Google revealed the Nexus 9 tablet at the same time as its Nexus 6 smartphone and the message was the same for the the two devices.
The search company has moved away from mid-range, affordably priced gadgets like the Google Nexus 5 and into the top-tier of gadgets to compete with the likes of Apple and Samsung.
As such, the Nexus 9 comes in with a pretty hefty £319 for the 16GB version and £399 for the 32GB model.
The Nexus 9 tablet isn't as good as the Apple iPad Air 2, but it's a very strong alternative and the best Android tablet available to buy right now.
The tablet is a collaboration between Google and HTC and is the first tablet to launch with the latest version of Android on board.
However, when you look at the size and shape of it, it's clear that the iPad influence has been felt. For starters, it's got a 4:3 ratio rather than the widescreen 16:10 of the previous Nexus tablet, the Nexus 7.
Secondly, it's got an 8.9-inch screen size which isn't far off the 9.7-inch size that Apple uses. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, we suppose.
Google and HTC have elected to use a soft-touch plastic back cover that's attached to the metal frame running around the tablet.
It's not as premium-feeling as Apple's tablets but it's also a long way from the cheap Android talets that flood the market year after year. And, at only 425g and 7.9mm thick, you can easily carry it around in your bag for a day without a strain.
Google Nexus 9 - Screen and power
The 4:3 aspect ratio on the Google Nexus 9 means that it's better at some things than others. For example, watching a widescreen movie isn't as good as on a 16:9 device but browsing, gaming and reading an ebook or a digital magazine are all much better experiences.
What's more, the Nexus 9 has a pixel resolution of 2,048 x 1,536 which is the same as Apple's flagship iPad Air 2 tablet. However, because the screen on the Nexus 9 is smaller, the pixels are packed in tighter together, giving you a 281 pixel density and a much sharper image.
Even if you get right up close to the screen, the pictures and text are smooth and detailed.
Unlike the Nexus 6 smartphone, the Nexus 9 doesn't have AMOLED technology added to the screen but instead uses an IPS (in-plane switching) LCD panel. As a result the colours aren't quite as well shaded, but in the real world the difference is negliable.
There's also no shortage of power inside the Nexus 9 thanks to the speed of the Nvidia Tegra K1 mobile chip that powers it.
Nvidia recently revealed the follow-up to this chip at CES, but for now the Tegra K1 is more than capable - especially when it comes to gaming. It uses the same chip architecture as Nvidia's PC graphics cards so, as you'd expect, 3D gaming is fast and fluid.
Google Nexus 9 - Android 5.0 "Lollipop" operating system
The Nexus 9 is the first tablet to ship with the latest version of Google's Android operating system.Unlike a Samsung or LG tablet, Google doesn't add any themes or features on top of the interface. This means it's both faster and more efficient and, to a certain degree, cleaner to look at.
Google has given it a completely new look, which it calls "Material Design". But if you've used any kind of Android device in the past, you'll find it very familiar.
You can now access your notifications from the lock screen and there's also cross-device support. That means if you have content running on an Android 5.0 smartphone (like the Nexus 6) and the app supports it, you can pick up watching a video on the tablet exactly where you left off on the smartphone.
Over time, Android 5.0 will get rolled out to other third party manufacturers, but right at the moment the Nexus 9 is the only place to get it.
Google Nexus 9 - Battery
The Nexus 9 has a 6,700mAh battery built in, which is smaller than the 9,000mAh battery Google put in its last tablet - the Nexus 10.However, that device was bigger (with a 10-inch screen) and didn't have the benefit of the more power-efficient Android 5.0 operating system. So even though the battery in the Nexus 9 is smaller, the battery life isn't that bad at all.
We used the device solidly throughout the day and it managed to last over 12 hours before dying. With more sporadic use, you'll be able to manage 14-odd hours from this tablet.
Unfortunately, it won't go longer than a day without a juice up so you'll have to be prepared to take the charger if you're heading out on a trip. A full charge from empty takes around four hours.
Google Nexus 9 -Final Words
The Nexus 9 is the best Android tablet on the market at the moment. It's been well built by the folks at HTC, has a decent screen and battery life and benefits from the very latest Android software.We also liked the design and the dimensions of the tablet - it's light enough to hold for a long period of time and the screen is particularly sharp and detailed.
That being said, it still doesn't take the tablet top spot from Apple's mighty iPad Air 2 which, although more expensive, is a better all-round experience.
Still, this is a really solid effort from Google and if you don't want to buy into the Apple ecosystem then the Nexus 9 is the tablet to buy.
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