The new Google Nexus 7 (2013) has been released in the UK (on 28 August) with a starting price of 199.
The tech press was treated to a first hands-on look at the device, which sports the same 7in form factor as the original, on 8 August. However, key components - including the display, processor and RAM - have been enhanced.
The second generation tablet will be the first device to ship with Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean) and it is now available to buy from the Google Play store and select retailers, as of 28 August.
Google And Asus also confirmed the pricing for the range. The Nexus 7 (2013) 16GB Wi-Fi edition will cost 199, while the 32GB Wi-Fi model will cost 239.
The Nexus 7 32GB with Wi-Fi and LTE (4G) will be priced at 299.
The screen now packs a 1920 x 1200 resolution (323ppi). Asus has switched from Nvidia's Tegra 3 chipset to Qualcomm's S4 Pro 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon processor and doubled the RAM to 2GB.
Asus also introduced a 5-megapixel camera on to the rear to accompany the 1.2-megapixel snapper on the front.
Hugo Barra, VP of Android product management, said the original Nexus 7 had been a big hit and was confident the sequel will prove equally as popular.
"Having a crisp, bright display makes a huge difference. It's the world's highest resolution tablet," he said during the launch.
"It's almost 2mm thinner than the original Nexus 7. We kept the same screen size but its 6mm thinner and 50g lighter. It makes a huge difference when holding it with one hand."
The CPU is 80 per cent faster and the GPU is four times as powerful as the Nexus, Barra continued.
Other core features include HDMI output, 4G, NFC and wireless charging. Barra claimed battery performance hasn't taken a hit but has instead been improved. The new Nexus 7 will offer 9 hours of HD video playback and 10 hours of web browsing.
In the US Best Buy is offering a 16GB Wi-Fi model priced at $229.99 (149.99) which is in-line with the base price point of the original. The 32GB Wi-Fi model will retail at $269 and the 32GB 4G model is priced at $349.
Google and Asus will be hoping to avoid a repeat of the problems that dogged the US launch of the device earlier this month, which saw tablet buyers complain about the erratic behaviour of its touch screen.
Further to this, Nexus 7 users also flagged issues with its GPS settings and the functionality of its keyboard.
- This article was originally published on 25 July 2013 updated on 9 August to include the newly confirmed UK release date and price points, and on 28 August to include information about technical difficulties some users have experienced with the device.
