Reviews on Tablets: Review of HTC Google Nexus 9 – the first tablet to Android 5.0

Nexus line has received wide popularity due to the good relationship between price and quality, as well as the use of the Android operating system without any add-ons. This year’s new models are particularly important Nexus for Google, since they first come out with OS Android 5.0 Lollipop. But there is one more thing: and the Nexus 6, and the hero of this review – the tablet Nexus 9, markedly increased in price compared to its predecessors. With the Nexus 6, we shall understand more, but for now let’s see what interesting things in Nexus 9. In fact, besides the higher price compared with the Nexus 7, the tablet is a joint project of Google and HTC, which they created the very first Nexus.

line HTC Google Nexus 9

Tablets in the

model in the line: 6

Price Range: 7999 – 9999 UAH

Package

BVZ_0177

Nexus 9 comes in a compact box with rounded corners. Inside, apart from the tablet, you can find a short user manual and charger unit and USB cable for it.

Design and materials

For the first time in the line of Nexus Tablet in the new model uses 8 9-inch display with an aspect ratio of 4: 3. This, of course, greatly affected the appearance of the device. The proportions it is closer to the iPad mini, but in terms of design to distinguish the Google tablet from Apple will be not difficult.

At the Nexus 9 housing highly elongated due to the broad scope of the top and bottom of the display. Its front panel covers the protective glass Gorilla Glass 3, sides made of polished metal, and the back part of the matte soft-touch plastic. The tactile sensation of working with the tablet pleasant. Traditionally, for devices of this class can not remove the rear cover. The materials the body as a whole has no complaints, there is nothing unusual, but they are high quality.

As for the design, this tablet is atypical device for HTC, given its recent smartphones. Externally Nexus 9 is more like an enlarged Nexus 5, especially if you look at its back cover and the camera unit.

This continuity style looks a little strange against the background of a completely different design Nexus 6, but nothing repulsive in appearance Nexus 9 no. As for the tablet device came out nice.

Ease of use

Dimensions Nexus up 228,25h153,68 9 × 7,95 mm and weighs 425 grams (436 grams in a version with LTE) . Weight of the device makes it comfortable to hold it with one hand, and the sizes, in spite of the increase compared to the Nexus 7 diagonal, can not be called great.

According to and large 8.9-inch tablet in Google immediately took aim at the segment in 10- and 8-inch models. And judging by the senses, it is a really good compromise version, which is still a fairly large screen fit in a compact package.

Frames display Nexus 9 thinner at the sides and top and bottom increases. Despite this, one hand to hold the device can be both vertically and horizontally. In the latter case on the tablet comfortable to play and watch videos. The stereo speakers are located on the front panel so that they get a horizontal orientation directly beneath the arms. However, due to its location in the recess, close them – it’s not an easy task.

BVZ_0172

This engineering approach does allow not only block the dynamics, but also amplify the sound, but other than that, they also contribute to the deepening of tamping into the holes of dust.

The left side is completely empty Nexus 9.

BVZ_0129

power key and volume control located on the left side.

BVZ_0125

About them should write separately because their implementation leaves much to be desired.

The fact is that the buttons are hardly protrude from the body, and if you turn on the screen, you can simply tap it with your finger, then adjust the volume very uncomfortable. Keys not only recessed, their course and more bad there.

BVZ_0126

On the bottom you can find 9 Nexus port microUSB, and on top – 3.5 mm headphone jack.

BVZ_0130

The main control tablet realized via the touch screen. It is quite large and responsive, so as not to feel discomfort when working with the interface Android 5.0. Except for unsuccessful volume keys, then use the Nexus 9 overall comfortable.

Display

As has been described above, Nexus is the first tablet 9 Google, and one of the few on the market, which established a 8.9-inch display with an aspect ratio of 4: 3. It is based on IPS-matrix with a resolution of 2048×1536 pixels, which in view of the diagonal forms a pixel density of 281 per inch.

BVZ_0156

The display Nexus 9 good color, it provides almost 100% coverage of the color space sRGB.

2014-11-24 13-06-01 HCFR Colorimeter - [Color Measures1]

The color temperature is in the range of 6000-6500K. The screen gives warm colors.

