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Google Pixel Tablet

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Specifications

• Screen:
• 10.95"LCD
• QHD 2560 x 1600 - 16:10 format
• 500 nits brightness
• Touch screen Supports USI 2.0 stylus pens
• Weights and Measures
• 493 g
• 258 width x 169 height x 8.1 depth (mm)
• Battery and charging
• Up to 12 hours of video streaming
• Built-in battery with a capacity of 27 watt-hours
• Charging via the charging station with speaker (included) or USB-C® charger (sold separately)
• Memory and storage space
• 8 GB LPDDR5 RAM 128 GB or 256 GB UFS 3.1 storage
• Processor
• Google Tensor G2 Titan M2 Security Module
• Front camera: 8 MP Pixel width of 1.12 μm ƒ/2.0 aperture Fixed focus Field of view of 84° 1/4" image sensor size
• Rear camera: 8 MP Pixel width of 1.12 μm ƒ/2.0 aperture Fixed focus Field of view of 84° 1/4" image sensor size
• Video and video calls
• Front camera 1080p video recording in 30 FPS
• Back camera 1080p video recording in 30 FPS Approval
• Unlocking via fingerprint sensor on power button Pattern, pin code, password
• Sound system with four speaker positions 3 microphones for calls, recordings and Google Assistant Noise reduction

If we look at the specifications here, the hardware, with the exception of the screen of course, is in fact the same at the central points as we just got in Google's Pixel 7 phone. There is actually more RAM in the Pixel 7 Pro than there is in the Pixel Tablet.

A tour around the Google Pixel Tablet

At first glance, there is nothing that makes the Pixel Tablet stand out in the crowd of other tablets. The screen and shape are actually somewhat reminiscent of the slightly older iPads.

The Google Pixel Tablet is available in a light grey/white Porcelain variant, or a more Green/grey Hazel variant. Our test model is in the color Hazel.

However, the materials and build quality feel super good. It's nicely rounded edges and a matte soft touch finish on the back. The back is actually made of aluminium, but has been given a nano ceramic surface treatment, which is super pleasant to the touch.

The front is of course dominated by the just under 11" large screen with a 2560x1600 resolution. There are rather large frames around the screen, which can contribute to the device looking a little older than it is compared to higher than new tablets from e.g. Apple.

It is clear that Google has made the Pixel Tablet to be primarily used in landscape mode. There are really good thoughts behind it, which we will get into later when we take a look at the included Dock.

The front camera is located in the middle on the long side, which is ideal for video meetings and the like and fits perfectly when placed in the dock.

There are four speakers located on the sides, which are complemented by three microphones for both calls and Google Voice Assistant.

There is a single USB C connector on one side, but there is no cable or charger included in the box.

At the top there is a power button, which also functions as a fingerprint reader. Next to it are volume buttons.

On the back there is a four-pin contact connector, which works for charging and data transfer via the included Dock.

The included dock is one of the areas that significantly sets the Google Pixel Tablet apart from other tablets. If you have seen a Google Nest Hub, it simply looks like the rear speaker part from here, just in a slightly larger version.

Power is connected on the back and Google has unfortunately chosen to continue with their own connector, which we have seen on the Hub devices. Here it would have been great to see a more open standard that was easier to replace.

On the front there are four pogo pins that connect the four switches on the back of the tablet to the dock. There are magnets in both parts and tablet and dock click easily, quickly and very satisfactorily together.

The magnetic strength is good and once the dock and tablet are together, they sit well together. However, it is still quite easy to get them apart again when you want to take the tablet part with you.

Via the connector on the back, your tablet is charged and data is also transferred. This means that any music or anything else played on your tablet will now use the larger speaker built into the dock.

A good and simple solution that gives your Pixel Tablet a place to stay when you're not using it.

It is possible to buy one or more additional docks for placement around the house if you want to expand the functionality.

Software

Software is of course unavoidable when you are sitting with a tablet. Here, of course, we are talking about Android 13. Google has promised five years of updates on the device, so there is a little time to run.

The setup of the Google Pixel Tablet is arranged in exactly the same way as if it had been another Android device. It is easy and relatively quick to complete and is managed via a guide where you can choose on and off and log in to your Google services.

It is also possible to restore from another device. So if you already have an Android phone, you can quickly download apps and information from here via Cloud Backup if you have it.

In relation to the software on the Pixel Tablet, the experience is somewhat twofold. There is partly the pure tablet experience and then there is the experience when it is placed in the dock. When the Pixel Tablet is placed in the dock, the experience becomes more like what we know from the Google Nest Hub. Here it can be set to work in Hub Mode, which works in the same way as you know from the Nest Hub devices.

Then there is access to your various Smart Home devices such as lights, cameras, thermostats and much more, in the now large Google Home ecosystem.

Then you have quick access from the screen to control lights, other automations or check your cameras. You can of course also use the Google Voice Assistant to make searches, find recipes and all the other things that you can do on a Nest Hub.

However, you can also quickly switch away from Hub Mode and access all the normal apps you have installed on your Pixel Tablet.

In normal tablet mode, the Pixel Tablet works like all other Pixel tablets, with access to the large selection of apps and services available on the Android platform.

