The Google Nexus 9 is Google's latest tablet. It's a good alternative to other products, such as the iPad Air 2. The $399 price tag is $100 cheaper than the iPad Air 2.

The Nexus 9 is a good sized tablet, but not too big. The 8.9-inch screen is a nice increase in size from the Nexus 7 but it is not as big as the Apple iPad Air 2's 9.4-inch screen.

The Nexus 9 is not as thin as the Apple iPad Air 2 or as light as the Amazon Kindle Fire HDX, but it still only weighs 0.94 pounds, which is actually 0.02 pounds lighter than the Apple iPad Air 2, according to data from CNet.

Offering a comfortable grip, the Nexus 9 can be held either in portrait or landscape orientation. The smooth back of the tablet makes it comfortable and easy to hold. Android's newest software, Lollipop 5.0 first appeared on the Nexus 9 tablet before any other tablets. Some new features on the latest Android software include interactive lock screen notifications, a modified quick settings menu and a revamped recent apps function.

The Nexus 9 utilizes a 2.3 GHz dual-core Nvidia Tegra K1 Denver processor. The tablet can either be purchased with 16 GB or 32 GB of internal storage. There is no microSD card slot to expand this storage any further. Instead, Google encourages users to use cloud-based data storage solutions.

Performance is excellent with the Denver processor, making the tablet capable of performing any task. Switching between apps and using the tablet is smooth thanks to the fast processor.

Swiping on the tablet's screen is simple and responsive. To wake the Nexus 9 up, a simple double-tap of the screen will suffice.

The screen resoultion of 2,048 x 1,536 pixels is identical to what the iPad Air 2 displays. However, the brightness of the Nexus 9 falls behind other tablets in brightness.

Sound on the Nexus 9 is nowhere near the Amazon Kindle Fire HDX, but the HTC BoomSound still offers loud and clear sound for a tablet.

For a tablet, the Nexus 9 actually has a pretty good camera with an 8 megapixel snapper. Pictures come out crisp with realistic colors.

One drawback on the Nexus 9 is charging from a dead battery. That process can take at least three hours. Using the Nexus 9 heavily will result in about 8 hours of battery life, but Google says most users should get 10 hours of use from the 6,700 mAh battery.

The Nexus 9 is a nice improvement from the Nexus 7. The specs are very close to Apple's iPad Air 2 and for $100 less. The screen is sharp and the processor makes the tablet perform very well. For those preferring an Android-based tablet, the Nexus 9 is the answer.

The Nexus 9 comes in three colors: indigo black, lunar white or sand. It can be purchased from the Google Store starting at $399.99.

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