Google has once again contracted Asus to manufacture the Nexus 7 successor, which is perhaps unsurprising given the praised construction quality of their metal alloy Transformer family of tablets compared to other Android devices. The new Nexus is still all-around plastic with a glossy Gorilla Glass front and a slightly rubberized matte back that feels similar in texture to the Kindle Fire HD 7. The dotted texture from the first generation Nexus 7 is now gone for a smoother and cleaner look. Fingerprints and dust do accumulate more quickly and visibly than the previous model as a result.

Thickness and weight have been reduced to 8.65 mm and 290 g, respectively. This is compared to 10.56 mm and 340 g of the original, 10.3 mm and 395 g of the Kindle Fire HD 7 and 7.2 mm and 308 g of the larger 7.9-inch iPad Mini. Consequently, the new Nexus one of the lightest tablets in its size class and price range, which makes it that much easier to use outdoors or on-the-go. We noted in the first Nexus 7 review that the center of the backside can be depressed slightly with a finger, which suggests a small gap between the inner case and component directly underneath. The same spot on the new Nexus shows no such depression and is a tighter package overall.

Case quality is similar to the original. Slight side-to-side twisting is possible with a firm amount of force, but luckily no creaking can be heard. The plastic edges and corners don’t feel as hardened as both the original Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire and is more fragile when compared to the aluminum-enforced Transformer Pads or iPads. This may simply be attributed to the very light weight, but utilizing a protective carrying case would not be a bad idea for constant travelers. However, it’s clear that the extra $30 in price was not heavily invested in improving case quality.