Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Based on the price point and my general happiness with the Nexus 7 (2012 model) I already own, I disregarded most of the sour grapes commentary about the light bleed problems on the Nexus 9. However, they're all right. There is a huge variation in manufacturing tolerances. In the picture below, you'll see the first Nexus 9 I received from Amazon on the RIGHT (Serial Prefix: HT4B9) and the second (an exchange from Amazon) on the LEFT (Serial Prefix: HT4AN) I'm obviously keeping the exchange (the one on the left). In all fairness, the picture exaggerates the problem a little. It's not _that_ bad. But if you're watching a letterboxed movie, it's noticeable enough to be distracting. It's not all roses and gumdrops with the second one though: the vibrate motor is actually audible on the second one. On the first one, I don't think there's any way an adult human could hear the thing vibrate as you type. On the second one, the motor is definitely audible. It's not so loud that people will change seats on the train to get away from you, but loud enough that you'll note that it's not silent. Lastly, the screen itself is slightly warmer on the second model. There's no way to calibrate the color balance so I have to imagine it's a different panel altogether. Also, the off-angle viewing is different .. not really better on one or the other, just a little different. On both units, the 'hollow back' problem that people report is present. But I'm putting this thing in a case so it doesn't really matter to me. Point being: you might have to order and exchange a couple of these before you get one you like. And no surprise, Amazon is a champ about making that easy as pie.