Google Nexus 9 Pro Reviews

This device is great, but it might not be meant for you. If you're a developer and want to keep up with Google's Android builds, starting with Android 5.0.1 Lollipop, then this is the tablet you're looking for.If you're looking for an entertainment machine that'll set the baseline for all Android tablets made by top-tier brands in 2015, this is your device. If you want a slightly smaller tablet that rolls with right around the same processing power created by a company that's keeping it up to date just as fast as - or sometimes faster than - Google, you might want to look here. The Google Nexus 9 made by HTC comes in several different iterations. You can purchase it in Indigo Black, Lunar White, or Sand color. You can also purchase it in Wi-Fi-only (like the model we've reviewed here) or with 4G LTE connectivity through AT&T. There's also a couple of different internal storage sizes available, either 16GB or 32GB. The 16GB Wi-fi-only model we have here in black will cost you $399.00 USD from the Google Store at the time this review is published.

Previous Nexus tablets, particularly the Nexus 7, have been hard to beat for value but that's not the case for the Nexus 9. It's not a bad tablet - especially if performance is a priority - but the screen isn't perfect and neither is build quality. Were it cheaper, we'd have a winner on our hands, but at this price it's hard not to recommend the original iPad Air instead.

The Nexus 9 makes a play for the tablet throne, but it's flawed in too many areas

These two couldn’t be any more different on the outside, as one impressively stands out for its premium design and svelte construction – while the other follows a more humble and modest path. Mainly due to that disparity, it makes perfect sense why the iPad Air 2 costs $500, versus the $400 price tag of the Nexus 9. Obviously, the difference in that chunk of change is profound, one that favors Apple’s achievement in producing its tablet. Eliminating their looks and specs, these two tablets rival one another in a variety of key categories. For examples, they have stunningly detailed screens, they snap sharp looking photos with their cameras, and they even perform swimmingly with barely a hint of slowdown or lag. However, there’s the matter regarding their platform experiences – where the Android 5.0 Lollipop experience of the Nexus 9 proves to be more versatile and customizable when it comes to its core experience, the iOS's polished UI takes advantage of a richer app ecosystem that considerably widens its productivity and entertainment capabilities. All told, if you’re looking for an excellent all-around tablet that has a stunning design to match its prowess, then stick with the iPad Air 2 – more so if cost isn’t a factor for you. Conversely, go with the Nexus 9 if you’re looking for a slightly cheaper tablet that’ll be used more in the home by multiple members, in addition to yourself.

Everything about the Android experience has been refined and enhanced with not only some features that are “in-your-face,” but they’ve meticulously ensured to us that it has far more depth than its rivals. From being a fun tablet for playing games, to a productivity focused one that’s handy for pulling out work while on the road, the Google Nexus 9 has a presence that resonates deeply in the space. And we can’t neglect to mention that it’s super affordable in the process! What more can we ask, seriously?

Probably not. The more expensive iPad Air 2 blows it away from a performance standpoint, and the original iPad Air is now priced identically to the Nexus 9. Even though it's a year older it will probably serve you better as an all-around tablet, due to some of the Nexus 9's performance and fit-and-finish failings. Not to mention that the iPad mini 2 starts at $300 — or $350 for 32GB — and it's only an inch smaller than the Nexus 9. Just wanna watch movies and TV? The $380 Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 has a great screen and best-in-class audio that no other tablet can match. In Android-world, the Nexus 9's competition is less fierce. The fantastic 7-inch Shield Tablet is getting stock Lollipop, but it's on the smaller side. The Galaxy Tab S 8.4 starts at $400 and has a beautiful screen, but it's also loaded up with Samsung's TouchWiz UI, which slows it down and uglies it up. So if you want stock Android and stock Android specifically (who can blame you?) the Nexus 9 is fine. Good even! But not quite great. Don't get me wrong: the Nexus 9 isn't an irredeemably bad device; it's just a pretty mediocre option in a world full of other tablets that really stand out in one way or another. In a world that's already full of tablets that work just fine for the most part, you need to have a really good excuse to buy a new one. Killer performance should be the Nexus 9's strong suit, but right now it just doesn't stick the landing. So unless you're a Nexus junkie, there's really no reason to get a Nexus 9 in place of, or in addition to anything else.