Processor, OS and performance
Apple iPad Mini comes with a dual core A5 processor while the Google Nexus 7 has Nvidia's quad core Tegra 3 processor. As per analysts, the Apple chip does better when it comes to graphics, so gaming is expected to be better on the iPad Mini.
On the other hand, the Nvidia chip is said to be better than the A5 at data-crunching and power efficiency. The Apple iPad Mini comes with iOS 6 and the Google Nexus 7 comes with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean operating system. Both are diametrically different. For instance, the iOS has more and better games than the Android. However, though iOS has better apps as well, the spectrum of apps is not as wide as on Android. In Android, you have µTorrent's app too, which you should not expect from iOS.
Also, jail breaking the iPad Mini to download non-market apps would void your warranty, but with Android, you need not worry about that while installing a non-market application on the Nexus 7. The biggest difference between the Nexus 7 and iPad Mini is the maps application. It is widely accepted that Google Maps (for Android) is far better than Apple's own maps application. Customisation is also easy and acceptable on Android but not on iOS 6.
Battery
The Apple iPad Mini comes with a 16.3 Watt Lithium polymer battery, promising 10 hours of web surfing over WiFi. The Google Nexus 7, meanwhile, has a 4325 mAh battery that is said to give eight hours of operational life with each recharge.
Connectivity
Both devices offer WiFi connectivity. Besides, Google has provided Bluetooth and NFC in the Nexus 7; while the Apple iPad Mini comes with Bluetooth but no NFC.
Conclusion
Both are niche products of the respective companies. The Apple iPad Mini in a nutshell is a good tablet for gaming not only because it has a bigger display than the Nexus 7, but its A5 dual core processor also provides better graphics output. The iOS app store has better games than Android in terms of quality as well as quantity.
The Google Nexus 7 is a balanced tablet with more connectivity options (NFC) and options for customization, which is not allowed in the Apple tablet. Android also has a greater variety of applications, and not to forget the superiority of Google Maps over Apple Maps. Plus, you will get a 32 GB storage slot in Nexus 7 as compared to only 16 GB in the iPad Mini.
