As we all know, Google I/O this year didn’t have any crazy new hardware announcements or a change in the Android OS version. With speculation of a new Nexus 7, Motorola’s X-Phone, or even an LTE Nexus 4 we were all excited. Don’t worry though, because it’s all still coming. A new report from DigiTimes claims the new Nexus 7 is already shipping to warehouses, and will be announced next month.

According to DigiTimes, who’s been accurate in the past, ASUS and Google have contracted AUO to manufacture the next-gen 1920×1200 low-temperature poly-silicon (LTPS) display for their new 7-inch Nexus tablet. We’ve heard different specs through the rumor mill, and they all keep coming back to an impressive 1080p display. The important thing here isn’t the display, but the details on dates and numbers ordered.

Supply chain sources reportedly confirmed that AU Optronics has been hard at work building nearly 1 million displays for the new Nexus, and have already shipped all million out this month. Yes this month, but only to warehouses for final preparation. With 1 million shipped in May we can expect the announcement to come in June (which stacks up with previous rumors) and most likely it will be running Android 4.3 Jelly Bean.

The reports from the supply chain also mention that nearly 8 million have been ordered throughout 2013, and assembly is fully under way. Google’s planning another popular slate to sell quite well from the sound of things.

If this report is accurate an announcement could be coming within the next few weeks, and rumors have already suggested June 10th. Then retail availability could arrive in mid-July for a summer blockbuster. We’re hopeful for Android 4.3, the new Nexus 7, possibly an LTE Nexus 4, and the new Motorola smartphone all this summer.

18 COMMENTS

      • Tether to a phone consume battery from both. Having a simple data plan for the tablet is good. Besides, sometimes my father/sister/nephew would surely want to use it, and when wifi isn’t available, everyone could use it online with 3G.

      • There are some plans that are just a “pool” of data, and I can just add an extra data line for 10 bucks and never have to worry about tethering my phone and draining battery in the process. The best thing I did to preserve battery on my phone is buy a nexus 7. I still use my phone, but I use my tablet when i’m going to be stationary for a while. I still tether my phone, but it doesn’t use nearly as much battery tethering than actually using it. When my contract is up, im getting a separate data plan for my tablet.

    • Reviews I have seen of that apple product complain that the lack of bezel is a pain, So I’m for a smaller bezel not it still needs to have one.

      • I’m not so much concerned with the side bezels. It’s the top/bottom bezels that could use some reduction. Over 1.5 inches of bezel? Try for less than 1 inch, and it should look significantly better and (if it retains a 7″ form-factor), would be quite a bit smaller.

      • You must be gripping it tight all the time or something. If your thumb is in the way, just move it, you know you can move your thumbs right. My phone has almost no bezel and my thumbs don’t get in the way.

      • You do know phone and tablets are different form factors. Its impossible to grab the 7″ form factor by the edges and still able to interact with the content, unlike a phone. UNLESS you use two hands. Nexus 7 is nice with the bezel. Once you get rid of the bezel then you just created a two handed operation only device unless you have some killer thumb rejection that is system wide.

  1. I thought that they weren’t going to release a new tab, so I went and spent my money on 2 nexus 7 docks, 2 Jelly Bean 4.1.2 Google TV HDMI dongles and a power line to broadband landline, WiFi adapter. Suppose I can always still give my sister my 32GB Nex 7, another N7 dock and get her to sell the N7 8 GB for $ 125, though 2 N7 docks is a bit of an overkill, maybe she could give it to her partner, or use it as a sweetener to get the price up to $170. With $ 20 for expenses for selling and postage, that ought to pay for half the price of the new one, by the time it’s delivered in Australia, hoping for a Snapdragon 800, lashings of LPDDR3 RAM and that full high definition screen, just typing out loud.

    • they’re going to make a Nexus7 tablet every year………… you knew they made one last year………. its been about a year since then……… this was expected…

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