The BEST Android tablet? Google Pixel Tablet review!

Can Google’s Pixel Tablet steal the iPad’s crown? More importantly, who is it for, and is Google Assistant better than Siri? I’ve been finding out - welcome to my full Google Pixel Tablet review!
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CHAPTERS
00:00 - Intro
01:07 - Specs and pricing
03:49 - Home assistance
07:21 - Tablet performance
09:16 - Who is it for?

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Do you think the Pixel Tablet can grab the crown for most used tablet at home?

[@jimcabezola3051]

Looking forward to trying GrapheneOS on one of these. I already like how that custom ROM on my Pixel 6a works. Fewer pieces of bloated software and less Google nonsense (the irony...). One thing I find annoying about this tablet is that it follows all Pixel phone designs in omitting the SD card slot. My two iPads have taught me that having no SD can be okay...but I'm not comfortable with this omission, really. Seeing that this tablet plays nicely with Graphene, though, I may relegate the iPads to some dark corner of a closet.

[@ImDarthMole]

I don’t think so but because of its size. I have the 12 inch pro, the 11 pro, and the iPad mini. I use the mini to watch media more than my tv (despite having 2 readily available). Granted, my situation may be unique in the I spend most of my free time in the bedroom laying down with the head of my bed lifted, but even when I’m at the dinner table I’m much more prone to simply look down at my mini while eating instead of up at the tv. Maybe it has something to do with the ease of the interface and content consumption paradigm? My point about size is despite loving huge screens and window options I always use my mini for consumption. Lighter and more comfortable to hold while still being big enough to see everything. I also tend to use my mini for web browsing more than even my laptop. So for me, even if I accepted Google’s overlord and data mining ways that screen size is too big imo.

[@ImDarthMole]

@@jimcabezola3051 so you aren’t looking to use the Google home/hub functionality I assume? You just want it as a tablet that just happens to come with a speaker?

[@jimcabezola3051]

@@ImDarthMole Yes. I don't make much use of the Apple Music functionality on my iPads unless I want to change the music on them. On those occasions (spaced years apart...lol), I'm forced to connect them to my Apple Mac to do that. Then? They're reconnected to my 1970s vintage stereo. On the other hand, my Android tablet isn't even signed into the Google Play store. My tablet simply plays my music and allow me to read my magazines and books when I'm in bed trying to get to sleep. The tablet speakers are okay for "sing me to sleep" quality sound. My two "families" of tablets have their uses, and they're cheap. I really enjoy my Pixel 6A phone; it's free of the bloatware of a "normal" Google Android phone. I thought that it might be nice to extend that clean functionality to my Android world since my Samsung tablet is 10 years old. Looking at the surface of things, I DO see your implied point, though. Why buy a Pixel Tablet just to toss out the Google part? Just to have it AND a speaker? That's dumb! I would be creating more e-waste by buying a new tablet. I see your point of view. Best not to buy anything at all.

[@andreamitchell4758]

It's trash the 60 hz is waaay more than noticalble, it looks more like 5hz TBH, it just looks like total ass . the build quality feels like a cheap piece of plastic crap, and tensor 2 has the worst TDP out of any chip in at least the lat 8 years, I have a pixel 7 and pixel 7 pro and neither phone can even achieve 2 hours SOT , tensor 2 is an absolute joke. The colors are super ugly too , the off white just lokos like old white plastic that has turned yellow over time. they can't really be serious with this price point either. I don't know WTF they are smoking over at mountain view but it must be some really good shit. I will pick up the fire max 11 on the prime day deal and hope Amazon or a thrid party come out with a speaker dock to turn it into an echo show. Google assistant is garbage and has been on a steady decline for years now, I tun both assiant side by side in several rooms and Alexa get all the use and GA now get ZERO use since they remoed location serices, life 360 intergration, and the ability to make calls to numbers not in your contacts, also the new IFTTT API is crap and they replaced it with a 1000 timmes shittier API and call it "progress" the news API sucks so bad it is not even woth using at all it require additional wake words, custom reponses afe gone other functions are gone and there was no upgrade path so I cant be arsed to recreate all my applets all over again. every Google product and service is a rapidly devolving trash fire,, Google search is a farce and says it has billions of reults but there are barely 100, when you try and click through to the other pages there is really noting there, the KZbin US has gome to complete shit and is slooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow as fuck now and barely useable at all formonths now, at least on PWindoews chrome. chrome is another broken piece of shit that has beemn broken for like ten years now , tab tumbnails haven't populated in almsot a decasde and it not been fixed. There is no way that the price of this thing would be justified even if it was 50% off.

