The Google Nexus 10 made waves in 2012 when it was released. Google unleashed the device in hopes of competing against the iPad especially in the 10-inch group. Both Google Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 proved to be successes. The rubber body, affordable price and premium features made the Nexus 10 an excellent device. With the new Samsung 10.1 out and still the pending release of the second generation Nexus 10, can the first generation hold its own against new players?

Google Nexus 10

It is not easy to go up against Apple especially in the tablet and laptop market. iPad has set the standards for slates on the market. It is a completely different league. Nonetheless, Google did not set out to challenge the best of slates without preparing properly.

One of the best selling points of the first generation Google Nexus 10 is the price. It is cheaper compared to its iPad 4 counterpart. Even with a relatively lower price, this does not mean Nexus 10 lacks in premium features. It is a powerhouse device.

The device features a retina-searing 10.05-inch 2560 x 1600 Super PLS display. This has higher resolution compared to the existing version of the iPad. Nexus 10 offers 300 pixels per inch compared to iPad's 264ppi.

It has one of the best resolutions on the market today. Nexus 10 comes with Corning Gorilla Glass 2 ensuring durability and style. Under the hood, the device is just impressive. The tablet runs with a dual-core 1.7GHz Samsung Exynos processor. It also offers 2GB of RAM making it at par with some of the newer Android devices.

It runs on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. Because it is a tablet under Google, people can easily upgrade it to newer version of Android. All in all, Google nailed a jackpot especially with the low price but high end features.

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 does not cater to everyone but it can deliver especially to its target market. It offers advanced functions through its trademark stylus, the S Pen. One of the best features of the tablet is that users can now access multiple apps and accomplish a number of tasks through the stylus.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition or the GNote14 comes in four kinds: black and white, 16GB and 3GB. The 16GB device starts at $549.99 while the 32GB starts at $599.99. The price of the device also comes with two years of Dropbox access, Google Play credits and three-month Hulu subscription.

Perhaps the most striking thing about the device is its faux-leather rear. It offers users firmer grip and better feel of the device. Unlike previous models with plastic covering, users will not have to worry about the device slipping even if their hands get sweaty.

GNote14 weighs less than the iPad at only 1.19 pounds compared to 1.44 pounds. However, the size of the screen may be uncomfortable for some. This depends on the preference of the user.

GNote14 is advanced and a league of its own. The device offers 2,560 x 1,600 pixel resolution screen. Like Nexus 10, this is higher compared to iPad's 2,048 x 1,560 display. It uses TFT LCD (not AMOLED) display which ensures bright and crisp images as well as videos.

The device runs on a high-powered Exynos 1.9GHz quad-core processor including a 1.3GHz quad-core processor. It features Android 4.3 "Jelly Bean," 3GB RAM, dual-band Wi-Fi including "gigabit" 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.0.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 is newer compared to the Nexus 10 but Google's tablet can hold its own.