Last week we posted that Google had selected ASUS to help build a low-cost Android tablet, and now Digitimes is reporting a similar story. According to their industry sources, Google and ASUS will release a 7-inch co-branded tablet as early as May with a price of $199-249.
Digitimes does not mention any other specs, but our sources previously told us the device would feature a 7-inch 1280×800 resolution display, quad-core Tegra 3 processor, and ship with a stock version of Android 4.x.
Sources say that Google was seeking a Taiwan-based partner to produce the device and approached Acer and HTC before deciding on ASUS. Acer “did not have in-house R&D capability” and HTC was “unwilling to develop a low-price model to impair its brand image”.
Earlier rumors suggested this device might not launch until June, so it’s interesting to see that the timeline might have been moved up. Google is normally known for delaying their flagship Android products, so this would be a first if they shipped one early.
If May is the target launch date, we could see Google and ASUS reveal this tablet at the CTIA Wireless convention in New Orleans on May 8-10.
Even though Digitimes says the price could be between $199-249, we strongly believe it will debut at $199 as this device will be marketed as a Kindle Fire killer.
We also thought that this device might be branded Google Play, but it turned out that was the name for Google’s new online content stores. I’ll go out on a limb and predict it might now be called Nexus Play.
Our audience was quite excited with the original rumor report with one reader proclaiming, “I will push small children over to get to it.” If all the details turn out to be true, Google and ASUS could have an instant winner on their hands.
Source: Digitimes
Taylor is the founder of Android and Me. He resides in Dallas and carries the Verizon Galaxy Nexus as his daily device. Ask him a question on Twitter or Google+ and he is likely to respond. Tagged#Asus#asus memo 370T#CTIA2010#digitimes#google#Nexus Play#Nexus Tablet#Rumor#speculation#Tegra 3 37 Comments Join the discussion!Sort by DateRating 
91YellowDucati 03/09/12 9:25 AM Thumb upThumb down +29Dear Kindle Fire,
Its not you. It is me. I don’t want you anymore.
Sincerely,
Me
93Jeff Pan 03/09/12 9:42 AM Thumb upThumb down +4Not just Kindle. I hope this low end version stands up tall with the “new iPad”
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41Dirty_Azkals 03/10/12 12:04 AM Thumb upThumb down 0Right? Hopefully the “low end” only applies to its price and not the specs. This is the first tablet I’m actually excited for. For a internet/toy device this is not a wallet buster.
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29Max.Steel 03/09/12 11:59 AM Thumb upThumb down +2They already have your money….
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71CTown 03/09/12 3:39 PM Thumb upThumb down +2Don’t forget that the Kindle Fire is meant to get consumers into Amazon’s ecosystem. Amazon doesn’t make money off the tablet itself.
ReplyCurious what amazon has up its sleeve for round 2 though
ReplyI guess it’s time to tell my wallet to start saving up.
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95AsakuraZero 03/09/12 9:32 AM Thumb upThumb down +11shut up and take my money! now make the google play stores world wide and google will domain the world
Reply 95AsakuraZero 03/09/12 9:35 AM Thumb upThumb down +6on the serious side, its sad that HTC said “NO i dont wanna make “Cheap” stuff”, and acer just cant (i dont like their tablets for some reason and now i see why), what would said samsung ?
asus, dell and sony could make a tablet this cheap they have long history in making this kind of devices (computres in general and so), i dont mind asus doing the nexus tablets from here on the future
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8bigrob029 03/09/12 10:01 AM Thumb upThumb down +1samsung woulda said we cant do it for $200… they overprice everything in their lineup
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Nicholas VetteseGuest 03/09/12 11:39 AM Thumb upThumb down +5I feel that ASUS is the best choice, and in the end will be the major Android reseller on the market. Acer is iffy, and Samsung is pissing off their customers. HTC is moving to their own drum, and making some nice stuff, but ASUS is keeping their customer’s happy, as well as staying close to Google with Android.
I think this could be the turning point Google needs to step up their game. I would love to have a Transformer Prime HD, but I have a SGT 10.1.
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85LukeT32 03/09/12 12:19 PM Thumb upThumb down +4I don’t see why ASUS was the third choice. So far they have the best reputation in the Android tablet M market IMO.
ReplyAnd I was hoping for a HTC Nexus tablet also but ASUS is even better this could be something I’d actually buy now its just the waiting game for the render of the device and the actual tablet.
Reply izzoGuest 03/09/12 9:47 AM Thumb upThumb down +1asus, the new samsung…………..
ReplyAsus is really doing great they are on the right track teaming up with Google for the nexus tablet will only benifit them even more. The last few years Asus has been making there branding well known to those who haven’t heard of them . So keep up the good ASUS ill be looking forward to your devices in the future maybe even android phones in the US
ReplyAmen!!!!
Reply KevinGuest 03/09/12 9:55 AM Thumb upThumb down +1“I will push small children over to get to it.” That maybe a slightly extreme measure to make any electronic purchase, lol.
