Google has launched its new Nexus 7 in collaboration with ASUS and the new 7-incher sports some notable improvements over its predecessor.

The new Nexus 7 will have to face notable rivals such as Amazon, Apple and Samsung, so let's see how Google's new tablet stacks up against the Kindle Fire HD, the iPad Mini and the Samsung Galaxy tab 3 7.0.

Display

In terms of screen size, all four tablets fall under the same category. The new Nexus 7 has a 7.2-inch display, the same screen size as the Kindle Fire HD and the Galaxy Tab 3 7.0. The iPad Mini is a bit larger at 7.9 inches. Google's new tablet, however, stands out from its rivals when it comes to resolution and pixel density. The new Nexus 7 has a 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution with a pixel density of 323 pixels per inch (ppi), which appears to be the highest for a 7-incher. The Kindle Fire HD follows with a 1280 x 800 resolution at 215 ppi, the iPad Mini has a 1024 x 768 at 215 ppi, while the Galaxy Tab 7.0 rests at 1024 x 600 at 169 ppi. Without any doubt, the new Nexus 7 is the winner in this category.

Processor Speed

The new Nexus 7 packs a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro clocked at 1.5GHz, while its three rivals have dual-core processors. The Kindle Fire HD features a 1.2GHz OMAP 4460, the iPad Mini has an A5 chipset and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 has a dual-core processor clocked at 1.2GHz. Again, the Nexus 7 comes out on top.

Storage

The new Nexus 7 and the Kindle Fire HD both come in 16GB and 32GB storage configurations, while the iPad Mini has a third option - 64GB. The Galaxy Tab 3 has only one 8GB flavor, expandable to up to 64GB via a microSD card. The winner here would be the iPad Mini, as it has a model with 64GB of internal storage.

Camera

Both the new Nexus 7 and the iPad Mini have 5-megapixel rear-facing cameras and 1.2-megapixel front facing shooter. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 has a 3-megapixel rear camera and a 1.3-megapixel front camera, while the Kindle Fire HD only has a front-facing shooter. The new Nexus 7 rests on the same line as the iPad Mini in this category.

Operating System

The new Nexus, as expected, comes rocking the latest Android 4.3 Jelly Bean out of the box. The Kindle Fire HD runs on a forked version of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS), the Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 ships with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, while the iPad Mini runs on iOS 6, with iOS 7 coming this fall. There's no doubt that the new Nexus is the winner in terms of OS among its Android rivals, so it ultimately comes down to OS preference in this category.

Battery Life

The new Nexus 7 lasts for up to 9 hours of active use, the Kindle Fire HD is good for 11 hours of continuous use, the iPad Mini lasts for up to 10 hours, while the Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 lasts for up to 8 hours on a single charge. The winner here is the Kindle Fire HD.

Price

Pricing for all tablets varies according to configuration and LTE support, if present. The new Nexus 7 costs $229 for the 16GB version, $269 for the 32GB model and $349 for the 32GB LTE variant. The Kindle Fire HD has a $199 price tag for the 16GB model and $229 for the 32GB version, with no LTE variant. The iPad Mini costs $329 for the 16GB, Wi-Fi-only version, $429 for the 32GB WI-Fi-only version, $529 for the 64GB Wi-Fi-only version, $459 for the 16GB model with LTE, $559 for the 32GB LTE and $659 for the 64GB LTE model. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 has no other storage configurations and no LTE, so it has a single price of $199 for its 8GB.

LTE

The new Nexus 7 has LTE support compatible with Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile, the iPad Mini's LTE works with Verizon, AT&T and Sprint, while the Kindle Fire HD and Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 do not have LTE.

And the winner is...

Adding points from each of these categories, the new Nexus 7 seems to be the best choice in terms of affordable Android tablets, and a very strong competitor to the iPad Mini. Google's new 7-incher sports the highest-resolution screen in its category and the fastest processor among the tablets compared here. It also runs the very latest Android 4.3 Jelly Bean software, is LTE-compatible and sports the most attractive price tag considering its specs and features. Interested buyers can find the new Nexus 7 up for pre-order on Google Play.