Andy Shaw finds out whether Google’s latest Android tablet can challenge the iPad’s supremacy.
Google’s first tablet, the Nexus 7, provided an affordable alternative to those unwilling to spend a small fortune on an Apple iPad. It paved the way for a variety of great-value Android tablets including the recently launced Hudl2. But it seems that with the Nexus 9, Google is using a very different strategy to compete with Apple’s iPads.
Build quality
The Nexus 9 doesn't quite match the iPad's design quality, but it’s not far off. It's the best-looking Android tablet we've handled to date, and feels very well built. The rear casing comes in a choice of three colours (black, white or gold, with the latter exclusive to the 32GB version), which feels soft to the touch and doesn't bend or flex when put under (reasonable) pressure. However, it’s made from matt plastic, which isn’t as classy as the iPad Air’s metal case, and while the Nexus 9’s brushed metal edges, minimal buttons and cut-back ports gives it a pleasingly sleek look, it means there’s no microSD card slot for expanding the memory capacity.
At 8mm, the Nexus 9 is as thin as the original iPad Air, though Apple has made the new Air 2 even thinner (6.1mm). It weighs 425g, which places it between the iPad Air and the Mini 3 (reviewed on page 22).
QXGA screen
The widescreen aspect ratio usually seen on Android tablets has been ditched for the iPad’s squarer 4:3 ratio. Movie buffs may be appalled, because it forces more black surround on widescreen video, but most other applications are improved at this ratio, particularly web browsing in landscape orientation, where you get the benefits of maximum horizontal width without losing so much vertical depth.
We were concerned that Android games developed for widescreen tablets might suffer, but they were resized without a problem on every title we tested. The screen’s QXGA resolution (2,048 x 1,536 pixels) makes for a pixel density of 264 pixels per inch, which is just as good as Apple's Retina iPad Airs. The level of detail on screen is superb, with everything from images to text looking crisp and sharp.
We used a hardware colour calibrator to detect the range of colours displayed by the Nexus 9. It measured an impressive 93.8 per cent of colours available in the sRGB standard, which is even better than the latest iPad Air 2 (which scored 90.1 per cent). It's also one of the brightest displays we’ve seen, with a maximum brightness measuring 466.4cd/m2. This makes it easy to read, even if you are out in the sunshine where screen glare can be a problem. The darkest black level was impressive, too, getting down to 0.38cd/m2, which makes for an excellent contrast ratio of 1,224:1.
Performance and speed
The Nexus 9 managed a time of 908.8ms in our SunSpider JavaScript browser benchmark, which is a respectable score but by no means spectacular. It was significantly slower than the iPad Air 2, which performs the test in 295.8ms - the fastest mobile device we've tested for browser speed. But in regular use we didn’t experience any slowdown, with quick loading and smooth scrolling even on graphics-heavy sites.
Performance in our gaming test was much better. Using the Ice Storm Unlimited benchmark, the Nexus 9 clocked-up a score of 25,621, which is faster than both the iPad Air (14,821) and the iPad Air 2 (21,548). The only tablet we’ve seen perform the test faster is the Nvidia Shield Tablet, which is specifically designed for gamers and scored 27,000.
Software and hardware
The Nexus 9 is one of the first devices to launch with Android 5.0 Lollipop. Because it’s a Google tablet, it runs a pure version of the operating system, without any of the (mostly unwanted) extra bits and bobs that you often find on other manufacturers’ devices. Android 5.0 has a flatter look, and there are slick new menus and animations that look great on the tablet’s screen. For example, Notifications uses a Google Now-style interface, designed to look like you’re flicking through cards. It’s a definite improvement over the previous version.
Most people use phones rather than tablets to take photos, and the 8-megapixels camera on the Nexus 9 isn’t likely to change that. We found its snaps produced muted colours and lacked sharpness. In low light, a lot of detail was lost in the shadows.
The tablet’s front-facing speakers are more impressive, though, with HTC’s BoomSound technology used to great effect. They produce the best sound we’ve heard on a tablet and can be turned up surprisingly high.
But the best news is that the Nexus 9’s 6,700mAh built-in battery, which produced excellent battery life in our video playback test. With the tablet in Airplane mode, and the screen brightness and volume set to halfway, we managed 15 hours and 57 minutes before the battery gave out. That’s around three and-a-half hours more than the iPad Air or iPad Air 2 in similar tests.
Value for money
At £319, the 8.9in Nexus 9 costs the same as the 16GB version of Apple’s original iPad Air, a device with a 9.7in screen that recently fell in price following the release of the Air 2. It’s also the same price as the new iPad Mini 3, which has a smaller 7.9in screen.
However, that’s just for the 16GB model, and it’s a very a steep jump to £399 if you want the 32GB version. Even Apple only charges £359 for the old 32GB iPad Air, and the same price increase on an iPad Mini 3 will get you 64GB.
VERDICT
The Nexus 9 is the best Android tablet we've ever seen. The screen is wonderful, the speakers are great, the battery life is fantastic and the build quality and design are better than everything bar the iPad Air. It’s not without its niggles, but if you want a powerful Android tablet, then right now nothing else competes. We still think the iPad Air 2 is a nose ahead, but if you’re a fan of Android, you can now buy a tablet without feeling you’re getting second best.