It's Official: Google Announces Nexus 7 Tablet, Pushes Gaming

Google has confirmed its entry into the tablet computer hardware market. The company will launch the Nexus 7 in mid-July.

It will come in two SKUs - an 8GB/£159 model and a 16GB/£199 package. The tablet punches in at 340g with a Quad-core Tegra 3 processor, 7" screen and reportedly a battery that will see you through eight hours of active use. It features the Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) OS. You can see the full specs below.

Google is keen to emphasise the Nexus 7's gaming chops. According to the company, "Nexus 7 was designed with gaming in mind. With heart pounding quad-core performance and sensors like a gyroscope and accelerometer -- do a barrel roll then tilt, touch and tap your way to the top of the leaderboards while exploring over 600,000 apps and games available on Google Play."

The price point clearly puts it up against Amazon's Kindle Fire, though it's a bit of a moot point in the UK as it still hasn't been released over here.

Earlier in the month Microsoft announced its Surface tablet, which looks to be taking aim at the iPad end of the market.

Here are those specs and, for good measure, a video from Google right at the bottom:

SCREEN
- 7” 1280x800 HD display (216 ppi)
- Back-lit IPS display
- Scratch-resistant Corning glass
- 1.2MP front-facing camera

WEIGHT
- 340 grams

MEMORY
- 8 or 16 GB internal storage
- 1 GB RAM

BATTERY
- 4325 mAh (Up to 8 hours of active use)

CPU
- Quad-core Tegra 3 processor

SIZE
- 198.5 x 120 x 10.45mm

WIRELESS
- WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
- Bluetooth

USB
- Micro USB

OS
- Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)

FEATURES
- Microphone
- NFC (Android Beam)
- Accelerometer
- GPS
- Magnetometer
- Gyroscope