iPad Mini 2 vs Nexus 7 2013 vs Kindle Fire HDX- Which tablet is best to buy?

Compare new Apple iPad Mini 2, Google Nexus 7 2013 and Amazon Kindle Fire HDX.

Buying a tablet is sure to be one of the best gift ideas this Christmas for the kids, teenagers, youth and even for moms dads.

Learn which tablet you should buy, in our exclusive iPad Mini 2 vs Nexus 7 2013 vs Kindle Fire HDX specs comparison and features review of the newly launched 2nd generation of top 3 smaller tablets in the world.

The new refreshed iPad mini 2013 with 7.9 inches Retina Display screen and A7 64-bit processor is anticipated to sell like a hot cake with long lines, shipping delays and post-Christmas deliveries.

The new mini Pad's Android based rivals, Nexus7 and Kindle Fire HDX are also expected to generate huge sales. The flagship budget tablets from both companies, the Kindle Fire HDX from Amazon and the Nexus 7 from Google, are two of the best tablets on the market for medium size category.

Nexus 7 2 vs iPad Mini 2013 vs Kindle Fire HDX Specs Review

If you compare the tablet size and dimensions, the iPad Mini 2 along with the Nexus 7 are the thinnest comparatively. iPad mini 2 holds a bigger width, which can be good or bad depending on your preferences. Amazon Kindle Fire HDX is shorter, in between widths of iPad and Nexus 7 2013. Let's look at detailed comparison chart below:

	iPad Mini Retina	Nexus 7 (2013)	Amazon Kindle Fire HDX
Size	7.9 x 5.3 x 0.3 (in)	7.9 x 4.5 x 0.3 (in)	7.32 x 5.04 x 0.35(in)
Weight	11 oz	11 oz	10.97oz
Screen	7.9-inch LCD	7-inch LCD	7-inch LCD
Resolution	2048×1536pixels	1920×1200 pixels	1920 x 1200 pixels
OS	iOS 7	Android 4.3	Android 4.2 with Fire OS 3.0 UI
Storage	16GB	16/32GB	16/32/64GB
SD Card Slot	No	No	No
Processor	A7 chipset	1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro	2.2GHz Quad-cord Snapdragon 800
RAM	512MB	2GB	2GB
Connectivity	Wi-Fi, 4G LTE	Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n, 4G LTE, NFC	Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n, 4G LTE
Camera	Front 1.2MP, Rear 5MP	Front 2.1MP, Rear 5MP	Front 1.2MP
Bluetooth	Yes, version 4.0	Yes, version 4.0	Yes, version 4.0
Battery	10 hours of use	4,000mAh (9 hours of use)	11 hours of use
Charger	Lightning connector	Micro USB	Micro USB
Marketplace	Apple App Store	Google Play Store	Amazon Appstore
Price	$400+	$230+	$230+
Availability	Verizon, AT&T, Sprint	AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon	AT&T, Verizon

iPad Mini 2 Nexus 7 2 vs Kindle Fire HDX- Display

The iPad mini 2 with Retina comes with an all new screen, although it's measured at 7.9-inches. The update brings across Apple's Retina screen technology that was infamously omitted from the first iPad mini iteration. Packed into those 7.9-inches is a whopping 2,048 x 1,536 resolution.

The Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HDX come with 7-inch Full HD screens. They match each other pixel for pixel, meaning 1,920 x 1,200 displays with 323ppi.

The Korean offering is a little larger, with 8.3 inches of screen on offer. This may be the largest of the bunch, but it's also the smallest for pixel density as the 1,200 x 1,920 resolution is stretched out resulting in 273ppi.

iPad Mini 2 vs Nexus 7 2 vs Kindle Fire HDX- Processioning Power

Things get a little harder to compare when we start looking at the processor. Apple has given the iPad Mini the same treatment it gave the iPhone 5S and iPad by installing the A7 chipset into the device.

This 64-bit chip gives the iPad Mini a debatably large step up. As the mobile world continues to inch toward the switch to 64-bit processors, the iPad Mini has already hit that benchmark.

Qualcomm's Snapdragon S4 Pro powers the Google Nexus 7, meaning that it provides 1.4GHz of quad-core power with 2GB of RAM to support. The Kindle Fire HDX 7 has the quad-core Snapdragon 800 chip, clocked at 2.2GHz.

There is an equal level of RAM in both of the other Android tablets, although they also differ when it comes to what CPU is inside.

Nexus 7 2 vs iPad Mini 2013 vs Kindle Fire HDX- Storage Options

Storage, for this area the Fire is top dog, with a 64GB option the others just cant match, next is 7's 32 GB option, then Mini 2's only 16GB option.

Still none of them support the SD card slot which is a major setback in which the available memory actually poses a potential problem.

iPad Mini 2013 vs Nexus 7 2 vs Kindle Fire HDX- Camera Comparison

Perhaps the most controversial of topics when it comes to these tablets is the camera. There is a certain stigma attached to holding up a tablet to take a photo, although there is a definite need for a front facing snapper to make video calls.

The iPad mini 2 with Retina display comes with the same 5MP rear snapper as the iPad mini. The forward facing camera takes a boost, gaining the same FaceTime HD camera as on the iPhone 5S. This means that it matches the one in the Nexus 7, as Google has equipped its tablet with a 1.2MP forward sensor, and 5MP on the rear.

There is a front-facing HD camera on the Kindle Fire HDX, although we have no word on how many MP that is. As for the rear sensor, Amazon has chosen to completely omit it.

iPad Mini 2013 vs Nexus 7 2 vs Kindle Fire HDX- Software

If we compare software capabilities; Apple of course runs iOS 7, the newest OS as of late, with the Fire holding Android 4.2 with a Fire OS 3.0.

Amazon, as always, has taken a completely different tack. Heavily subsidizing costs, Amazon aims to recoup a lot of money through the sale of its various media items - be it apps, movies or books. In order to maximize this, the Fire UI laid over the top of Android 4.2 is focused on the Amazon store, with no Google Play offerings in sight.

The Nexus 7 maintains Android 4.3 (upgradable to Android 4.4 KitKat. Depending on your OS pleasure as it is meant for the user interface and programs co-functioning together it really is suited to taste. Some user prefer the simplistic approach of the iOS 7 while some view the Android OS's better suited to their needs.

Kindle Fire HDX vs Nexus 7 2 vs iPad Mini 2- Battery Life Comparison

The battery life of the fire is the longest 11 hrs (iPad mini RD battery life is 10 hrs and Nexus 7 2013 has 9 hrs of use.

iPad Mini RD vs Nexus 7 2 vs Kindle Fire HDX Price Comparison

The prices of these tablets vary but the starting price with Fire and 7 reigning in at cheapest start price being $230 and higher, the Mini starting at $400.

The iPad mini 2 with Retina is the most expensive of all 4 tablets, with Apple saying that the tablet will retail at £319 for the Wi-Fi only model, with £419 for the 4G enabled versions.

The Nexus 7 is available from £199 for the 16GB version, with the 32GB costing £239, or £299 if you want the 4G enabled version.
The Kindle Fire HDX is available for £199, £229 or £259 for the 16, 32 or 64GB versions respectively. These prices increase by £70 to gain 4G access.

Pricing gets more complicated for the Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 7, as you can pay extra to opt out of having ads pushed to your device. This currently costs £10.