So, the Pixel tablet is an Android-powered tablet that also doubles as a smart display when you attach it to the charging speaker dock, which, by the way, comes included in the box. If they marketed it solely as a $500 Android tablet, its chances of success would probably be quite low. The reality is, when someone wants a tablet, it’s hard not to recommend an iPad. However, what about a tablet that could benefit from a smart multimedia display and speaker combo? In this article, we will be reviewing the Google Pixel Tablet and exploring its various aspects.
Read Also: OnePlus Pad Review: Is it Worth Buying?
Design
This tablet suddenly makes a lot more sense than the $450 entry-level iPad. The white bezels on this porcelain model will be a little controversial, as black bezels are kind of the default these days. Personally, I like it and think it can look really good in the right home setting. The backside has a nano coating on top of the aluminum build, which feels nice and gives off a very Google aesthetic. This finish also pretty much eliminates any fingerprints, which is awesome. And a fingerprint scanner embedded into the power button, which works 100% of the time. That’s your only biometric option for unlocking the tablet; no face unlock.
Display
The display specs are very average. pixel tablet has a 2560 by 1600 LCD display. I know some of you will be disappointed that it isn’t OLED, but remember, this doubles as a smart display too. Having an OLED display on all the time will lead to a burning nightmare. A 16 by 10 aspect ratio also makes sense since Google views this as mainly a multimedia device. The only spec that feels slightly disappointing for me is the 60Hz refresh rate. I wish they went with 90 instead since 60 feels a little dated in 2023, especially for a touchscreen tablet.
Stylus and Keyboard
What’s interesting is that Google didn’t really market this as a note-taking or drawing tablet, but the spec sheet does say that it supports USI 2.0 stylus pens. I picked up this one from Knovel, and you can totally interact with the tablet, take notes, and sketch with it. It’s nowhere near as responsive as the Apple Pencil or S Pen, but it honestly does the trick. The pen even comes with magnets that attach to the back of the tablet. It makes me think that Google might launch their own stylus. And It even attaches to the top like too Pretty good.
Although Google didn’t launch this with a keyboard attachment either, the good news is that Android works perfectly fine with a Bluetooth keyboard. It’s easy enough to pair one up, and it just makes word processing, answering emails, or messaging a much better experience.
Pixel Tablet Performance
The Pixel tablet comes with 8 gigs of RAM, with 128 or 256 gigabytes of storage. It’s powered by the Tensor G2 chip, which is the same processor we’ve seen in all the current Pixel phones, including the flagship Pixel 7 Pro. So, you can expect a similar performance. It’s benchmarking a little lower than what I’ve seen on those other devices. My unit is running pre-release software, so that might explain it. it’s been a very smooth experience—no stutters, no lag at all. It’s more than capable for casual gaming too, but don’t expect it to run more demanding games like Genshin Impact on anything higher than low to medium graphic settings.
Software and UI
The software experience will feel very familiar if you own a Pixel phone. The home screen features the typical ‘At a Glance’ widget in the top left, with a Google search bar embedded into the dock, which can also fit six of your favorite apps. You can run two apps side by side and resize them to your liking, but that’s essentially it when it comes to multitasking. No desktop mode like Samsung DeX or Apple Stage Manager here. Google is keeping it nice and simple.
The tablet supports multiple users, which I think is essential for a home hub that is likely to be shared by everyone in the family. So, each profile has their own separate apps and content. You can have up to eight profiles, including the ability to set up a child account, which lets you block certain apps and limit screen time.
It comes pre-loaded with all the popular Google apps, which they’ve optimized to fit the larger screen. Android on tablets is definitely still a work in progress, but it’s nice to see that the list of optimized apps is growing and should only get better.
If you’re wondering what an unoptimized app looks like, well, Double-tapping either side will slide that app to that side, which I assume is to make it easier to scroll when you’re holding the tablet in landscape. If this really bugs you, you could technically rotate the tablet and use it like a really big phone, I guess.
Another knock on Android tablets has always been the lack of pro-level apps, and pixel tablet doesn’t change that. The thing is, Google isn’t marketing this towards creatives or pros. It’s not trying to be a laptop replacement or anything like that. It’s really made for casual tablet use around the house.
