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AI-generated summary
A former Apple addict, I’m increasingly drawn to the products of the formidable Big Brother: Google. After leaving my iPhones behind I ventured into the Nexus world. I find Android genuinely messier than iOS, but definitively more efficient. Everything moves faster on Android — you share information between apps with surprising ease. Anyway, I won’t go on about the Android ecosystem in this article; there’s a time for everything.
Why the LG Pad? My previous tablet was a Nexus 7 — fast, well-built. But something was off: the screen size. While the 7-inch form factor is probably the most comfortable for reading novels, you quickly feel cramped when browsing the web or reading magazines. After looking at all the 8-inch tablets, the only one that kept the Nexus 7’s strengths — speed and a “retina” display — was LG’s latest.
A quick tour: this tablet is well-built. It’s nowhere near Apple’s standards (neither is the price), but you get your money’s worth. The body is plastic except for part of the back which is aluminium — it looks nice, though it does get cold in winter 😉 The bezels are thin, much thinner than on the Nexus 7. It’s light enough that you forget you’re holding it during long reading sessions.
LG’s custom skin is one of the best I’ve tried. It stays clean without being as intrusive as Samsung’s. My only complaint: the notification bar is too cluttered… and you can’t configure it, which is a shame.
The screen: This is the tablet’s sensitive spot. The resolution is perfect — you can’t tell the difference from the Nexus 7’s “retina” display — but the colour accuracy leaves something to be desired. The white has a strong yellow tint, which is annoying. That’s the only real black mark on the tablet; hopefully the problem only affects certain units. One more thing: the screen picks up fingerprints quite heavily.
Battery life: This is a weak point of the tablet — and a weak point of many Android devices too.
Battery life is slightly worse than on the Nexus 7, which is a shame because I already found that one a bit tight. With heavy use — browsing, a bit of YouTube, exploring the system — I got through a full day before it died.
The price: €250 is what you’ll pay if you buy before December 31st 2013, thanks to LG’s €50 rebate offer. Wait too long and you’ll pay full price: €299. At €250 I think this tablet beats the Nexus 7, but if you have to pay full price, you’re probably better off going with the Nexus.
What about the iPad mini?
It’s hard to compare — the iPad mini is much better built, as is the case with all Apple products. Comparing the iPad and the Pad is really comparing iOS to Android. One objective point of comparison is the screen. The Apple tablet opts for a 4:3 ratio while the Pad is 16:9. It all comes down to personal taste; I personally prefer 4:3 for web browsing.
