EVGA Tegra Note 7 Review: Nvidia's Tegra 4 For $200

Results: Web Browsing Benchmarks

The tests on the this page are JavaScript- and HTML5-heavy selections from our Web Browser Grand Prix series. Such tests are extra meaningful on mobile platforms, where much of the in-app content is served via the platform's browser on the back-end. They should not only offer a view of the Web browsing performance of each device, but since these tasks are traditionally so CPU-dependent, browser benchmarks (especially JavaScript-heavy tests) are a great way to measure SoC performance on devices using the same browser and platform.

All web tests are conducted using the optimal Web browser for each platform. Due to platform restrictions, Safari is the one and only choice for iOS-based devices, while Internet Explorer is the only game in town on the Windows RT platform. While Chrome is the obvious choice for Android, in order to keep our browser versions even across devices for the foreseeable future, we're employing Opera 16, which is also based on Chromium.

JavaScript

First up, we have Rightware’s BrowserMark, a synthetic browsing benchmark that tests several aspects of performance including: load time, CSS, DOM, HTML5 Canvas, JavaScript, and WebGL.

Nvidia’s Tegra Note manages to just barely take the lead in this test over Apple’s flagship iPhone 5s. Oddly enough, the Shield, which utilizes a higher-clocked version of the Tegra 4 SoC, trails behind in third place. Both of Nvidia’s Tegra 4 devices and the A7-powered Apple handset come out significantly ahead of the Sony Xperia Z1 carrying Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 800.

In another round of good news for Nvidia, both comparably-priced Nexus 7 models are handily beaten, showing the Nvidia Note as a value proposition against the slightly more expensive Nexus 7 (2013) with Qualcomm’s mid-range Snapdragon S4. The Note’s Tegra 4 beats last year’s Tegra 3 in the Nexus 7 (2012) by nearly 1000 points, or almost 30 percent.

Next up, we have JSBench, the newest JS performance test on the block, and the spiritual successor to WebKit’s ubiquitous SunSpider test that just won’t seem to go away. Unlike most off-the-shelf Web browser benchmarks, JSBench could almost be considered real-world. This test utilizes snippets of JavaScript that actually appear on several of today's most-visited Web sites.

Here the iPhone 5s and its 64-bit A7 SoC dominates the field, although Nvidia’s Tegra 4 devices take second position. Able to run up to 100 MHz faster than the Note, the Tegra 4 inside of Shield takes second place. Close behind is the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1” 2014 Edition with the company’s Exynos 5. Qualcomm-based devices are next in line with Snapdragon 800 in the Sony Xperia N1 beating the current Google Nexus 7 and its Snapdragon S4 by a significant margin. This benchmark shows the Tegra Note more than doubling the performance of last year’s Tegra 3-based Nexus 7.

Peacekeeper is a synthetic Javascript performance benchmark from Futuremark, makers of 3DMark and PCMark.

The placing order here remains the same as in JSBench, though the margins between the first-place iPhone 5s and the runner-up Tegra 4 devices is far more forgiving. The Note and Shield once again displays twice the performance as the Tegra 3-based Nexus 7.

HTML5

Now we're moving away from JavaScript and into HTML5. First up is the Impact HTML5 Benchmark. Essentially a timedemo of the Impact HTML5 game engine in action, the relative performance here should be pretty indicative of other HTML5-based platformers.

Impact places the devices in much the same order as our last two JS tests, with the A7-based iPhone put ahead, followed by the two Nvidia products. This time the Tegra Note bests the higher-clocked Shield, though by just 100 points.

Finally, we have Principled Technologies' WebXPRT, an HTML5-based Web app benchmark. This test simulates common productivity tasks that are traditionally handled by locally-installed applications, including: photo editing, financial charting, and offline note-taking.

This final test lines up with previous three benchmark results, with one excpetion. Here, the Snapdragon 800-based Xperia Z1 manages to slip in between the two Tegra 4 devices, and the Shield is again placing behind the Note. This time, the Nexus 7 (2012) and its Tegra 3 are about 40 percent behind the Tegra 4-based devices.

Overall, the Web tests are favorable for Nvidia. While nothing can touch Apple’s A7, even the new iPad mini is twice the cost of the Tegra Note. Besides, versus the Android-based competition, the Tegra 4 is sitting pretty.

  • MasterMace
    It lacks a 1080 screen - deal killer for me.
    Reply
  • DelightfulDucklings
    Performance wise it is very good for the price seemingly but I just hate the design, to me it just looks plain ugly
    Reply
  • JD88
    Front facing speakers are really nice. One of the very few complaints I have about my Nexus 7 is volume.

    This thing is a powerhouse for the money.
    Reply
  • ananke
    No 1080p, no sales. Otherwise great device, and good price, but DOA because of the screen. The Chinese knock offs will outsell it.
    Reply
  • TheSchmed
    I am considering buying this tablet, but I'm weighing it against the less-expensive Dell Venue 7 and 8 (Android, not W8). I hope Tom's will review the Dell tablets and evaluate Intel processor performance and battery life!
    Reply
  • johnjohn67
    Pretty good deal and it has a micro sd slot.
    Reply
  • somebodyspecial
    CF BENCH:
    "Sony has been optimising for Snapdragon-based devices since the Xperia range took on the Krait core, and its experience shows as the Xperia Z1 comfortably leads the Tegra Note and Galaxy Note 10.1 in both Managed and Native."

    xperia java=32352
    Tegra Note7=32648.5

    Unless I'm not understanding what is going on here, 32648 is the longer bar/better score right? So while it lost NATIVE, it did not lose Java Managed right? It seems Sony won NATIVE and TEGRA note 7 won Java Managed. You need to fix the text.
    Reply
  • Lessthannil
    Why does everyone complain about no 1080p? The difference between 1280x800 to 1920X1080p on a 7" screen is minimal while it requires signifigantly more performance and power. Also, its a $199 tablet, what where you expecting?
    Reply
  • JeanLuc
    While benchmarking did you check to see if the any of the devices you were testing were boosting the SOC clock rates beyond the advertised clock speeds in certain benchmarks? Anandtech looked at this issue a while ago, it would be good to see publications like Toms testing for this sorting of thing and name and shame culprits.
    Reply
  • somebodyspecial
    Shows the power of the T4, I just wish they'd put it in something I want. And I agree 1080p min on anything that is above a phone' 5in size. But I also understand some just don't care so really a personally complaint about that. I'll wait for T5 and hope they get it into 1080/1200p on 13in or 20in ;) I have no use for 10 or below after using nexus10. Print etc, stuff is just too dang small. Maybe spoiled by 24in/22in dual monitors. I just can do squat on something that small and enjoy it other than some games and I'm not even sure about that. I hope they make a 7in shield 2 :) (maybe a 10in?...LOL).

    Smaller and THINNER (you took how much of my batter for thinner?) are USELESS to me. Give me back that larger and FAT model please, so I can run with more power or longer life (or some combo of both). As soon as I see "THINNER" in any description I just put my wallet back and shake my head :( Did I want thinner 10-15 years ago, yeah...Now that party ended ages ago for me.
    Reply