Apple iPad Mini 2 release date could fall sometime around the last quarter of the year, in time for its predecessor's anniversary. Google Nexus 7.7 could arrive mid-year with the Google I/O event, which was the unveiling event for the Nexus 7 last year. Considering rumours and launch history, you could pick a new reading device this year. But which one is the better gadget for eBook readers?

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iPad Mini 2 vs Nexus 7.7: Which Small Tablet is Better for eBook Readers? (Image: Google)

Google Nexus 7.7 is believed to be the name of the Nexus 7 upgrade. N7 is an Android device like the Amazon Kindle Fire HD. In terms of screen displays, the two are quite a fair match on paper. Both devices feature a 7-in screen with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels (216 PPI).

Some of those who pay attention to hardware prefer the Nexus 7, thinking the Nvidia Tegra 3 (1.2 GHz Quad-core ARM Cortex-A9) makes a more robust heart than the OMAP 4. Those who care about wrist comfort when reading for over 30 minutes pick the Nexus 7's 340 g weight over Kindle Fire HD's 395 g. But other users feel the Kindle Fire fits their hands better in terms of grip and angle when holding up the device while reading in bed. For readers-and-gamers, the choice is pretty simple: stronger heart and better Andoid gameplay could only mean Nexus 7.

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Apple iPad mini 2 is a much-anticipated reading device. iPad mini nearly went out of stock days after its release in November last year. Readers love it for being skinny (7.2 mm) and light (308 g). Many iPad full-size tablet users have ditched their old devices because it is better to read in the mini. Now the iPad mini 2 is hoped to have the same lightweight factor even when the next generation is bundled with Retina display technology.

Interested Nexus 7.7 buyers, who might be wondering where to get ebooks outside the Google Play might want to check out Epubor's guide to reading eBooks on Nexus 7. CNET.com has some tips on how to turn a Nexus 7 into a Kindle Fire.

iPad mini eBook readers enjoy the flexibility of the iOS, which is with popular services, like the Kindle, Nook, and Google Books. CNET describes the mini as "the closest to a universal e-book reader."

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The current iPad mini is fueled by Apple A5, which has the dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 MPCore CPU. At its maximum clock rate of 800 MHz to 1 GHz, this may not be the tablet for readers-and-gamers. Everything's generally snappy with the mini, as long as you're only reading eBooks and browsing the internet.

What do you think -- which device between the iPad mini 2 and Nexus 7.7 will offer the most perks to eBook readers in 2013?

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