LG G-Pad 8.3 Google Edition Incoming (Edit: Sony Xperia Z Ultra, Too)

lopri · Dec 10, 2013

It looks like this is what was once rumored to be the Nexus 8.

Nexus 8 Revealed as Google Play Edition LG Tablet

Edit: AT reporting

http://anandtech.com/show/7576/goog...3-sony-xperia-z-ultra-white-nexus-7-announced

Today Google dropped by news of three new products hitting the Google Play store's device section, Google Play editions of LG's G Pad 8.3 and Sony's Xperia Z Ultra, and a Nexus 7 available in white.

Suspicious-Teach8788 · Dec 10, 2013

How does a Nexus 7 compete with a Nexus 8 and Nexus 10?

With that said the 8" form factor might work out better because the Nexus 7 display is so small compared to an iPad Mini.

Edit: I'm stupid. Google Play Edition != Nexus.

poofyhairguy · Dec 10, 2013

Pretty tempting. Good size and a Micro SD slot. If it had a Qualcomm 800 I would sell my Nexus 7.

Ravynmagi · Dec 10, 2013

Pretty cool. You get Nexus like benefits (quick updates) without Nexus like sacrifices (SD card slot).

Tough decision is would I sell my Nexus 7 2013 and get this? I really like the feel of the Nexus 7 in my hand, even if the screen size is a tad too small. But I'd sure like a bigger screen and an SD slot. Hmm... can't decide. Hopefully the price on Google Play is a little more enticing.

Viper GTS · Dec 10, 2013

It's already up and orderable, $349.

https://play.google.com/store/devices/details?id=lg_g_pad

Now to debate whether it's worth upgrading from a 2013 7...

Viper GTS

lothar · Dec 10, 2013

$350 for this?
The $229 Nexus 7(I bought it for $199 at BestBuy and it also came with a $25 Google Play card) provides much better value.

They need to switch out the SnapDragon 600 for the 800 and then we'll talk.

lothar · Dec 10, 2013

Viper GTS said:
It's already up and orderable, $349.

https://play.google.com/store/devices/details?id=lg_g_pad

Now to debate whether it's worth upgrading from a 2013 7...

Viper GTS

Hell no it's not. Not essentially when they're reaching iPad mini retina territory with that.
If this was $270-300, maybe.

Keep in mind that GPe devices sell at fat profit margins. If this was a Google Nexus tablet, it would be sold for $270.

lopri · Dec 10, 2013

I should have gotten one when the NewEgg did sell these for $250.

I would still go for this tablet than the Nexus 7 if I were in the market for a tablet at this time. I am not too thrilled about Nexus products' general cost-cutting accompanied by lower build quality, which now seems to be a trend.

ponyo · Dec 10, 2013

lopri said:
I should have gotten one when the NewEgg did sell these for $250.

I would still go for this tablet than the Nexus 7 if I were in the market for a tablet at this time. I am not too thrilled about Nexus products' general cost-cutting accompanied by lower build quality, which now seems to be a trend.

Yeah, me too. I really need a tablet with SD card support. Well actually my wife does. She has been using my original 7" Galaxy Tab as her carry tablet the past couple of months but the SD card slot is starting to malfunction.

tfinch2 · Dec 10, 2013

The LG G Pad is tempting, but I will skip at that price.

XYZ- · Dec 10, 2013

Apparently Brian has bee using a Z ultra. I'm interested in seeing what his thoughts on it are. A Google play edition is interesting. Its more of a small tablet.....so wouldn't it be competing with the N7 and the G Pad, more than the N5....

Roland00Address · Dec 10, 2013

Comparing the 16gb Nexus 7 2013 ($229) to the 16gb Google Plus GPad 8.3 ($349)

Both

Same Screen Resolution
Both 2gb Ram
Both Dual Band Wifi
Very fast updates via Google

Google Plus G Pad Advantages

13% higher clock speed, Same generation of cpu
40% more screen area, yet only 48 grams more weight (16% more weight)
Micro SD slot on GPad
Infared Port on GPad (I assume this will work with the google plus edition).

