Google Pixel Tablet – A Fresh Entry into the Tablet Market
Google is making a comeback in the tablet market with its all-new Pixel Tablet. As its first self-manufactured tablet, Google aims to deliver a unique Android tablet experience with its in-house Tensor chip and special speaker stand. Let’s take a closer look at the design, features, software, and performance of the Google Pixel Tablet.
Design and Features
The Google Pixel Tablet boasts a sleek and simple design. The back of the tablet features a matte-finished, ceramic-coated aluminum, while the front is covered by a glass panel with white bezels. The overall design resembles that of recent iPads, with curved corners and uniform bezels. The tablet also includes rubber bumpers on the bottom edge to prevent sliding. However, the nano-ceramic coating on the back is prone to scratches and blemishes, and the thick bezels do not compare favorably to competitors like Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S7 line.
With an approximately 11-inch display and a 2560 x 1600 resolution, the Pixel Tablet offers a reasonably bright IPS display. However, it falls short in terms of image quality, with glare and backlight bleed affecting the viewing experience. The tablet also lacks a high refresh rate and only supports basic stylus functionality.
The tablet features four speakers that deliver decent audio quality. However, the volume may become ear-sore at maximum level, and the placement of the speakers makes them easily covered when holding the tablet. The standout feature of the tablet is its dock with a built-in speaker. While the dock provides a secure hold, docking the tablet shifts all audio output to the dock speaker, resulting in mono audio and underwhelming sound quality.
Software
Running on Android 13 with minimal customization, the Pixel Tablet offers a familiar software experience. However, it falls short in terms of unique software features. The tablet includes Google’s enhanced voice recognition, which enables voice commands and voice-to-text capabilities. Yet, other devices also offer comparable voice control features. Additionally, the tablet’s default apps and limited voice control capabilities hinder its usability. The inclusion of YouTube Music as the default music service may not be suitable for all users.
Gaming and Performance
The Pixel Tablet is powered by the Tensor G2 chipset, which ensures smooth performance for everyday tasks such as web browsing, video streaming, and voice commands. However, gaming performance is lackluster. While the tablet can run games, it struggles to maintain smooth gameplay at maximum settings. Lowering the settings improves performance but compromises visual quality, which is particularly noticeable on the 11-inch screen.
In conclusion, Google’s Pixel Tablet makes a strong entry into the tablet market with its unique design and features. However, it falls short in some areas, such as display quality, audio performance, and gaming capabilities. Ultimately, users seeking a top-tier Android tablet experience may find other options from competitors like Samsung and Apple more compelling.