Charging Dock with Speaker and Battery Protection
The unique selling feature for pixel tablet is the charging speaker dock. While the magnets are pretty strong, there were times when I found myself knocking the tablet off the dock while trying to adjust the volume. If you opt for the kickstand case, which is awesome by the way, it’s even easier to push it off. Don’t worry though, it’s not really an issue. The magnet system is great, but it’s still good to be cautious if you have kids who tend to be a little more heavy-handed around things.
Now, because the tablet charges 24/7 when docked, a lot of us were worried about battery health over time. To combat this, Google limits the maximum charge on the tablet to 90%. You can bypass this in the battery settings, but note that it turns back on every single time you redock the tablet. Charging via a USB-C cable will get you the full 100%, but remember, this tablet doesn’t come with any charger besides the one for the dock.
Hand-off Audio Quality
The audio handoff between the dock and tablet is awesome. There’s something so satisfying about listening or watching content on the tablet, then popping it down onto the dock and immediately getting that improved audio experience. It’s a very smooth transition too. It just flat out sounds better than the quad speakers on the tablet itself. Thanks to the added bass, it also does a really good job filling a mid-sized room. It’s not pumping out sound in all directions like the design might make you think. All the sound comes out through the front, so you get the best audio experience when standing in front of it.
Hub mode
While docked, the moment you lock the tablet, it enters Hub mode. Pressing the power button a second time will turn the display completely off. I was actually in the market for a digital photo frame, and this sort of fills that role perfectly. Having so many memories sort of stuck on my phone, it’s nice being able to randomly see and relive memories throughout the day. It has a nice human element that often gets lost when it comes to tech.
You can, of course, control all your smart devices by tapping this Google Home icon right here. Setup was really simple; all I did was sign into my Google account, and all my smart home stuff just showed up immediately. You can also use your voice to control connected devices, ask questions, set timers, and all that jazz. Thanks to Google Assistant, voice pickup was surprisingly good. It’s able to hear me perfectly fine from another room. If that creeps you out, Google does give you the option to block microphone and camera access when you don’t need them.
Built-in chrome cast
The Pixel tablet is also the first tablet to have Chromecast built into it. If you’ve never used Chromecast before, it basically lets you cast content from your phone directly to the tablet. Let’s say I’m watching a YouTube video on my phone. Just look for the Cast icon, choose the Pixel tablet, and it’ll start playing right on the tablet.
Battery life
In terms of battery, I haven’t been able to reach the 12 hours of battery life that Google claims you’ll get when streaming video. Watching a 4K YouTube video at around 70% brightness drained the battery by 14%, which translates to just over seven hours. Keeping the brightness down will definitely help you get more out of the battery. With mixed usage, I think seven to eight hours is what you can expect from it. However, because of how easy it is to dock and charge the tablet, I haven’t been as concerned with the battery life.
Extra docks?
You can apparently buy extra docks to place around the house, but because it doesn’t offer any functionality at all without the tablet attached to it, it doesn’t really feel worth it to me. They could have added to the dock to make it more useful on its own, like making it a standalone Bluetooth speaker with Google Assistant, for example. I also wish it offered some sort of tilt function, naughty because this one angle might not be ideal depending on where you place it. The dock is such a cool idea, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Apple or Samsung do something similar.
Final thoughts
Like most first-gen products, there’s room for improvement, but I gotta give Google credit. They found a neat way to make a tablet that offers way more functionality in our homes. It doubles as a versatile smart home hub, a digital picture frame, and a dedicated multimedia device for the entire family. And including the dock that makes it all possible right in the box definitely makes this more appealing compared to if it were just a straight-up Android tablet.
Android on tablets is far from perfect, but if you don't care for pro-level apps and just want a multimedia device with simple software that everyone in the family can use, google pixel tablet, as usual.
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Design10
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Display8.6
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Stylus and Keyboard8
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Performance8.5
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Software and UI8
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Charging Dock9
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Battery Life7.5
1 Comment
If someone already had an Android phone ) especially a Pixel phone) and possibly the Pixel watch; why would they consider an iPad? I have had this Pixel tablet for the weeks and love it. It integrates perfectly. It’s just love my phone but with a much bigger screen and better sound. Also light and easy to hold. My only issue is knowing where the power button is when picking up.