With the launch of the Pixel Tablet, all of Google's own apps have been optimized for the Tablet format as well. However, this cannot be said about all apps, and in many cases you will come across apps that are not optimized for tablets.

Then they will either be in the tall narrow smartphone format in the middle of the screen or be in a sometimes slightly strangely elongated version.

How much it shows up for you will probably vary quite a bit depending on how and for what you use your tablet.

I mainly use tablets for media in the form of movies, series or music, or as a web browser in connection with work, etc. This means that I have not had any obvious problems during my test, since all the apps I use in that connection have worked fine and without problems on the Pixel Tablet.

The larger tablet screen naturally gives more space to frolic in compared to the Android experience on a phone. This also means that some new features have been added to the operating system.

One of the most practical is the ability to run two apps on the same screen. Then you can split the screen with a web browser on one side and YouTube, Disney+ or a completely different app on the other.

For me, it was practical, for example, as I could participate in an online meeting and simultaneously take notes in a window next to it.

Since a tablet for most people lives at home, and therefore often switches between several users, Google has made sure that you can have several users. That way, each member of the home can have their own profile, where their apps and setup are in place.

Everything is locked behind different logins via pin code, fingerprint or whatever you have chosen to use. In this way, you can, for example, have a profile for your children, where they cannot mess with dad's YouTube playlists or buy a lot of Smurfberries.

The test

As I touched on in the software part, my tablet use is mostly centered around media in the form of series, music and YouTube and then seasoned with a little reading and writing work in connection with hobbies and work.

I was perhaps a little skeptical before starting my test based on the hardware. Same chip and less RAM than in a Google Pixel 7 Pro, doesn't exactly scream high end.

However, I also have no doubt that this is not the segment Google has aimed for with the Pixel Tablet either.

After spending a few weeks with Google's tablet now, I don't have many real complaints to make. Yes... The experience is not as fast as on an iPad Pro and the screen is not quite as beautiful, but once I sit down and use the device, it is not something I think about with my usage pattern.

The experience with web browsing, media, YouTube and reference work for Warhammer 40K Kill Team matches has been super nice. The screen is reasonable for most things and the resolution is suitable for web and media. However, it is on the slightly dim side, so in strong light it can be difficult to read on it.

On top of that comes the extended functionality with the included Dock. The convenience of having a large Smart Home Hub in the office when I'm not using the tablet function is delicious. The fact that, on top of that, I have the option of taking it over to the sofa or the hobby table is really nice.

It is also nice that you can start music or a YouTube video from the sofa and then just place your tablet in the dock and the music will automatically switch to the larger speaker immediately.

The sound on the speaker is not super fantastic, but is roughly on par with the other Nest Hub units from Google. There is clearly more bottom in the sound than when it comes from the speakers in the tablet itself.

It is easy and quick to place the Pixel Tablet in the dock, which holds it really well. Almost a little too good actually, because if you just grab it and lift, the dock comes with it. The technique I used to avoid this was to tip it backwards across the dock. That way, it releases nicely and the dock remains standing.

It's the overall experience that elevates the Pixel Tablet above just being an average mid range tablet.

This has meant that I am actually now more likely to reach for the Pixel Tablet compared to an iPad Pro, which was otherwise standard before.

It is not a tablet for the high end user. The hardware power is less than in other tablets on the market and you do not get the good creative experience with, for example, drawing, as on an iPad Pro with an Apple Pen.

If you can manage without those parts, then you will go a long way with the Pixel Tablet. When it also has really good battery life, it's hard to complain. At no point during my testing did I think about having to charge the device, as its daily time spent on the dock has always provided more than ample power for the things I do with it away from the dock.

Google also sells a silicone cover in matching colors. It partly protects your tablet, but also comes with a practical hanger that can be flipped out and used as a stand. It is tight enough to be placed at virtually any angle imaginable.

The cover is made so that it can be used without problems together with the dock with the passage of power and data.

Price

The Google Pixel Tablet is available from 770$ for the 128GB model and 880$ for the 256GB version. That price lands quite close to comparable tablet offers such as Apple's iPad.

Looking at the included one, the price seems a bit more reasonable.

If you want to buy an extra dock, it costs 180$.

Google's own cover costs 120$.

Conclusion

With the Pixel Tablet, Google has made a good offer for a tablet that, in terms of hardware, lands somewhat in the mid-range segment. It does not choose others of the stick on either hardware, screen or design.

If you are already in the Google Home segment and need a tablet at the more average end, the Pixel Tablet is almost a no brainer.

It can easily find a place in your Smart Home setup and become part of the home there, but can just as easily come with the sofa for web browsing or reading.

If you are a more demanding user, the Pixel Tablet will fall short. In particular, the lack of app optimization can be a sticking point for someone, depending on which apps you use. On that front, Apple is simply way ahead.

We end up with a final grade of 8 for a solid bid for a mid range tablet which, however, gets much more value through the included dock.

Pros:

• Super good software
• Included dock with good options
• Super solid battery life
• Possibility of multiple user profiles

Cons:

• Lack of optimization on far too many apps
• The screen is a little dim