Apple iPad Mini vs Google Nexus 7 vs Amazon Kindle Fire HD head to head review

The Nexus 7 was something of a game changer in the tablet world when it was first released in the UK back in July.

Being the first official Google Android tablet and targeting the affordable, shrunk down 7in tablet space, the Nexus 7 became an immediate success, with the 16GB model flying off the shelves the moment it was released.

Such was the clamour for Google's pint-sized tablet that its rivals have been quick to come up with alternatives. Apple and Amazon had their 7in models, the iPad Mini and the Kindle Fire HD, ready within months.

Now, with all the devices finally released, V3 takes a critical, hands on look at  the three to find out which tablet is most worthy of our readers' attention.

Design and build
Visually all three devices are about as different as tablets can get, all featuring radically different dimensions, weights and designs.

Of the three we found the iPad to be the most visually pleasing. Measuring in at 200x135x7.2mm the iPad is by far the thinnest, making the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HD, with their 197x120x10.5mm and 193x137x10.3mm measurements, look positively fat.

The iPad Mini's visual allure is aided by the fact that unlike the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HD, Apple's new tablet's chassis is made of metal, featuring a curved aluminium casing and flat back. The use of metal makes the iPad Mini feel plusher than the Nexus and Kindle, which other than their Gorilla Glass coated screens, are both made nearly entirely of plastic.

Even though the iPad features a durable metal casing, it's not the heaviest of the three. In fact, the iPad Mini is the lightest, weighing a modest 308g. This adds up to make the iPad Mini far more comfortable in hand than the heavier Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HD, which weigh in at 340g and 395g respectively.