current edition. But this launch-day pricing from a large, big-name retailer like Best Buy certainly suggests we’ll see a bump in cost.
The new tablet has already shown up in an extensive unboxing video, so if you want to get a gander at it, you don’t need to wait until Google’s press conference. If you fancy seeing the big G talk up its new toy — and hopefully some details surrounding Android 4.3 — then follow CNET’s coverage live from just before 5pm.
Are you excited for the next Nexus 7? Let me know in the comments, or on our Facebook wall.
