I’ve used my justifiable share of tablets over time. Predominantly, my time has been spent with an iPad Pro of some type, however I do take pleasure in an excellent Android pill every time one is definitely launched. Like many people Android nerds, we have been eager for Google to get again into the pill recreation, and our prayers had been lastly answered with the Pixel Tablet.
I’ve been eager for a Google pill that may seize my curiosity in the identical manner that the Nexus 7 did. And after a few weeks with the Pixel Tablet, Google is unquestionably onto one thing right here.
Google Pixel Tablet: Price and availability
The Google Pixel Tablet was first launched at Google I/O 2022, earlier than making it was formally launched in June 2023. There are three totally different colours out there, as Google is providing it in Porcelain, Hazel, or Rose, full with matching a Charging Speaker Dock within the field. Pricing begins at $499 for the 128GB mannequin and goes as much as $599 for the model with 256GB of storage.
Google Pixel Tablet: Brand new, but acquainted design
The very first thing that I observed after I took the Pixel Tablet out of the field is the texture of the again cowl. It jogs my memory of the end discovered on older Pixel telephones just like the Pixel 4 XL and Pixel 5. It’s tender to the contact, but snug to carry and there aren’t any worries about fingerprints turning this right into a smudgy mess, at the very least on the again.
This isn’t the identical sentiment on the subject of the show, due to the shiny end, which can doubtless present fingerprints as quickly as you unwrap it. But one thing else I observed is that Google didn’t wish to go down the identical path because the Galaxy Tab S8 or iPad Air right here. Instead, the bezels are massive sufficient so that you don’t have to fret about by accident touching the display. It’s doubtless the identical strategy Google made with the bezels on the Pixel Fold, and it’s really been a bit refreshing.
Admittedly, the bigger bezels do make the Pixel Tablet look like a tool that was launched just a few years in the past. Well actually, the Pixel Tablet appears to be like just like the Nest Hub with a greater display, however extra on that in a bit.
That being stated, I’m additionally a giant fan of each the selfie digicam and fingerprint scanner being positioned within the appropriate positions. It appears that each different firm, apart from Apple, has realized that the digicam ought to be oriented for panorama use, not on the high of the display. And the fingerprint scanner, even with a case on, continues to be accessible and has been extra dependable than the in-display one in my Pixel 7 Pro.
Google Pixel Tablet: Performance is what you’d anticipate
I received’t bore you with benchmarking scores and a spec breakdown as a result of principally, the Pixel Tablet is a Pixel 7 wrapped in a bigger display. Google’s getting essentially the most out of the Tensor G2 chip, which debuted together with the Pixel 7 and is now powering a complete of 5 units in Google’s lineup (together with the Pixel Fold.)
What which means is that it’ll deal with just about the entire greatest Android video games, whereas the 8GB of RAM is sufficient to make the most of the adjustments to multitasking in Android 13. In truth, I’m sitting right here penning this overview with the Pixel Tablet propped up on my desk related to a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard.
The new taskbar is just like what you’ll discover on the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and different large-screen units. With only a swipe up from the underside, the taskbar seems, revealing your most recently-used apps, together with an app drawer button. Touch and maintain on an app icon and also you’re capable of drag it into split-screen mode, however it’s not all sunshine and roses.
For instance, you possibly can’t have greater than two apps open at a time when engaged on a split-screen. And this resolution actually has me scratching my head a bit. I haven’t even been capable of get a 3rd app to open as a floating window, which is fairly disappointing if I’m being sincere.
Then once more, Google isn’t positioning the Pixel Tablet as a productiveness system, at the very least not but. The software program adjustments for Android tablets are greater than welcome, particularly on a large-screen system from Google. And you possibly can nonetheless modify the scale of the app home windows by dragging the road in the midst of the display left or proper.
If there was one factor that stunned me in regards to the Pixel Tablet announcement, apart from the apparent stuff, is the included help for USI 2.0. This means you need to use the identical USI pen out of your Chromebook along with your Pixel Tablet. My go-to USI pen has been the Penoval USI 2.0 stylus, and it’s labored fairly darn effectively, whether or not I’m looking for a music to play or jot down some fast notes. You may even set up the Google Canvas net app, together with any of the opposite greatest note-taking apps for Android, and don’t have to fret about coping with a pairing course of simply to make use of a stylus.
Keeping with the stylus for a second, I’m not somebody who takes a bunch of hand-written notes on tablets or foldable telephones, however there are occasions when having the ability to take action simply is useful. But I can’t assist however really feel like there’s just a bit bit an excessive amount of lag between what I write on the display and when it really reveals up.
At first, I believed perhaps one thing was up with the Penoval pen I used to be utilizing, however it additionally occurred with my different USI pens. Perhaps there’s a setting in Developer Options that can let me tweak issues, however I additionally wouldn’t be stunned if enhancements are made with future software program updates.
Google Pixel Tablet: My new good house hub
I’ve extra good shows and audio system in my home than I can rely, however none of them are being actively utilized in my workplace. Until I/O 2023, there was a Nest Hub on a shelf, accompanied by a Nest Hub Max within the kitchen and one other Nest Hub in my front room. But even earlier than I used to be provided to jot down this overview, I knew that I might find yourself with a Pixel Tablet.
And as a substitute of throwing it in a nook of the room, I’ve positioned it on my desk, simply to the suitable of my screens. Google retains attempting to inform everybody that the Pixel Tablet isn’t a Nest Hub alternative, however after spending a while with it, I’m nonetheless of the mindset that Google’s simply enjoying coy.
