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Tablet Tuesday: A refurbished Google Nexus 7 (32GB) for $129.99

That's the lowest price to date on Google's popular tablet, but it does involve a pretty hefty rebate.

Rick Broida Senior Editor
Rick Broida is the author of numerous books and thousands of reviews, features and blog posts. He writes CNET's popular Cheapskate blog and co-hosts Protocol 1: A Travelers Podcast (about the TV show Travelers). He lives in Michigan, where he previously owned two escape rooms (chronicled in the ebook "I Was a Middle-Aged Zombie").
Rick Broida
2 min read
The Google Nexus 7: Beloved by Android fans.
The Google Nexus 7: Beloved by Android fans. TigerDirect

Among Android purists, the Google Nexus is widely regarded as the top tablet. I don't necessarily agree with that assessment, but I do know a good deal on one when I see it.

For a limited time, and while supplies last, TigerDirect has the refurbished Google Nexus 7 (32GB) for $129.99, plus around $4 for shipping. That's after applying coupon code QIS89281 at checkout and redeeming a $70 mail-in rebate (which comes in the form of a prepaid debit card).

Update: Perhaps unsurprisingly, this is already sold out. It's worth checking again later, though, as TigerDirect might make more inventory available. In the meantime, the Nook HD (see below) is still a smokin' deal at $149.

Before you vent your spleen on the subject of rebates, allow me to suggest a more hassle-free alternative: the Barnes & Noble Nook HD, which, as I bonus-dealed about yesterday, is on sale this week for $149. More on that in a bit.

CNET called the Nexus 7 "the best small tablet," though that was in reference to the HSPA+ version; this one is Wi-Fi-only. Its spotlight features include an Nvidia Tegra 3 processor, 32GB of storage, Bluetooth, GPS, and Android 4.1 (upgradeable to 4.2).

And, boy, do users love this thing. It averages a 4.6-star rating (out of 5) from TigerDirect customers and 4.2 stars from the Amazon crowd (whose numbers exceed 500).

That said, the Nexus 7 lacks one of Android's best features -- a microSD expansion slot -- and doesn't have a particularly high-resolution screen. Granted, 1,280x800 is more than sufficient in a 7-inch tablet, but the aforementioned Nook HD offers 1,440x900. And it has a microSD slot. (It also has Bluetooth, even though Barnes & Noble's specs don't mention it.)

My main complaint with the Nook: its proprietary sync/charge connector. Bad Barnes & Noble. Bad!

Anyway, if you don't mind waiting on a rebate (and don't mind a 90-day refurb warranty), this is your chance to score a killer deal on one of the most popular Android tablets to date. But I'd say for a mere $20 more, the Nook HD definitely merits consideration. Your thoughts?

Bonus deal: Game time! If you are indeed cool with rebates, Newegg has Mass Effect 3 (PC) for $10, shipped, with a $10 mail-in rebate (PDF) bringing your final cost to $0. The action-RPG game earned a 9.0 rating from GameSpot and made a lot of best-of-2012 lists.

Bonus deal No. 2: Need a sweet gift for Mom? For a limited time, All4Cellular has the Aliph Jawbone Jambox portable Bluetooth speaker for $89.95 shipped when you apply coupon code MOM10 at checkout. Note that although it's new, it comes in white-box packaging. (Perfect opportunity to get out the crayons and decorate it just for Mom!) List price: $179.99.

Deals found on The Cheapskate are subject to availability, expiration, and other terms determined by sellers.

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