Reply KindroidGuest 1 day ago Thumb upThumb down 0But old ladies and nuns better look the hell out.
ReplyEven at $250, this is a price point I could jump in at. I love the size and my xoom is starting to get long in the tooth.
Reply 8bigrob029 03/09/12 10:04 AM Thumb upThumb down +6lord help the little children that are in the way of our electronic purchases…
Reply IshkenGuest 03/09/12 10:11 AM Thumb upThumb down -2For some reason, I get this feeling it should be postponed until the next AndOS upgrade in the Fall. A dual Nexus launch as it were. Still, money to be made to drop it next month.
ReplyI hope it comes early and at the rumored price of $200. But like all tech rumors, it has to be taken with a grain of salt. I’ll guess I’ll take a wait-and-see approach.
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53rantmo 03/09/12 10:17 AM Thumb upThumb down +10Oh man, I got quoted, that’s awesome! I stand by that statement too, especially if this does launch in May because that’s my birthday month.
Reply KevinGuest 03/09/12 10:19 AM Thumb upThumb down 0lol
ReplyCool! I am ready. Now all I need is a pocket full of presidents.
ReplyI’m taking all the rumors with a rock of salt, will believe it when there’s an actual announcement.
But only because it’s almost too good to be true!
A Nexus tablet device, at that unbeatable price point? An I’d be more than happy with Asus as manufacturer seeing what kind of stuff they’ve been putting out of late.
Hopefully soon. :)
100Taylor Wimberly 03/09/12 11:02 AM Thumb upThumb down +3ASUS already announced the MeMo 370T with 16 GB storage at $249. Just cut that storage in half to 8GB and you end up with a retail price around $199. Not that hard to believe really…
Reply seabass978Guest 03/09/12 11:51 AM Thumb upThumb down +2Here Asus and Google, take my money for this tablet. I’m willing to front them the money if all the spec is true.
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76aranea 03/09/12 12:41 PM Thumb upThumb down +1I hope they also have a 10(+) inch one also on the way. I understand going after the budged tablet market but they shouldn’t forget people like me who want a nexus experience on a high end tablet.
Reply ion orovGuest 03/09/12 1:06 PM Thumb upThumb down 0Please please please let it be soon.
Please please please don’t somehow screw it up (eg, no mSD, propietry port, launching with HC)
Godspeed Google and Asus, Godspeed.!
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16RRR 03/09/12 1:53 PM Thumb upThumb down 0well, i expect soon the oversupply and price dumping of all 1280×800 tablets because new target to copy just was born. lolol
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90Hall Lo 03/09/12 4:13 PM Thumb upThumb down 0Nice! Time to start saving up! :D
Reply KindroidGuest 1 day ago Thumb upThumb down 0The Nexus tablet is going to set the Android pad market on fire. It the right size. It’s got the right hardware. Asus and Google are going to have Android 4.0 optimized to an Apple like level. And it will have the killer price. This is the one Google has been waiting for.
Reply DaveGuest 1 day ago Thumb upThumb down +1I will gladly take one for $250 w/ 8GB’s internal, a micro SD card slot, & a front facing camera (it can be VGA, just pretty good quality). If they can’t get the micro SD card slot, fine, leave it out, just give me the FFC. I was already going to get the ASUS MeMO 370T, for going away to the new college as a gift. Which is now rumored to come out around the same time as this, May/June. So this is great. Patience really is a virtue, it’s hard to wait, but waiting sometimes can serve you the better presents. I was gonna get a tablet by Christmas time, but I was told to wait because they’re just clearing out old stock (& what I wanted anyway was gone), & look what happened when I waited.
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14Hershell Tidwell 11 hours ago Thumb upThumb down 0I would be okay with focusing on a nicer front camera and leave out the back camera. That’s just me, because I don’t need to take pictures with my tab. I would definitely video chat with my out of town family.
I also understand in the case of great specs, it’s needed for show. If micro SF and possible USB port, it will be money well spent. I can’t wait to use apps like splash top with a Bluetooth keyboard to knock out some work on the go.
Reply DaveGuest 10 hours ago Thumb upThumb down 0I completely agree. It would only seem right to have a nice front facing camera on a tablet, especially a Google Nexus one. I mean it’s like having a mini-laptop, why not have a ffc for video chatting? It’s all for convenience & portability for all your usual functioning you would use on a laptop basically. & yes it would be money well spent. I would even stretch $300 for it, but I think $250 is perfectly reasonable for all that, especially considering if you just switch the rear camera on the MeMO 370T (which will be $250) & make it a front facing camera on the Google Nexus Tablet. I’m so excited myself, can’t wait :D
Reply BjörnGuest 10 hours ago Thumb upThumb down +1Totally agree! Forget and throw away the rear camera and focus on the front. That will save some money, maybe down to 189:)
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