Google has something of an unusual history with tablets. In 2019, it said it was going to stop making them, then in 2023 came the Google Pixel Tablet. A lot happened in those years as you’ll well remember, but Google’s tablet comeback brings with it some interesting ideas.
I’ve used Android tablets since Android first launched and I’ve used every Google tablet that has appeared over the last decade and more. For me, tablets are about entertainment and browsing, giving you a larger screen without the need for a laptop or computer, and a little more space than you get from a smartphone.
Google Pixel Tablet: At a glance
Google Pixel Tablet review
Google is attempting to invigorate the app ecosystem and push better use of larger displays with the Pixel Tablet. That’s something that Apple has been really good at doing with the iPad and I’ll be upfront from the start here: the iPad offers a better app experience with apps that run better on the larger iPad display.
Some apps still open like they’re on a phone, not making use of the full display, for example, the Facebook app. There’s an “experimental” feature to force the apps into full screen, but the results are mixed.
But that’s not the only factor to consider when deciding which tablet to buy. That’s because the Pixel Tablet comes with a unique selling point: a speaker dock.
This is a base that you can pop the tablet onto when you’re not using it. It magnetically holds the tablet in place, charging it, while boosting the sound quality thanks to the built-in speakers.
Essentially, the speaker dock makes the Pixel Tablet into a smart display. It solves the problem of how you might store the tablet when not in use and allows you to then use voice commands to get it to do things for you using Google Assistant. Having the speakers in place also makes it sound great, much better than a normal tablet with richer sound for music, YouTube and everything else, although not quite as good as the Amazon Echo Show.
And if you’ve set up your smart home using Google Home, then the docked Pixel Tablet will also act as a controller for those devices. That’s the unique angle that Google is pushing and that partly explains the slightly lofty £499 asking price, as this combination will basically give you the advantages of a Nest Hub, but with a screen that you can take away with you.
More recently, Google announced that you could buy the Pixel Tablet without the dock for a more approachable £399, but in doing so this tablet comes straight into competition with cheaper devices — which in the case of something like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE, is arguably a better Android tablet overall.
That presents quite the conundrum when it comes to choosing the Pixel Tablet: it leans heavily on the speaker dock to make it stand out, but you really have to be sold on the idea of having your tablet on display all the time for it to make sense. For some, it will be a perfect solution, for others, it is a harder sell.
Google Pixel Tablet: Features
The Pixel Tablet itself has a 10.95-inch display, which has a high resolution so there’s loads of detail, making it great for browsing websites and watching TV and movies through all the streaming services that Android will give you access to.
The browsing experience is great on the Pixel Tablet, especially if you’re a fan of Google Chrome. Rather than a mobile browser, you get the same tabbed experience that you do on a laptop, which is great when you’re researching the latest recipes or trying to book flights for your next holiday.
The Pixel tablet isn’t the most premium tablet you can get, however. It’s finished in plastic while rivals are metal, but that does make it a little more grippy. It’s also less prone to damage, as I’ve often found with Amazon Fire tablets. This might make it better if you have kids in the house, but it doesn’t look anywhere near as nice as the Apple iPad.
The Pixel is powered by hardware that was announced in 2022 and while that doesn’t impact the day-to-day running of the Pixel Tablet, it’s something to be aware of. Equally, there are five years of software updates (from launch), which means there are two more years of Android version updates, but for security updates, you’re covered until 2028, so there’s plenty of life left in the software.
Good Housekeeping’s verdict on the Google Pixel Tablet
I like the Pixel Tablet. It’s a nice tablet to use day-to-day, but the thing that makes it unique is the dock. Put this on your mantelpiece and talk to Google Assistant to use it as a smart home controller or as a smart speaker and it offers something that other tablets don’t.
But if you spend a little less and get the tablet on its own, you could be spending your money more wisely elsewhere…
Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M2, 2024)
Apple iPad (10th Generation)
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4, 2024)
Chris Hall is a freelance journalist who specialises in consumer technology, pursuing a passion that started over 20 years ago. In 2008 he took on a full-time Reviews Editor position at technology website Pocket-lint.com, before stepping up to Editor-in-Chief in 2012. Chris led coverage over a 15-year tenure, exposing him to every gadget, system and technology you’d ever want to know about.
Chris left the Editor-in-Chief position at Pocket-lint.com in 2023 having published over 4,000 articles on consumer technology. His experience covers everything from smartphones and headphones to cars and computers. Chris doesn’t just test for reviews, he lives with a lot of technology, building a smart home and looking for a simpler solution to a connected home. This is much to his family’s irritation, because everything is always changing, especially the remote controls.
As a freelance writer, Chris has contributed to The Telegraph, T3.com, TechRadar and Autocar -while launching his own technology website The Disconnekt – writing news about the latest technology, guides to help people make the best choices when shopping for technology, as well as reviewing extensively.
Chris has appeared on BBC News and Sky News, BBC Radio and The Times Radio talking technology, and even once played a part on The Apprentice. Chris has also been an expert judge at the GSMA Global Mobile Awards and the Uswitch Awards.
When not writing about technology or rearranging the technology in his home, Chris can be found on his bike, trying to get lost in the Surrey hills.
