A Nexus 8, more or less: LG’s G Pad 8.3 Google Play edition reviewed

Google's software and LG's hardware make for an appealing, if imperfect, tablet.

Andrew Cunningha m-December 16, 2013 18:25 UTC

Enlarged photo / LG G Pad 8. 3 tablet, Google Play version equipped with genuine Android OS. Andrew Kaningham

reader comments

Recently, Google has maintained its own mobile phone and tablet lines. There are telephone, small tablet, and large tablet. There is always one device provided in each category. But Android's ecosystem is more diverse, and the largest operating system users are particular about having the most options. All kinds of form factors, huge screens, and SD card slots are common requirements. The problem is that devices other than Nexus, which support these features, do not work on the Nexus line pure and do not work on the Android of the stock, and rarely receive the operating system live update.

Further Reading

In the Google Play Edition (GPE) program, these people can eat their own cakes. However, the Google Play edition terminal is not a walle t-friendly cost of a Nexus, and has a Google style Android version without skin or brootware, and the update is quite fast. The GPE device was just eight days after Android 4. 3 appeared in Nexus, and 4. 4 was installed about two weeks after it was installed on the old Nexus device. The 6, 4-inch Sony Z Ultra is the "Nexus" that the "fablet" fans always wanted, and the LG G Pad 8. 3 is a clear space between a huge but small Nexus 7 and a giant Nexus 10. It is almost a tablet. Since we have never evaluated regular G Pad, we will explain the absolute outline of Google Play version of hardware and software.

Body, build quality, and screen: More good news than bad

The enlarged photo / G Pad (right) has a slightly improved appearance and feeling of Nexus 7 (left) in 2013. Andrew Kaningham

Features: LG G Pad 8. 3, Google Play Newspaper
screen	1920 × 1200 8, 3 inches (273 PPI) IPS LCD display
OS	Android 4. 4 kit cut
CPU	Quad Core 1, 7GHz Quarcom Snap Dragon 600
RAM	2 GB
Graphic micro processor	Quarcom Adreno320
Storage	16 GB, microSD can be extended to up to 64 GB
net	802. 11a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.
port	Micro USB, headphones, microSD
camera	Rear video camera 5 mp, front video camera 1, 3 mp
size	8, 54 "X 4, 98" x 0, 33 "(216, 8 x 126, 5 x 8, 3 mm)
weight	11, 9 oz (338g)
battery	4600 MAH
Selling price	$ 349

The s o-called "Nexus 8" was just a Photoshop accident, but if you were worried about the possibility of 8-inch Nexus, G Pad was a good comfort.

The al l-black tablet uses plastic on the side, the top, and the bottom, but the back is the dark mat metal, which looks and feels good, but is easy to fingerprint. Apple is not as strong or durable as aluminum as aluminum used in Retina iPad mini and iPad Air, but has increased tablet durability. We like the 2013 Nexus 7 al l-plastic, but if you stick to metal, G pads are a good choice.

In terms of volume, there is still a difference because it is closer to Retina iPad mini than Nexus 7, but the aspect ratio of the screen is different (16:10 for G PAD, 4: 3 for iPad). G Pad is limited than the iPad and is actually restricted, so it is difficult to hold it if you have a medium or large hand, but it is slightly larger. The weight is literally the same, but the iPad is thinner, and the difference is less than 1mm.

Enlarged photo / Nexus 7 2013, iPad mini Retina display model, G Pad 8. 3. The G Pad is slightly narrower than the iPad and is slightly larger, but the volume and weight are similar.

Andrew Kaningham

G Pad's monitor bezel is more iPad, and there are no huge upper and lower parts like the 2013 Nexus 7, and the side panels are even thinner. The iPad mini and iOS are very good at recognizing and ignoring the thumb at the edge of the monitor, but this is difficult for G Pad. Some applications ignore other inputs. Chrome worked well even after touching about on e-third of the monitor with his thumb, but the Kindle app was the most slow. Your skills may be different from us. These tasks can be avoided by paying close attention to the place where you put your big fingers, but you do not need to worry about it on the iPad.

In addition to various functions, G Pad has some functions not in Nexus 7 or iPad mini. It is equipped with a vibration motor that notifies new notifications (guaranteed tactile feedback such as keyboards). Like other LG models (Nexus 4 and Nexus 5), there is no comfortable bold like an iPhone or Moto X, but above all, it is a welcome feature. There is also a slot for MicroSD memory cards, hidden under the plastic door on the top panel of the tablet-this will be described later. However, there is no notification indicator.

G-pad (bottom) and Nexus 7 (above) have one power supply and volume adjustment buttons and the space are expanded.

Andrew Kaningham Expanding / Micro USB port is the same. Andrew Kaningham

Raise the back pavement of the upper and lower plastic tablets / but the huge share is made of a comfortable and dark matte metal.

Andrew Kaningham

The screen uses the same 1920 × 1200 permission as the 2013 Nexus 7, and in fact, it is a diagonal of 8 and 3 inches, which is 273 ppi short, but still gives a clear density. This is not clear, like Nexus and Retina's iPad mini, but is close to 264 PPI iPad Air. Characters and graphics optimized for PPIs in the best sense are characteristic and clear, and you will not notice a decrease in density in comparison with Nexus.

The decrease in brightness is considered more prominent. The color of the G pads is not as white as snow than the Nexus 7, the dark color is darker, and the difference between the grayish color and the black is quite small. In principle, the Android cell phone and tablet aut o-features are very aggressive and the screen looks faster than that of such a device in iOS, but G Pad has forced the autography to the maximum option.

Camera and sound

G Pad has one pair of speakers on the back panel (looking on the back of the tablet, it is on the left side when you look at the front). This position is better than the speaker installed along the edge of Nexus and iPad, because it is erased on the hand (sideways mode) and the surface (vertical mode) where the tablet is placed (vertical mode). But speakers are not pretty good. The sound is muffled, with a lot of hiss noise, and the lower the volume level, the more prominent. For example, it is not easy to separate the sound of Hi-THE from the song unless the speaker is exposed about 50 %. Please attach headphones.

The video camera on the back 5 megapixel is similarly frivolous, but this mediocre is inferior to most other tablets. At this time, it is the most interested in those who are most interested in increasing the functions of most manufacturers with their own rear tablets on cells, including Apple. In fact, the cheerful analysis of an indoor video camera indicates that it may be more than that of Nexus 7, but far from dignity.