When Google first unveiled the Pixel Tablet at I/O 2022, there was a lot of excitement about what was to come. This is Google’s first tablet since the Pixel Slate but has the potential to be as exciting and influential as the Nexus 7.
Instead of focusing on the ever-flailing Android tablet market, Google took a completely different approach. And it all starts with the Charging Speaker Dock that’s included in the box and sold separately if you want extras.
Did you know that Google already has a big, touchscreen device with a built-in speaker and a selfie camera? Oh yeah, it’s the Nest Hub Max, which has been around since 2019. Naturally, this was the first thing I thought of when Rick Osterloh debuted the Pixel Tablet on stage.
But if you read and listen to Google employees and PR talk about the Pixel Tablet, all of them say this is not a replacement for the Nest Hub. What makes this confusing is all of the focus on how the Pixel Tablet can transform into a smart home hub.
Google even went so far as to revamp the software, creating a completely different interface than what you’ll find in the Google Home app. It’s even built specifically for the Nest Hub Max Pixel Tablet. Hell, Google went so far as to derive the name from its current offering of smart displays, as the Pixel Tablet includes a dedicated “Hub Mode.”
