Google Pixel Tablet: everything you need to know

Google’s Pixel Tablet is now available to buy from $499.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

If it feels like theGooglePixel Tablet was unveiled ages ago, that’s because it was. The tablet was first revealed atGoogle IO 2022and later launched atGoogle I/O 2023alongside thePixel FoldandPixel 7a. With Tensor 2 and Android 13 onboard, it’s an ambitious foray into the tumultuous tablet market.

Here’s everything we know so far about Google’s first Android tablet in over half a decade.

We share ourGoogle Pixel Tablet reviewas the device officially goes on sale.

Cut to the chase

Google Pixel Tablet release date and price

The Pixel Tablet went on pre-order on May 10 after Gooogle’s IO event. It will set you back $499/£599/AU$899 for the tablet, complete with the bundled speaker dock which is separately priced at $129 / £105 / AU$150. The Tablet later went on sale n June 20 and be available from Google’s online store as well as other major retailers.

The price sees it undercut the iPad Air in some regions, while matching it in others like the UK. It may be a tough sell, consideringApple’s lead over tablets, but Google’s pitch could win you over. OurPixel Tablet reviewfound it to be a great value tablet with excellent speakers and a good screen. We docked points for Android’s continued lack of tablet optimization though, as well as the fingerprint-prone soft-touch back.

Google Pixel tablet design and display

The Pixel Tablet is a rather plain and minimalist affair, made of aluminum construction and paired with a neo-ceramic coating. From the design – which is a bit like aGoogle Home Hubwithout the stand – we would have assumed this to be a mid-range slate rather than a high-end one, so it could be more of a competitor to the basiciPad 10.2oriPad Air (2022)than to theiPad Pro 11orSamsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultrahad it not been for the pricing in some regions. The Pixel Tablet is available in Porcelain, Hazel, and Rose colors (or white, green, and pink). There’s no black variant being sold, though renders showing what an Obsidian or Charcoal Pixel Tablet would have looked likeleaked online.

As for the display, it is a 2,560 x 1,600 10.95-inch one. It’s a 16:10  aspect ratio and it is rated for 500 nits brightness. There’s no special pen support like an iPad Pro, but you can use aUSI2.0 stylus for a close enough experience if you can find a pen (andrumors indicate one is coming). There was no hint of a high refresh rate as you’d find in tablets like the iPad Pro or the new OnePlus Pad, sadly.

Google Pixel Tablet special features

When it ships, the Pixel Tablet will run Android – specifically Android 13, which is designed to work better for large-screen devices after building up Android 12L. Being a Google device, it’s also sure to get a lot of software updates – and promptly, too.  Google will roll out Android 14 to the Pixel Tablet later this year to add support for generative AI features and further improve its tablet interface. The Tablet will remain supported for up to five years for security updates, and three for software updates.

Get the best Black Friday deals direct to your inbox, plus news, reviews, and more.

Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable Black Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content.

The Pixel Tablet is also designed to work with a Charging Speaker Dock, which you can see in the image below. This turns the slate into a smart home device akin to the Google Home Hub or theNest Hub Max. As the name suggests, it can both keep the Pixel Tablet charged and offers better speakers than the tablet itself.

The Pixel Tablet’s killer feature, if we could say that, is that ‘Hub Mode’. With Hub Mode, the Pixel Tablet stops being a personal tablet and becomes a control center for your home. You can control music, smart home devices, turn the Tablet into an album, and so on. Google supports a wide swathe of devices, other than Google’s own branded devices. Many of thebest smart home devices(Amazonexcepted) will be supported here. When you’re done using it as a hub, you can simply pop it off the Dock, sign in with your pin or biometrics, and it’s a private tablet again.

Google Pixel Tablet specs and battery

The Google Pixel Tablet is powered by the same Tensor G2 processor in the Pixel 7 and has 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM, either 128GB or 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. Google says there are up to 12 hours of video watching for a full charge with its 27-watt-hour battery. As mentioned, you can charge it via the Dock, or you can buy a separate USB-C charger for it.

You’ll find a camera on the front and the rear, though it’s not clear that you should be using it for more than video calls and the like. An 8MP camera sits at the front, and a similar 8MP camera sits at the rear. There’s no (native)Facetime on Android, but there is support for Google Meet,WhatsApp, and other consumer apps. Sadly, Google isn’t using either of those cameras for face unlock as it does on the Pixel 7, 7a, and 7 Pro – but there is a fingerprint sensor embedded in the power button for quick unlocking.

For more on the latest slate hardware, check out our guide to thebest Android tabletsof 2023.

A UK-based tech journalist for TechRadar, helping keep track and make sense of the fast-paced world of tech with a primary focus on mobile phones, tablets, and wearables.

When not writing on TechRadar, I can often be found reading fiction, writing for fun, or working out.

I tried the iPad mini 7 and it’s the perfect (and cheapest) device for Apple Intelligence

The Kindle Colorsoft faces shipping delays, but don’t be put off by its yellow screen issue

Your doctor may have an AI assistant taking notes during your next Zoom call