Google Nexus 7 (7-inch, 1280 x 800p, 16GB) costs only $239 on Kogan. It was released in July 2012 as the first device to ship and run on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Compare it to Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 P3110 (7-inch, 1024 x 600p, 8GB), which costs only $229 on Kogan. This Samsung tablet was released in April last year. Both devices feature cool specs that are definitely not just for kids.

"The (Samsung Galaxy) Tab 2 is more powerful than either the Kindle Fire or the Nook Tablet," The Verge noted in one of its reviews. "(W)ith the Nexus 7, Google has, for the first time, created an Android product that I would buy for myself," wrote Apple iOS advocate and TechCrunch columnist MG Siegler. These positive reviews join several others in celebrating the release of affordable but powerful Android tablets. Between the two devices, however, the Nexus 7 gained more praise and attention for its robust Nvidia quad-core Tegra 3 chipset, highly responsive operation, and relatively crisp display.

However, if you are going for 3G, HSPA+ connectivity, the Nexus 7 32GB 3G price tag moves up to $329 on Kogan. It is still much cheaper compared to the Apple iPad mini, which costs $329 for the 16GB WiFi only variant.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 vs Google Nexus 7: Extra Storage over Display, or Operations vs Cameras?

If you are shopping for a new tablet so your kids can quit fighting over whose turn it is to use the family tablet, your $250 can get you somewhere. Both the Galaxy Tab 2 and Nexus 7 feature quality-specs even for the heavy tablet user.

If you're a first time user, you may want to have the tablet that does more stuff (from mobile photography to providing extra space) for a cheaper price. But if you're switching for specific purposes (better performance, better screen), you'll have a more focused specs requirements. Now you have to set your priorities. The Galaxy Tab 2 with connectivity is cheaper than the faster, more robust Nexus 7. There is no rear-facing camera or extra storage card slot in the Nexus tablet, though. Then again, you get a more enjoyable screen display and the latest Android iterations on the Google tablet.

What do you think? Which cheaper tablet would work better for you (or your kids)?

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