Key difference: The Nexus 4 is Google's fourth Nexus-branded Android smartphone. It was produced in collaboration with LG Electronics. The phone runs on the Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) operating system, which was launched with the phone. The Nexus 7 is a tablet computer running Android 4.1 (also named Jelly Bean) operating system. It was developed in collaboration with Asus.

With the constant upgrade in technology these days, new models of smartphones as well as upgraded models of smartphones with new features are being constantly launched in the market. Smartphones have become a way of life for many people, allowing them to do anything and everything on the go. This includes typing up a document, chatting with friends, video conferencing, writing up reports, checking e-mails, etc.

One of the most popular operating systems for smartphones and tablets is Android. Android is a Linux-based operating system owned and operated by the Open Handset Alliance, a consortium of 84 leading firms, which includes mobile handset makers, application developers, some mobile carriers and chip makers. The consortium is lead in part by Google, as well as HTC, Sony, Dell, Intel, Motorola, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments, Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, T-Mobile, Sprint Nextel, Nvidia, and Wind River Systems.

A number of these companies’ smartphones and tablets run on Android. Android is an open source software, which means that the code is freely available for modification and distribution by device manufacturers, wireless carriers and enthusiast developers. Among the number of various companies, Google has also launched its own line of smartphones based on Android, called the Google Nexus. Each device in the Nexus line is produced via collaboration between Google and a leading original equipment manufacturer (OEM) partner.

The Nexus devices in general have an advantage over other devices in that the Android in the Nexus devices is pure. I.e. the Android does not have any manufacturer or wireless carrier modifications to it, such as a custom graphical user interface. The Android also has an unlockable bootloader to allow further development and end-user modification, all of which is usually blocked on other Android smartphones.

The Nexus 4 and Nexus 7 are two of the devices available in the Google’s Nexus line. The main difference between them is the fact that the Nexus 7 is a 7 inch tablet, while the Nexus 4 is a smartphone. Also, the Nexus 7 pre-dates Nexus 4.

The Nexus 4 is Google's fourth Nexus-branded Android smartphone. It was produced in collaboration with LG Electronics. The phone features a 1.5 GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, 2 GB of RAM, 8 or 16 GB of internal storage, front facing 1.3 megapixel camera and an 8 megapixel rear camera and a micro-SIM card tray. The phone runs on the Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) operating system, which was launched with the phone. The phone also features a new camera technology, called the Photo Sphere. This allows one to take 360 deg Panorama shots.

The Nexus 7 is a tablet computer running Android 4.1 (also named Jelly Bean) operating system. It was developed in collaboration with Asus. It was the first tablet in the Google Nexus series and features a 7-inch (180 mm) display, an Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core chip, 1 GB of RAM, and 8, 16 or 32 GB of internal storage. The 8 and 16 GB models were Wi-Fi only, and the 8 GB was eventually discontinued. The 32 GB models are both Wi-Fi and 3G compatible. The Nexus 7 was marketed effectively as an entertainment device.

The information for the detailed table about the two phones has been taken from the Google Nexus website and GSMArena.com.

Image Courtesy: blogs.computerworld.com, androidheadlines.com