The Pixel Tablet is Great and Terrible...At The Same Time!

This is the Google Pixel Tablet. It's a $500 USD Android tablet that comes with its own charging dock. That sounds great, but there is a lot that will keep people away from this one. And it's not just the price.

It's a great replacement for a Nest Hub Max or a Nest Hub in a lot of ways, but it also misses the mark because there's no Matter, Thread, Zigbee, or other technologies used in the smart home. It's also not perfect when it comes to the Hub features that allow you to control you home from the front page.

And then there's the Google Assistant. Some of this is good, and some of it isn't!

We hope you'll enjoy our Google Pixel Tablet review, and we hope you'll make the right purchasing decision!

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Brian

[StaLight]

I just want video like this! So many review video just talks about Android tablet experience, not about Google Asisstant and Google Home experience. As a smart home youtuber you make a perfect video as always!

[OsCerna]

This is one of those first generation products that despite the letdowns or shortcomes, I still want it desperately. Looking forward to purchasing it soon. Great review!!

[leogodreau]

I bought ot for the tablet use primarily. I use a tablet for work as my notebook as well as other services. The dock is a bonus. Si far, I'm loving it.

[kevjapan]

Great review! I really hope this tablet sells well enough for Google to stick with the concept and make a 2.0 version of this. Smarts in the speaker base and a better sounding speaker are a must. Continued conversation is needed too. And Google either needs to fix the way multiply hubs work in a home. If the device can't intelligently decide which hub I'm talking to (you really think it would) at least give me the option to answer a task to a specific hub verbally, "Like set a 5 minute timer on my kitchen hub"

[cevansdust]

Fantastic video! You’ve earned a new subscriber.

Can you give any feedback on the video call experience using 3rd party apps? Specifically zoom?

The pixel phones were noted as having image quality issues in video calling apps vs the native camera app. Other android phone and iPhones did not have the issue so it was a software problem. Android Police wrote an article about it. I am curious if it applies to the tablet as well and if the tensor chip heats up in extended sessions.

I want a tablet with the best image quality for video calls. Considering this or an iPad.

[markloughtonUK]

I use my nest hub max to display pictures and usually my wife is watching tv and i am using my Xiaomi Tab5. If i had the pixel tab instead then this wouldn't be possible. Its so nice for either of us to be able to glance over and see pictures every so often.

[marcus_cole_]

Wondering if you could do a video update on everything that Google has changed and removed from this platform. Specifically, these three features, primarily the first two.

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02: Another change in the recent update is the removal of ethernet support for the 7 and 10-inch models. Previously, there was a micro USB on the white cover of the 7-inch model that allowed you to connect a USB to ethernet adapter. This feature provided a reliable IP address with fast response and eliminated the need to reacquire an IP address. Unfortunately, this capability has been disabled in the latest update.

03: Additionally, Google has removed good quality synchronized audio in their recent update. Previously, if you used ethernet, you could synchronize all your devices, including the Mini and standard Home speakers, without signal drops or random reacquisition issues. However, with the removal of micro USB ethernet support for the 10 and 7-inch models, achieving reliable synchronization has become challenging. Now, you are limited to using Wi-Fi for all devices, which is less secure. As a result, latency has increased, affecting the quality of audio responses. The unit's response is no longer accurate, even when I am in close proximity to the device, while other units further away respond instead, causing confusion.
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05: So, for me, my 7-inch Google Nest Hub with a screen has now become primarily a picture frame, timer, and a minor home automation visual unit. In fact, since I have a computer in front of me that can perform all of these functions, except for visual spelling and audio synchronization, the practicality of the Nest Hub has significantly diminished.

Feel free to share your thoughts and experiences with these changes in the comments.

[rosiehawtrey]

Cancer back again btw, appointment Wednesday. Cancer necrosis is not a pretty sight but at least no infection and its local. Hope you are well..

[TheDannyrivera]

I've had my tablet for about a week and I'm a little disappointed. I think they should have leaned more into the smart home stuff then they did. They should have put the same program on the tablet that's on the Nest hub max that activates once docked. The docking program is so basic. The hub max had so many options, and gave so much information by just walking up to it like weather and which lights are on and travel time to work.

[AdamJakowenko]

Thanks so much for this video, it's the review I've been waiting for because everyone else glosses over so much functionality their reviews are worthless to me! The one clarification I was hoping for is around the Nest doorbell...we currently have a Nest doorbell and Hub max, and I was a bit confused about your doorbell section of the video...are you saying that when the doorbell rings, it just gives you that notification that you have to tap on then go through the menus just to see who's there and respond to them, or was all that tapping just for when you want to go back and look at a recent event? I'm trying to figure out if seeing who's at the door and responding when it rings is the same as the hub max or if with the tablet you need to go through that convoluted process just to respond. Thanks!

[MakeitZUPER]

Finally, a tablet that can charge wirelessly that's not from Amazon. I'm still going to hold out for an inductive version though, maybe Samsung will have a cloud free option that does what we all want & need. I don't like the idea of the connections getting dirty. As far as audio, they both sound like crap, lol. I would expect more from the charging base but in the end, I would use a higher quality audio speaker if I wanted to hear music. I think JBL may have the best quality option but I haven't really shopped around and don't know of any other new contenders that can compete. I would want it for home automation control and maybe as a universal remote for my home theater. I guess I will remain waiting for the right model with the features I need & want. Thanks for another great evaluation of a product that would otherwise trick us into buying it with its marketing.

[christopher]

they should have put chrome os on this and added a keyboard and stylus and increase the price by 100 and make the dock bluetooth capable when the tablet is off it or it turns into a google home mini an off button for the mic of course.

[houstonshomeautomation]

I actually waited till your review came out after seeing a 1 min short from mkbhd . Grrat review I can't get this till next year. I'm also wary. I noticed googles second gen products moving away from smartthings for their own eco system . I'll struggle with .y echo sho 15 for now lol😂

[xrj]

Can you adjust the speed level of fans on the Pixel Tablet? This feature isn't available on the phone while it can be adjusted on the Nest Hub. I wonder if the Pixel Tablet can do the same.

[grant]

Do you need to be signed into your Google account to access home features? I don't want the kids to be able to access emails etc

[c]

What would we do without your expert advice and suggestions? Thanks for all you do, Brian!

[Nogitsune_Yako]

I'm satisfied with my Pixel Tablet.

In my room I switch my hub for an Alexa and I'm happy with it. I still have my Lenovo in my arcade room though

[madisonm]

Would this be a good option to run kiosk browser on-top of it with action tiles? Seems like this would be the ideal use case scenario for such a device!!!

[RShingLaiHo]

That's a lot of 'buts'! I love it! lol