Nexus Advantages

$120 dollars cheaper
Wireless Charging on Nexus 7 2013

fbrdphreak · Dec 10, 2013

The GE version on Play won't ever go on sale, so I'm hoping it can be loaded onto the regular G Pad. Reviews say the stock G Pad is awful laggy, something that plagues the Samsung Tab 3 8".

My Nook HD w/CM 10 is laggy enough. I want something fast with an 8" screen, so the G Pad sounds great if it can get the Google Experience.

lopri · Dec 10, 2013

Sony phablet is actually more interesting to me although I am not in a position to buy one. Its screen is bigger than the HTC One Max and at 6.4" it's really a tablet that makes a phone call. Price is high but every other non-Nexus phone costs the same so for those who buy phones outright and want an alternative to the Note 3, this may be an intriguing option. My friend had Xperiz Z tablet for a week or so and that tablet had an incredible battery life, especially during standby. (with Sony's power-saving mode on)

Unlike Samsung and LG, though, Sony's issues were more of hardware than software when it comes to Android phones. They would pair up otherwise excellent phones with weird screen, screen protector, camera, etc. Very curious how a GE Sony phone will be rated.

dagamer34 · Dec 11, 2013

Someone still needs to tell me how subtracting 1.9" from a device and adding an LTE radio magically makes it $300 more expensive. :whiste:

StrangerGuy · Dec 11, 2013

dagamer34 said:
Someone still needs to tell me how subtracting 1.9" from a device and adding an LTE radio magically makes it $300 more expensive. :whiste:

LG should just give up their non-Nexus lineup, because I don't really see the point given their track record.

lopri · Dec 11, 2013

Real-life size of the Ultra Z simulated courtesy of PhoneArena.com

http://www.phonearena.com/phones/si...-Z-Ultra,Google-Nexus-7-2013/phones/7883,8021

Unbelievably thin.

cliftonite · Dec 11, 2013

Man why did they have to make it so big. If it was the size of the Note 3, I would have bought one.

Jurge92 · Dec 11, 2013

Nice. Just waiting for a release date here in Europe...

QueBert · Dec 11, 2013

Looks like it has Bluetooth 4 LE! That alone makes this worth it, not many Android devices are coming with it yet.

sweenish · Dec 11, 2013

dagamer34 said:
Someone still needs to tell me how subtracting 1.9" from a device and adding an LTE radio magically makes it $300 more expensive. :whiste:

You're confused as to how a water/dust resistant device with a higher ppi screen (higher class hardware all around, actually) and extra telephony hardware all stuffed into a smaller form factor is more expensive?

Am I reading that right?

Graze · Dec 11, 2013

QueBert said:
Looks like it has Bluetooth 4 LE! That alone makes this worth it, not many Android devices are coming with it yet.

All new Android devices(with the qualcomm SOC) have BT LE. Android as of 4.3 supports it too.

lothar · Dec 11, 2013

sweenish said:
You're confused as to how a water/dust resistant device with a higher ppi screen (higher class hardware all around, actually) and extra telephony hardware all stuffed into a smaller form factor is more expensive?

Am I reading that right?

In what way is the LG G2 water/dust resistant?

Ravynmagi · Dec 11, 2013

lothar said:
In what way is the LG G2 water/dust resistant?

He was talking about the Xperia Ultra Z. You can dip those phones in water.

lothar · Dec 12, 2013

Ravynmagi said:
He was talking about the Xperia Ultra Z. You can dip those phones in water.

I thought the person he quoted was talking about the LG G2 vs. LG G-Pad?

"Someone still needs to tell me how subtracting 1.9" from a device and adding an LTE radio magically makes it $300 more expensive."
Guess I was wrong. That person he quoted was indeed comparing the Xperia Ultra Z to the LG G-Pad.

LG G-Pad 8.3 Google Edition Incoming (Edit: Sony Xperia Z Ultra, Too)

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