Google launched its first 7-inch tablet, Nexus 7, in July last year and since then, the tablet has become one of the most popular 7-inch tablets in the market. Now rumors indicate that Google and ASUS are set to launch the refreshed version of the tablet in May this year.

Rumors indicate that the next-generation Nexus 7 will have several enhancements like a Full HD resolution and an industrial design with a thinner display.

The original Nexus 7 sports a 7-inch display with 1280 x 800 pixels resolution and 216 pixels per inch (ppi). An Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core chip powers the device. The Nexus 7 includes 16/32 GB of on-board storage options and 1GB of RAM.

Integration with Google Play, built-in Wi-Fi, and near field communication (NFC) connectivity makes the Nexus 7 a full entertainment device serving as a platform for multimedia, e-books, television programs, films, games, and music.

Furthermore, the Nexus 7 was the first device to ship with Android version 4.1 Jelly Bean. In November 2012, when Google launched the 32GB version of the tablet, it came with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean out of the box. Additionally, the 16GB version of the Nexus 7 was also rolled out with Android 4.2, whereas the 8GB version was phased out.

Reports indicate that the next-generation Nexus 7 will have the same price as of the current iterations. Furthermore, "the machine will also feature Google's upgraded Jelly Bean-based Android operating system to enhance integration between the software and the hardware," reported DigiTimes.

Reports also suggest that the combined shipments of the first- and second-generation Nexus 7 is expected to reach 10 million units in 2013.

The expected launch date of May 2013 is a long time away and, therefore, we will have to wait for Google to release official information regarding its plans on the next-generation Nexus 7.