14 DAY TRIAL // Those of you looking to purchase the Nexus 7 but want to stay clear of the Google Play Store have an extra option, as of today.
It looks like T-Mobile has jumped on the Nexus 7 bandwagon as well and is now taking pre-orders for the device with shipping starting on November 20. On top of that, the carrier will be offering the brand new Nexus 5 as well, starting with the same date.
What’s the difference between getting the Nexus 7 from the good old Google Store or from the magenta carrier? Well, apparently, if you go with the latter, you can grab the slate for $0 upfront. That doesn't mean you'll really get it for free, as you still have to contribute $16 / €12 each month for the next two years.
Bottom line is this: if you don’t have $349 / €260 worth of cash to pay upfront for the Nexus 7 in the Google Store, you can opt for the 2-year data plan T-Mobile is offering. In addition, you’ll be able to connect the device to the carrier’s LTE network as well.
Once enrolled in a contract, there’s the possibility of dropping out, but then you'll have to pay the remaining sum of money to cover the worth of the slate.
You can also pay for the tablet outright on T-Mobile, but there’s no point, since the carrier is selling it for $384 / €286. This means you’ll play an additional $35 / €26, which is makes no sense.
In case you need a memory refresh, the Nexus 7 features a 7-inch screen with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels. Power comes from a 1.5Ghz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor coupled with 2GB of RAM.
Photo enthusiasts will find a 5MP rear camera and a 1.2MP front snapper on board. The 3950 mAh battery will provide a pretty decent life for your slate. The device runs Android 4.3 Jelly Bean at the moment, but the Android 4.4 KitKat update should hit any moment now.