Contrary to rumours, Google decided to keep the Nexus 7 2 under wraps but experts remain upbeat that the small tablet's release date will come later this year, purportedly to slug it out with Apple's iPad Mini 2.

The second-gen Nexus 7 may not be the much-awaited iPad killer but many Android watchers tout the slate as the best alternative there is (or there will be) for those wanting to try out the increasingly dominant Google platform.

Carrying the gene that CNET labelled earlier this year as the best Android tablet around, will the Nexus 7 2 live up to the hype and meet buyers' expectations? Here are three key reasons to argue the case that the stock Android slate is worth every penny.

Nexus 7 2 is the carrier of the best Google offerings

No word emanated from Google about the Nexus 7 2 at the 2013 Google I/O but Android fans' hopes of getting the gadget soon remain high. The tech giant had introduced enhanced versions of its services via the event and while the tablet is a no-show, all these new flavours will be tasted once it is deployed.

Apart from the improved Google Maps and Google Music, the signature tablet will surely pack either the Jelly Bean 4.3 or Key Lime Pie as among its strongest appeal come its release date. And since the mobile operating systems are in vanilla forms, hardcore Android fans will surely appreciate the spectre of getting a toy that bypasses tweaks to become power-user friendly.

Top notch specs and features reserved for Nexus 7 2

What the tablet will flex remains speculative at the moment but enough to convince many that it is worth the wait and the buy as soon as it becomes available. On the hardware side, reports are rife that the Nexus 7 2 CPU is likely a quad-core Snapdragon 800 that will work in tandem with a 2GB of RAM. This collaboration will ensure that the Android that resides within will act as planned - fast and smooth.

Raising the bar set by its predecessor, the tablet is also expected to allow the access of faster wireless broadband connection thanks to the embedded LTE chip that comes with the Qualcomm chipset. And as pledged by Google, the camera features are insanely great with the top-of-the-line hardwares complemented by cool Android cam functions that will satisfy the demands of both professional shooters and camera enthusiasts.

Form-factor wise, it is believed that Nexus 7 2 will keep up with the emerging trend of light, thin and slim make. Expect the tablet to show off a sleek and sexy profile, its 7-inch viewing window sitting on an edge-to-edge front real estate.

Rival-busting Nexus 7 2 price tag

There is little doubt that on its second coming, the Nexus 7 will play with the Google model of providing capable hardware with emphasis on affordability. The target is for more audience to access Google contents, hence the dirt cheap price marks for the small tablet.

Experts point to the same price marks of the first Nexus 7 - $US199 for the 16GB model and $US250 for the 32GB model - as likely the same price tags that the Nexus 72 will come with on its release date.