Holdouts who wanted a new Google Nexus 7 tablet, but one with 4G LTE can now order the device in the U.S., the company announced today.
The Google Play store has the cellular version of the 7-inch device in stock for $349, and while it comes with a T-Mobile SIM card, it's unlocked from the start.
T-Mobile stores will also start selling the new Nexus 7 with built-in LTE starting in October.
The Nexus 7 2013 4G LTE model replaces last year's edition, which ran off of the slower HSPA+ band and cost just $299 as of yesterday.
The upgrade brings LTE's faster speeds and it shares attributes with the recently launched WiFi-only version of the tablet: a thinner body, lighter feel, faster processor and sharper screen.
Nexus 7 LTE vs WiFi specs comparison
There's more to consider than just 4G LTE when purchasing either the Nexus 7 with WiFi or 4G LTE.
Like the previous generation, there isn't a 16GB model of the Nexus 7 available. That has been restricted to the $229 WiFi-only version.
But you may not even want to go the 16GB route. As we pointed out in our Nexus 7 review, this base model will only have 10GB of useable storage because the onboard software takes up 6GB.
The other thing to consider is the price. While the WiFi models are $229 for 16GB and $269 for the 32GB, adding LTE costs a pretty penny at $349.
On top of the $80 to $120 difference, you'll have to pay for an optional month-to-month data plan.
Of course, that's still pennies when you consider that $349 is much cheaper than the LTE iPad mini, which starts at $459 for just 16GB and, for a more fair comparison feature-wise, $559 for the 32GB model.