2014-11-24 13-05-49 HCFR Colorimeter - [Color Measures1]

Gamma slightly underestimated.

2014-11-24 13-05-10 HCFR Colorimeter - [Color Measures1]

The color balance is stable across the entire range, while in color settings a bit green color stands out.

2014-11-24 13-05-39 HCFR Colorimeter - [Color Measures1]

The maximum display brightness is 392 cd / m2, and minimum – 9.6 cd / m2.

As a result, it may be noted that the display is the Nexus 9 copes fine. Aspect Ratio 4: 3 makes it comfortable to read on the Nexus 9 books, magazines, and surf. As for the video, the user will either stretch the image to fill the screen, or black bands top and bottom of the image.

Platform and Performance

In 9 Nexus, HTC has established one of the most productive at the moment chips – NVIDIA Tegra K1 with 64-bit architecture, 2-core processor with 2.3 GHz and graphics Kepler DX1. Memory in the Nexus 9 is 2 GB, and can be built-in 16 GB or 32 without the possibility of extension. Despite the fact that Android 5.0 has been extended API and the third-party applications have full access to external drives in Nexus 9 no slot for memory cards microSD.

As for the performance, and in real life, and in the synthetic tests Nexus 9 shows very good results. At the moment – it is one of the most powerful tablet on the market. Another thing is that NVIDIA Tegra K1 download on Android today almost nothing, bad games optimized for resolution of 2048×1536 pixels, they are scaled by him, but loses much of its detail. In addition, apparently, the same bad software optimization leads to a noticeable body heat Nexus 9 in games that Tegra K1 on other devices copes without any problems. Hand tablet obpekaet not, but after a few minutes of the game in Real Racing 3 keep it becomes not so comfortable.

Camera

In the Nexus 9 installed an 8-megapixel camera with an aperture of f / 2.4 and LED flash. Despite quite good performance, the camera in the Nexus 9, as in the case of other tablets, behind the quality of smartphones. Slowly, she focuses and noise at the slightest deterioration lighting.

However, with a good light from it is possible to achieve acceptable quality photos.

Interface

Nexus 9 is the world’s first tablet, which is being launched simultaneously with the new mobile operating system of Google – Android 5.0. Her review you can find on this page. Interface in tablet OS is the same as in smartphones, except for a small adaptation to larger displays.

For example, the list of options and cards in Google Now displays two columns.

Google Apps also became better fit for large screens, which can not be said of the third-party applications. Many of them still have an interface designed for use with smartphones. In toga, some programs simply stretch to full screen. For example, looks so Facebook.

Screenshot_2014-11-23-22-33-14

In Finally, work with Android 5.0 on a tablet as pleasant and comfortable as on a smartphone, but the developers would be worth to optimize their programs.

Media

Out of the box Nexus 9 can play MP3 audio formats / WAV / eAAC +, as well as video DivX / MP4 / H.265. For normal operation with other formats should use a third-party player.

Screenshot_2014-11-23-22-33-49

On the headphones tablet produces sound in good quality, with a margin of normal volume. In addition, the front panel Nexus 9 installed external stereo speakers HTC technology BoomSound. Their volume is at a level slightly above average, and for some reason they distort the bass.

Autonomy

In the Nexus 9 used nonremovable battery capacity of 6700 mAh, which, according to the manufacturer , should be enough for 9.5 hours in the browser when Wi-Fi-connected.

In this case, the plate showed 3 hours screen at high load. Thus, in normal operation autonomy Nexus 9 to be missed on the day of 1.5-2.

As a result,

It can be noted that the new partnership Google and HTC has resulted in an interesting tablet, which has outstanding characteristics. Nevertheless, taking into account the cost of the Nexus 9 on the Ukrainian market and a number of flaws in it, this tablet looks less attractive purchase, compared to Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 and Apple iPad mini 2. Thus, Nexus 9, in the first place can be recommended those users who, strange as it may sound, ready to pay for a clean Android 5.0, as well as fans line Nexus.

Liked:

+ Design

+ Display

+ Performance

+ Autonomy

+ Android 5.0

Do not like:

– Volume key

– The heating body

– There is no slot for memory cards

– Optimizing Applications