Google finally unveiled the new Nexus 7, which will be the stock Android's official name, replacing the first edition with a slightly remodelled slate that bears upgraded components plus supreme features designed to slay Apple's iPad Mini 2.

At first glance, the press images remind of the same profile seen last year - black and matte finish but the variations are easily noticeable once you comb through the finer details. Clearly, Asus and Google made considerable efforts to produce a tablet they intend to use in ending the iOS rule in the small tablet class.

And the specs, features and pricing so far provided merit the label iPad killer. They and a few more important details about the Nexus 7 are listed below.

Hardware specs and capabilities

True to its word, Google has adequately equipped the Nexus 7 with a quad-core 1.5GHz processor of the Snapdragon S4 Pro, which will work in tandem with a 2GB of RAM and an Adreno 320 GPU. Such powerhouse fires up the 7-inch display screen that emits a 1920 x 1200 resolution with a pixel density of 323ppi. This mix, no doubt, dwarfs both the original Nexus 7 and the iPad Mini.

Camera is 5MP rear-facing and 1.2MP front-facing while internal memory is a choice between 16GB and 32GB with a host of connectivity options - HDMI, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and LTE in their latest versions for optimal gadget pairings and wireless broadband accessibility.

Operating hours should last nine to 10 hours on intensive gaming, net surfing movie watching while recharging is both conventional and wireless, the latter in QI standard, which means other charging accessories can be used with the device.

Form factor and design

Holding the Nexus 7 points to a similar experience from the first serving as the two are virtual doppelganger save for some tweaks. The new device is lighter and slimmer plus the casing materials - matte finish on back and glass protection on front - are meant to withstand scratches and other forms of wear and tear or abuse.

Google also provided stereo speakers, located on the top and bottom edges of the tablet, and a rear camera, which are the noticeable design adjustments of the slate. In speakers or using a headset, users can enjoy virtual surround sound when playing music or watching movies, the tech giant said.

Where to buy or how to get the new Nexus 7

First option is Google Play Store where the tablet is now live with the following pricing: $230 and $270 for the 16GB and 32GB models respectively on Wi-Fi only, $350 for the LTE version, which Google's telco partners will offer unlocked in 32GB variant.

As mentioned, the device will be picked up by distributors and retailers as Google announced that the Nexus 7 will be made available to consumers located in the following countries: Canada, United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, Spain, South Korea, France and Germany. However, the rollout will take place a few weeks after the tablet hits store shelves in the United States, which is set to happen on July 30.

Should you buy?

The whole Nexus 7 package is tempting - powerful and accessible at the same time. The tablet will surely attract volumes of buys more so that the iPad Mini refresh is likely arriving this year. And compared to Android rivals, this is the cheaper and better way of tasting the raw powers of Android with Jelly Bean 4.3 at that. Other slates are not expected to absorb this update anytime soon.

But there is one reminder offered by Adam Mills of Gotta Be Mobile: "Do your research (first) ... and wait a few weeks or months before taking the plunge because unfortunately, the Nexus water can be murky."

Mr Mills suffered from a first Nexus 7 that went dead after only a short time of use. He reckons the Nexus experience as not exactly for tablet beginners.