The Pixel Tablet is out now. Actually, it has been for a while. But there’s another one you should know about. Murena’s deGoogled version launches with /e/OS, a unique operating system designed to focus on privacy. It does share similar specifications with the original one, especially in appearance, and enters the market as a midrange productivity powerhouse. Here’s everything about it.
Meet the Pixel Tablet without Google
The Murena Pixel Tablet is basically the same device as the Google Pixel Tablet, just without all the major Android features and experience. It features a single 8MP rear camera with a 1/4.0 inch sensor and f/2.0 aperture and an 8MP front camera with the same 1/4.0 inch sensor and f/2.0 aperture.
On the front, it has a 10.95-inch LCD display with a 2560 x 1600 resolution. Underneath, it uses the Google Tensor G2 chipset and a 7020mAh battery to power it. It provides 128GB storage with 8GB RAM.
One noticeably different thing about the tablet is the e/OS software, which is based on Android 13. It has tools that help you monitor and restrict app permissions and, quote, comically, a Wall of Shame that exposes apps consuming the most data.
Our mission is to make data privacy accessible and possible for everyone. /e/OS is free to use and can be flashed to many smartphones and tablets, but many people lack the technical knowledge, or confidence, to flash it to their device which is why we offer out-of-the-box solutions which anyone who is comfortable using a smartphone can operate.
It’s important that we still let users do what they want with the device, which is why we aim to educate with things like the Wall of Shame and app lounge, rather than remove access to social media, for instance.
Rik Viergever, Chief Operating Officer at Murena
You can install apps from the App Lounge, which taps into Google Play and F-Droid anonymously and shows you privacy scores for each app. An app that only asks for essential permissions and has no trackers would probably get a high score. Another that requests access to contacts, location, and other unnecessary data may score lower. Having this information stops you from blindly downloading the wrong apps.
Control your privacy for once
Companies like Google collect data about you through a variety of methods. Every time you use their service, your actions are recorded whether you like it or not. This includes search queries, clicks, time spent on sites, and even app interactions.
All that data is primarily used for targeted advertising, which is a massive part of the company’s revenue model. The idea of having your every move tracked can be deeply unsettling. The Murena Pixel Tablet was created in response to significant demand from users who feel the same.
Without Google’s apps, the tablet gives you back control over what data is shared. The device is available now on the official website for $549. There’s an additional $10 shipping fee, and the total price includes all taxes and customs, so what you see is what you pay. In the UK, it costs £448.84 plus £21.98 for shipping, and taxes and customs are included.