[@KawikaLee408]

5 seconds in, ''this is google's first ever pixel tablet'' while i charge my trash pixel slate nobody remembers lol

[@ThomasTheTankEngine22]

Definitely forgot that was a thing

[@cobaltblue5523]

How is it now and what are the specs ?

[@KawikaLee408]

@@cobaltblue5523 it's pretty bad haha. intel m3, 8gb ram, 64g storage. A lot of functions never worked, keyboard stopped connecting which is a common problem and cant be fixed. It got better over time with updates but there's still stutters, lags

[@drtysox]

Or Pixel c?

[@hudstar]

I AM that Google drone you alluded to, so the pixel tablet slots right in with my pixel phone, watch and smart speakers perfectly. I bought it to replace a Nest display which always frustrated me that you couldn't lift off the screen to use as a tablet. This utterly resolves that issue and while it spends 70% of it's time being a beautiful photo display and homehub, having the tablet option is fantastic. Great review btw!

[@KeeleyKirkley]

My husband recently got this for me, as an upgrade to the original Google kitchen display. And so far I love it, I mainly use it for the kitchen and recipe aspect. But being able to take it with me, and it's been amazing.

[@andresbarriga5305]

I 've being trying to know if the Pinterest app works in the whole screen. Could you help me find out?

[@NA78666]

Mark delvers a marvellous review. I GREATLY LOOK FORWARDS TO THE COMPARISON VIDEO WITH YOUR IPAD as mentioned in your video. Please include watching KZbin videos on both side by side landscape view. I use my iPad mini mainly for watching KZbin videos as it’s relative small, compact and lightweight. Thank y😊u Mark for your review 👍🏼

[@reehanjameel]

Great review of what I think is a new kid on the block! I like the innovation on this tablet-digital assistant device combined with the speaker dock and the visuals on it look great.

[@asan1050]

Mark Ellis Reviews!..ThanksMuch!

[@gilleojax]

Great review ... I might get one of these for the whole family to use

[@peterdnreynolds777]

Great review!! I'm torn between buying a pixel tablet or the honor pad 9

[@thomasraukamp]

Danke! This is an excellent review - as always. I am typing this on my brand new Pixel Tablet.

[@MarkEllisReviews]

This is so kind - thank you! And enjoy your Pixel Tablet 👍

[@gaelguilloteau3179]

can this be connected to an external monitor. if so, what would it look like?

[@soo5985]

As far as tablet battery life goes, Maybe I’m not a very heavy user but I’ve had great battery life on my iPad mini and regular sized iPad. I can go a few days on a single charge. Enjoyed your review

[@andresbarriga5305]

I 've being trying to know if the Pinterest app works in the whole screen. Could you help me find out?

[@vacationboyvideos]

5:32 mine doesn't go into hub mode how do I change that

[@nickpmusic]

I can do this with an iPad, however I realised that if I set to not turn the screen off then anyone can access it, i.e settings etc.....

[@hhoebeke1]

interesting google presumption on iPad use - that’s why you see them around that much? But it is an interesting added functionality that apple could also easily adopt. In terms of functionality it also resembles a lot one of the new iPhone functions while charged in landscape. As far as assistants go - I personally still prefer not to have Amazon or Google microphones in my home… but the trade-off is the more limited Siri experience, which I am willing to accept as the cost of better privacy.

[@MrMystri]

Can this be tablet be charged with a cable minus the hub?

[@car_tar3882]

Apple should bring MagSafe to iPad in the form of a dock like this that uses the Smart Connector on the back

[@jonnymarkbeadle]

Google seem to be counting on the fact no one in the UK checks the $ price in the US. They also get the hub across the pond, but it’s $499 instead of £599 here. Why?!

[@ImDarthMole]

I’m sure part of it is Google trying to make money anyway they can but could it also involve US to UK import fees/tariffs?

[@MarkEllisReviews]

You get the speaker dock thrown in over here at the moment, too.

[@jonnymarkbeadle]

@@MarkEllisReviews That’s my point though, Mark. Even with VAT and import duty the UK price should be near £499, not £599. We’re used to pound to dollar parity with Apple pricing (and even sometimes a bit more in the UK), but this pricing is crazy! I think Google are heavily subsidising the price in the US to gain some market share, and not affording the same subsidy to other territories.

[@FallenKiid]

Looks good imo. When the value of product drops about 60 percent in 2 months I’ll buy it.

[@muzzammilshah3664]

Question: Where would you recommend buying it from for a reduced price?

[@FallenKiid]

@@muzzammilshah3664 Amazon or eBay

[@andrewnelson7219]

I would love to have the pixel tablet. I’m definitely in the google eco system!

