Without being high-end, the Google Pixel Tablet is an agile, well-designed device that meets the user’s daily needs. It is its charger combined with a speaker that sets it apart, even if it is quite expensive and we would have liked the idea to be developed further.
Posted at 2:16 p.m.
We love
Before we talk about speed and calibration, let’s take a look at what stands out most about the Pixel Tablet: its base, which serves as a charger and additional speaker.
The tablet attaches magnetically to the base and transmits sound to this speaker thanks to the connector on the back. The connection is instant, requires no lengthy adjustments, and installation is intuitive. The Pixel Tablet then becomes almost the equivalent of an Amazon Echo Show or a Google Nest Hub, a large 11-inch screen with a powerful speaker.
And if the Pixel Tablet has its own four small speakers that deliver honest quality, the base is a real hearing aid, worthy of a Google Nest. The bass is rich and the details of the songs are reproduced well with this 43.5 mm full-range driver.
Once the Pixel Tablet is on the base, it offers a few standby display modes. In particular, console mode allows you to control your home automation devices, turn them into a digital photo frame, display the weather or the screen saver of your choice. She continues to look for any command that begins with “Ok Google.”
The tablet, released this summer, is Google’s first tablet in a long time and the only one to feature the company’s Tensor G2 chip, with 8GB of RAM for 128GB of storage. Our Geekbench 6 benchmarking tests show slightly lower CPU performance than a Galaxy Tab 7 and iPad 9, high-end devices that are three and two years old, respectively. The Pixel Tablet is not an entry-level device and you quickly notice that when using it. The applications are displayed smoothly, surfing the Internet takes place without any significant delay and the playback of video content is agile.
Undoubtedly a good tablet, perfect for everyday use without being the best. Less demanding video games can be played without any problems, but the more demanding ones occasionally experience stuttering.
The Pixel Tablet is equipped with two 8MP cameras on the front and back. This is of course not their main selling point, but the quality of what they deliver in the form of photos or videos is very honest. The colors are rather boring, but the contrast and focus are remarkable.
The 1600 x 2560 pixel screen with a density of 276 ppi is bright and very sharp at 500 nits. However, its viewing angle is very limited, meaning you lose clarity at a viewing angle of more than 30 degrees.
In addition to the PIN, there is also a fingerprint reader hidden in the power button at the top right for authentication.
As with every Pixel device, the operating system is treated to a treat and we have the first Android updates in five years. The content or tasks being performed are automatically transferred from a Pixel phone, the Pixel Buds headphones connect to it as soon as they are turned on, and you have Magic Erase, instant transcription and translation.
We like less
The Pixel Tablet is neither an Echo Show nor a Nest Hub. The standby console is less complete; For example, you can’t control a number of functions or see at a glance the dozens of information these smart screens offer. Therefore, do not think that the Pixel tablet will adequately replace them.
For $699, you won’t get a tablet with the same quality as the top offerings from Apple or Samsung. Of course we pay the price of the base.
No facial recognition for unlocking and no 3.5 mm jack that could be used to connect the Pixel Tablet to a stereo system, for example.
A recent survey by DesignRush confirms our experience: Google’s customer service is not up to date. According to this ranking, this is its major weakness.
You buy ?
A good tablet that turns into an audio streaming device on command is clearly superior to its competitors in this respect, and that’s what the Pixel Tablet offers. However, the price is a bit too high for a user who would not be interested in the speaker charger.
The purchase is still recommended.
Pixel tablet
- Manufacturer: Google
- Price: $699
Rating: 8 out of 10