When docked, the Pixel Tablet’s Hub Mode may be personalized with lots of the similar choices that you simply’ll discover on the Nest Hub Max. But the largest profit is the redesigned Google Home app which continues to turn out to be useful after I wish to activate the lights or examine my cameras.
As for the speaker itself, it’s fairly a bit louder than I anticipated, regardless of the distinction in audio system in comparison with the Nest Hub Max. But what has are available in actually useful is the built-in Chromecast, as I tend of beginning movies after I take out my canine and wish to proceed watching them after I come inside. As you possibly can see within the footage, there isn’t a scarcity of screens in my workplace, however casting from my cellphone to the Pixel Tablet is far sooner in comparison with the rest.
Instead of looking for causes to make use of the Pixel Tablet, it’s simply develop into second nature to depend on it for issues like music playback or video watching after I need one thing off to the facet. Google actually nailed it right here, and whilst you received’t take pleasure in the perfect audio high quality, it’s nonetheless fairly a bit higher than what I used to be anticipating.
Google Pixel Tablet: There are trade-offs, for now at the very least
As a lot as I wish to sit right here and inform everybody to go purchase the Pixel Tablet proper now, I can’t precisely try this. It’s not the “end-all-be-all” system, not to mention the perfect Android pill on the market. Google did must make just a few compromises, a few of which have proven up in my time with it to date, whereas others may simply be a non-factor.
My greatest disappointment, to date at the very least, shouldn’t come as an excessive amount of of a shock, however I actually needed Google to launch a first-party stylus and keyboard cowl for the Pixel Tablet. As somebody who likes having the ability to work from just about wherever, at any time, I don’t all the time wish to throw in a Bluetooth keyboard simply to get some work performed on my pill. There are some rumors that this might be rectified within the coming months, however I’m of the mindset of “I’ll consider it after I see it.”
That’s to not say that Google’s first-party Pixel Tablet case is unhealthy, because the built-in adjustable kickstand has been fairly good to make use of. Plus, it nonetheless works with the Charging Speaker Dock, so I don’t want to fret about taking off the case every time I wish to throw my pill on the dock. And as I discussed earlier, the case doesn’t get in the best way of my attempting to unlock the pill with my fingerprint, which is a pleasant contact.
Instead, my greatest drawback with the case is that I really feel like I’m both destined to stay with scratches, or I’ll want to purchase a display protector if I ever wish to take the pill with me. The case does have a little bit of a lip across the edges, which will certainly assist if I place the pill display down. But that can do virtually nothing if I throw the Pixel Tablet in my bag after which by accident put one thing else in the identical sleeve.
Another disappointment that I’ve had, was one which I didn’t anticipate, and that’s the Charging Speaker Dock changing into a big paperweight every time the pill is indifferent. After this was revealed by Google, I actually didn’t suppose it will each me all that a lot, and actually, it hasn’t. But there have been occasions after I was listening to music, then needed to choose up the pill to take a look at one thing, solely to have the music change.
Google Pixel Tablet: The competitors
As is the case with most tablets, the obvious competitors to the Pixel Tablet is an iPad, and on this case, it is the iPad (tenth Generation). This is priced at $50 lower than the Pixel Tablet however adopts the fashionable design discovered with nearly each different choice in Apple’s lineup. But for $449, you will solely get the iPad and charging cable within the field and might want to spring for another equipment that you may want.
In his hands-on, my colleague Michael Hicks famous that the Lenovo Tab P11 Pro Gen 2 can be a formidable competitor. However, Google beneficial properties an edge within the software program replace division, whereas Lenovo’s pill “prices barely much less with a greater show.”
Lastly, is a stunning entrant into the listing of greatest Android tablets, and that is the recently-released Amazon Fire Max 11. For $380, you may get the pill, keyboard, and stylus, together with 128GB of expandable storage. But whereas I’m a giant fan of what Amazon has performed right here, you continue to will not have entry to the Play Store until you are okay with sideloading. But a $120 value distinction may simply be an excessive amount of to go up.
Google Pixel Tablet: Should you purchase it?
You can buy this if:
- You need an Android pill with Google’s Pixel software program interface.
- You need an Android pill that doubles as a wise house hub.
- You need software program updates as quickly as Google makes them out there.
- You desire a stable total pill and are okay with just a few compromises.
You should not purchase this if:
- You’re searching for a productivity-focused pill.
- You’re on a price range.
While I’ve come round to One UI and am okay with software program interfaces from different OEMs, there’s simply one thing about Pixel UI that brings me again. It’s a part of the explanation why I needed to see a Google Play Edition of the Galaxy Z Fold 3 or 4 till Google introduced the Pixel Fold.
The Pixel Tablet isn’t the perfect at anyone factor however nonetheless manages to face out from the pack with Material You and the Charging Speaker Dock. I’m nonetheless holding out hope that Google will launch a keyboard case and its personal USI stylus, however there are some fairly nice choices already out there.
It’s additionally not typically that I really wish to choose up and use a pill whereas sitting on the sofa, versus simply utilizing my cellphone. To reply the query of what’s “the one” from the title, the Pixel Tablet is the grasp of doing every part you need. Including issues, you would not have anticipated.
Absolutely nailed it
Google acknowledged the will for a brand new Android pill and delivered in a manner that solely Google can with the Pixel Tablet.
