54

I am having trouble with Bluetooth Low Energy (BT 4.0) on a Nexus 7. I think I may have a 2012 model.

How to tell if I have a 2012 or 2013 version of the Nexus 7?

ale
  • 19,723
  • 34
  • 110
  • 159
monzie
  • 659
  • 1
  • 5
  • 4
  • 11
    Look at the back. If you can read "Nexus" while the tablet is in a portrait orientation, it's the 2012 model. If it's sideways, it's the 2013. – ale Dec 04 '13 at 13:19
  • @Krampus That's a really good, concise answer. If you were to post it as an answer, I for one would upvote it. – Dan Hulme Dec 04 '13 at 13:43
  • 3
    It does have the virtue of not requiring the unit to be powered on. But dotVezz's answer has images which show this anyway. – ale Dec 04 '13 at 13:45
  • 3
    BTW the 2012 model is NOT BT 4.0 (BLE, Smart Ready, etc...) compatible, even though it can be upgraded to android 4.3. The 2013 model is BT 4.0 compatible. – monzie Dec 05 '13 at 14:20
  • Just see if the tablet has a rear camera!! if it has its 2013 model. ENOUGH SAID – coolhz Mar 31 '14 at 14:21

1 Answers1

70

There are several physical differences

  • Most notable is the different orientations of the "Nexus" logo.
  • The 2013 model drops the dimpled texture on the back.
  • The 2013 model also has a camera on the back, which the 2012 model lacks.
  • The 2013 model has a notification LED on the front, which the 2012 model lacks.
  • The 2013 model has a speaker grille on the top for stereo sound in landscape, while the 2012 model only has the bottom speaker grille.

2013:

The 2013 Model has a large, vertically-aligned logo.

2012:

The 2012 model has a small, horizontally-aligned logo.

Community
  • 1
dotVezz
  • 3,642
  • 1
  • 23
  • 34
  • 6
    Looking at those images the 2013 model also has a front camera and a notification led, both of which the 2012 model lack. – bmdixon Dec 04 '13 at 13:23
  • With android 4.3 my build number on a 2013 model is JWR66N. Maybe the "razor" refers to a different android version? – monzie Dec 05 '13 at 14:24
  • @monzie Thanks. I must have been confused - I have now removed that part of the answer. – dotVezz Dec 05 '13 at 14:33
  • @bmdixon — Don't you mean a back camera? – Adam Mosheh Dec 05 '13 at 17:33
  • 1
    Yeah, I spotted that after posting but couldn't edit it. It's right in the answer though :) – bmdixon Dec 05 '13 at 20:48
  • @monzie "razor" is the board/device codename; it's unfortunately not displayed on that screen. But you can see it at https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images for example. I don't think it displays anywhere in the stock About screen – derobert Dec 05 '13 at 21:43
  • @derobert, he was referring to an incorrect statement that was in my answer. I've removed it since. – dotVezz Dec 05 '13 at 21:55
  • @dotVezz I know, I looked at the edit history... Its only half-wrong; they do indeed refer to the 2012 and 2013 models... They just aren't displayed. It'd be even better if they just clarified the model number on the screen, to "Nexus 7 (2012)" and "Nexus 7 (2013)". [I assume they don't; I only have a Nexus 5 and Nexus 10 in front of me to check.] – derobert Dec 05 '13 at 21:57