[@dalecaldwell]

If one doesn't want to carry around a tabnlet, then the Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max do all the things at better prices with better speakers. But, with a stand and the charging cable plugged in, my Samsung Tablet also does all the things but it is not unlocked in case someone else wanders up to it. (I think all Android Tablets do this. I have had LG, Lenovo, and Samsung tablets that did) .A nd, Fire tablets have 'Display Mode that does the same thing with Alexa. \) But, a very pleasant review.A

[@BrianJones-wk8cx]

While I’m not necessarily in the market for this product, I was surprised by the initial supposition that most folks prefer their phone to a tablet. I’m odd man odd, I suppose, as I tend to live on my iPad for casual usage and often misplace my phone while at home. Content shines on the bigger screen and in the iOS universe the parity between app offerings on phone and tablet makes iPad usage a win-win proposition-all the apps I might have on my phone, with a mostly superior experience on the larger device. I like what Google is doing here, though, and I definitely use my iPad in much the way that Google is building in with the base speaker, essentially plugging my iPad in to a UGreen desk charging station on an end table next to the couch. Between my Jellyfin media server and Apple Music library, I’ve set on media and also able to do chunks of note taking, research, and smart device management on the device without ever feeling the weight and limitations of a full-on laptop while lounging.

[@murtazachaudhary3339]

Very nice video

[@Zavonofcats]

Can you purchase a keyboard for it?

[@mannkeithc]

I am considering getting Google's Pixel Tablet for my kitchen. It would replace both my Amazon Echo Show 8 and a small LCD TV. I am also a big iPad user at home, especially the iPad Mini 6th gen, which I aways grab in preference to my iPhone due to its larger display, but I would never use it in the kitchen due to the limitations of Siri. I found the Amazon Echo Show 8 easier to live with than the Google Nest Hub, but the lack of decent Media apps on the Echo limits it uses. Google's Pixel Tablet runs a full Android OS giving you access to lots of apps from Google's play store, including media apps that allow me to replace the TV. It will also interface with my Google Nest Thermostat ... but so does my iPad and iPhone. Unfortunately, Google Assistant has lost ground and is in serious need of some tech upgrade, like the injection of AI to improve its performance. Having said that, it's still better than Siri!

[@Master_Tea_Floater]

Mine is in the post.

[@james8606]

Personality I just don't see a use of a tablet outside of my Surface 7. I tend to use it for work I can't do on my mobile which I have a surface duo. I do feel we are all different in how we work but with phones having bigger screens I feel alot of people are not wanting a tablet as much anymore. Even my little by picks up his phone over his tablet. That said it's great seeing Google trying something. Google assistant for me is poor though. It was good when I got it a few years ago but over time it has gotten alot more frustrating to the point we don't use them that much now. Ive fond myself using my watch to add reminders ect as become quicker and I then use Bing chat for things I need to know like what bin I put out at Google will not tell me that that said if assistant changes to Google version this could improve things. I do use it for music though still amazing for that.

[@lillebrorjensen7063]

I love it and use it more and more over my 10G iPad...

[@andresbarriga5305]

I 've being trying to know if the Pinterest app works in the whole screen. Could you help me find out?

[@Max86421]

I'm using Google nest hub max 😊

[@cjc363636]

My one question while watching was "...Can you name the timers?" And then I saw your 'eggs' timer! That's the top reason for me to love this!! ....And now for this thought....Apple has got to, just GOT TO fix/update/replace Siri with something that works better. Its just falling behind. And with Apple's aspirations with the new goggles, they will need to spread whatever AI upgrades they make into their 'screen only' ecosystem. Or one day I might have a Pixel phone in my pocket.

[@MarkEllisReviews]

It’s all about the eggs.

[@hachaboob]

Could this device be used as a Skype kiosk for elderly people?

[@benjamincook4796]

You need to do a Chromebook

[@kaceygolden]

Love my Pixel Tablet and use it more than my Pixel 7, so it does replace me using my phone at home.

[@gunark]

16:9 though innit. 4:3 is far better for tablets. 16:9 feels like reading a cereal box. Siri is utter, utter, utter crap though. At least 5 times a day I find myself swearing profusely at it encountering an error (“pause my tv”…..”one sec”…….”one sec”…..1 min later…”hmm” - just piss off Siri). Or just being pointless - no, I do not want you to send a list of things to my phone when I ask about something, I can do that myself. Instead, tell me, like every other assistant does.

[@thomrhodes]

The one thing that irks me with Google’s offering is that the price will come down after 6 months. I don’t want to put off buying it for 6 months… 😂

[@jebaker2]

It’s an interesting concept… probably good for a lot of folks. It’s not for me, though.

