Upcoming Nexus tablet to sell as low as $149?

A new budget-friendly Nexus tablet running Google's Android operating system is in the works and may be available soon, an Android enthusiast site reported.

 

Citing a senior employee from a supply chain company based in the United States, a report on Android and Me said the tablet will cost $149 but will be of high quality.

 

“It’s a done deal,” it quoted the supply chain source as saying.

 

But it said what is most surprising about the latest rumor is that the target price has been lowered to $149 and that the quad-core Tegra 3 processor is out.

 

Earlier this month, "Android and Me" claimed Google had chosen ASUS to produce their upcoming “Nexus tablet.”

 

It also noted the ASUS MeMo 370T that was revealed at the Consumer Electronics Show has been scrapped after Google contracted with ASUS to produce their “Nexus tablet.”

 

"Earlier reports said the device would retail for $249-199, but we are now told the target price is $149-199. The quad-core Tegra 3 version that was previously leaked is no more. Other than the 7-inch display, no additional information has been provided on the specs," it said.

 

Undercutting Kindle Fire

 

It added it appears Google wanted to undercut the Kindle Fire tablet, so it lowered the bill of materials by going with a processor that was cheaper than Tegra 3.

 

"We heard similar stories last year that Amazon had originally chosen Tegra 2 to power the Kindle Fire, but they went with Texas Instruments’ OMAP4 at the last moment because they got a better volume deal," it said.

 

On the other hand, it said ASUS has a strong relationship with Qualcomm, "so we might see a Snapdragon processor end up inside this 'Nexus tablet.'”

 

Android and Me also said it was noteworthy its source called this device the “Nexus tablet.”

 

Specs

 

It also said it expects the device to be announced at the CTIA Wireless show in New Orleans from May 8-10.

 

The site cited sources who said it will ship with the latest version of Android, Ice Cream Sandwich.

 

"But if this is truly a Nexus device it might become the flagship platform for the next version of Android, codenamed Jelly Bean. More information on Jelly Bean is expected to be revealed at Google IO on June 27-29th," it said. — TJD, GMA News