The Nexus 10 2 release date may not happen this 2013 but thanks to Google, Android tablet fans will have another Nexus to consider in its stead - the 8.3-inch LG G Pad that is now officially a member of the Google Play family.

While the Nexus imprint may not be anywhere on the G Pad, the device as a Google Play Edition is Nexus at its best, boosting its chances of getting noticed by hardcore Android lovers for showcasing this time a combo of high-end components and a native Android environment.

When the LG G Pad GPE was announced by Google and LG, the immediate question is: How the slate will stack up against the second Nexus 7 build. This query should get its answers from the brief Android tablet dogfight that follows below:

Form-factor

Reviewers dubbed the Nexus 7 as beauty and brawn, which actually the Nexus DNA. Its inside capabilities are monstrous while the packaging is simple and classic. The pure Android tablet may not be as eye-candy as the iPad Mini but it definitely shines in the design department.

The only letdown is Asus ignored the slimming bezel trend in assembling the Nexus 7, which in contrast LG dutifully observed in the G Pad. As a result, the 8.3-inch slate appears nicer in the eyes compared to its 7-inch rival. For sure, handling the LG tab too will not be an issue given it has nearly the same profile of the Nexus 7 though it is heavier by some 40 grams, which is not too much.

Screen size and attributes

The contest here is apparent - display rendition and screen real estate. The Nexus 7 and the LG G Pad share a screen resolution of 1920 x 1200 in Full HD but separate on the panel span, with the former at 7-inch and the latter at 8.3-inch. Essentially, what is beamed out will be identical in crisp and clarity except that rendering by the Nexus 7 will be denser in pixel count due to its smaller screen.

However, for many compact tablet users the extra one-inch screen stretch offered by the G Pad means a lot, which translates to more browsing space, icon row and column plus more words to accommodate on a screen when reading an e-book.

Camera

The G Pad packs a 5MP rear cam that the Nexus 7 also has but on front the LG tad slightly beats the Asus device by sporting a 1.3MP front-facing camera. The Nexus is endowed with only 1.2MP. As the two are running on native Google mobile platform, the camera software is pretty much in the same boat.

Storage space

LG sells the G Pad in a single storage variant - 16GB but with option to expand the memory by up to 64GB. For the Nexus 7, the best that Google offer is 32GB and any attempt to extend the inside room available will be for naught as all Nexus devices are without a microSD slot and the Nexus 7 is not any different.

CPU

Both devices are powered by Snapdragon chips - 600 on the G Pad and S4 Pro on the Nexus 7. The two tabs are tapped on 2GB of RAM as well, which should ensure that they perform with speed and accuracy. Note, however, that the LG slab hums away at top spin of 1.7GHz while the Asus tab steams roll to a high of 1.5GHz.

Wireless connectivity

The Nexus 7 got the edge here by offering the wireless full course - Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC and high-speed net access via LTE. The G Pad can only match in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, lacking LTE that for many tablet users, very mobile as they are, could prove as dealbreakers.

Battery

The G Pad boasts of a 4600mAh battery while the Nexus draws energy juice from a 3950mAh battery. But the number comparison can be tricky as users need to factor in that the LG tab has a faster CPU and a bigger screen, which means it is more of an energy squeezer when pitted against the Nexus 7.

Software

The LG G Pad GPE is sliding out of the box toting the latest Android build, which is KitKat 4.4. On the other hand, the same KitKat is currently being absorbed by all Nexus 7s in active circulation. In this respect, the two can call their platform tussle a tie.

Pricing

On Google Play, the LG G Pad Google Play ED will sell for $350 and the right match for that sole variant is the Nexus 7 32GB with LTE, which bears the same price tag. So it is a matter of choice for Android tablet shoppers this Christmas since the pricing is identical while the specs and feature being offered to them by the two attractive devices are nearly in equal terms.