[@Tesla-Model-S-Plaid]

I think this new Pixel Tablet has done a lot of things right, but there's two things I can't get past: 1) This device should be guaranteed by Google to get updates to like Android 15 at the least, and it is not 2) I have no interest in the dock, and the price would be 20% less or more if that wasn't a requirement (really want a minimalist's alternative to the iPad 9th Gen, at a similar price range...that's what I would jump on).

[@ItsMeStefC]

It's guaranteed three OS updates (Android 16) and two years of security updates after that.

[@Tesla-Model-S-Plaid]

@@ItsMeStefC Oh, that actually sounds pretty reasonable. I guess I must have read/watched some inaccurate reporting of the Pixel Tablet right when it came out then.

[@iansearle7006]

Can't understand why this costs more in the UK than in the US.

[@vikesh9424]

We Brits forever be getting screwed over by the Pound to Dollar exchange rate 😢

[@hdtube7]

Price in the uk is a joke, and tbh I’d much rather if I could buy it without the hub because Google is nowhere near as dependable as Amazon or Apple for smart speaker functionality As for that research, I have two iPads and just cycle between them around the house, one charging and one in use

[@yanni2737]

The tablet is made to come with the docking station. Google has made that clear.

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Correct.

[@stephenc6648]

Who is this for? Can the base be used independently? If not, it could be very annoying if one family member who wants to use the tablet interrupts someone else's listening. For the price you could buy a smart display and a tablet.

[@andyH_England]

Not a home hub person like 99% of the world, so this has limited appeal. I hope that Google releases an attachable keyboard and had that in a bundle with the tablet rather than the speaker dock, sadly a missed opportunity as it cannot be used by other devices (poor choice Google) to stream sound. The Pixel Tablet is fine, but £600 if you will not use the dock is not going to fly. As for Google Assistant, that is much worse than Siri now for me; even dictation is getting a lot wrong. Other reviews like MrMobile have also mentioned this. Siri works great, and I can also use a shortcut to ask Google from Siri, so best of both worlds. Dictation on the latest betas also works far better for me than Google Assistant. Maybe Google has taken its team of Assistant and moved them to Bard?

[@zunkman1]

Definitely DOES NOT do all the things a hub can do. Not even close. The fact that google marketed this as being "a hub when not in use as a table" borders on False Advertising.

[@alexkwan3]

i absolutely love the idea of this, unfortunately i’ll still stick to my iPad as i use it with my MacBook. my only complaint with this is that the dock doesn’t use USB C, which means it’s a pain to replace the cable and you can’t use the original charger on the go. The Switch uses a USB C charger for the dock, so it definitely can be done. i do have the same complaint for the Switch where it requires the original Nintendo charger for the dock to work though.

[@jimbrimble3131]

It looks great. My problem is that I’ve been burned by Android tablets in the past. I bought the second gen Nexus 8 many years ago and it was a smashing device. But nobody, including Google, developed good tablet apps. They were just extended phone apps and looked rubbish. And from other reviews, that still seems largely to be the case. And Google have a habit of trying things out and then giving up on them a couple of years later. But it is tempting…

[@KianFloppa]

#PixelTablet

[@christiandenton2304]

Far to expensive 👎

[@garrisonbennett2693]

I think Apple should do something similar to this with its next iPad Mini. That device would be perfect for a little setup like this. Just throw the smart connector on the back, and then have a magnetic speaker attaches to using that new display feature in iOS, and those things would sell like hotcakes!

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Agreed!

[@GlennO1961]

I was a Google Fanboy for the longest time…and then I got my first iPad. With time, I traded my Android Smartphone for an iPhone (mainly because Nexus stopped producing killer phones) and finally splurged and bought a MacBook Pro…leaving Chromebooks and lame Windows laptops behind forever. The problem with Google isn’t the hardware, it’s their OS. It’s definitely not Apple…it’s not even Microsoft. It’s an “also-ran-wannabe”. Apple has all their hardware and OS under one roof. Transferring data, photos etc. between devices is easy! Yeah, it costs more but it’s worth the price IMO. I love Googles products…GMail, Google Maps etc….but I’m sticking with Apple.

[@TomUK7]

What could be simpler than using Google apps across multiple platforms to transfer pics and data? I dont understand this fixation with Apple products and transferring between devices. Doesn't everything sync over the internet these days?

[@ashtonkee5868]

I rather buy the Xiaomi pad 6 pro.

[@ashtonkee5868]

@scum4984 what processor is that running on? Probably not the 8+ gen 1 that the xiaomi pad 6 pro is using?

[@CheerupA1]

What do you like about it?

[@Hard_7_Iron]

Good review….not interested Google. Nice try though.