Google has announced a a lot of things this week. Main theme is new AI initiative throughout its software and Hardware lineups, including just announced Pixel 7a, Pixel Fold And Pixel Tablet.
Also: How to buy and pre-order all new Pixel products
That final product, the Tablet, was Google’s attempt to create a Android tablet since the Pixel C was released in 2015, and that’s something I’ve been thinking a lot about this past week.
In 2019, Google declare it has completed testing with tablets and will instead focus on improving the touch experience of Chrome OS devices. Yet here we are, four years later, with the company announcing Pixel Tablet $500 which you can pre-order now, with shipping starting June 20.
During the hardware part of the I/O opening keynote, Rose Yao, Google’s vice president of product management, took to the stage to teach viewers about the Pixel Tablet. She’s proven that typing with your voice is faster than typing on a Tablet’s software keyboard (no surprises there), citing the fact that the Speaker Charging Dock will keep the Tablet charged and ready to use, and also showcases the Tablet’s smart hub features as it docks.
All of that is interesting, but also… confusing. Why did Google release a $500 smart display? Or is it a $500 tablet? It’s hard to tell the extent of the announcement and all the marketing materials are leaning towards the smart display side of the Tablet.
A lot of people, myself included, use tablets like Temporary laptop for productivity. A dedicated keyboard case (bonus if there’s a trackpad) is the bet for tablets in 2023. People want to reply to emails or maybe even get some work done in Google Docs, Sheets. or Slides.
Also: Google announces Pixel Tablet and it’s not the iPad killer we expected
And yet, Google is firmly positioning the Pixel Tablet as a home and entertainment-centric device; just barely making it. can i buy one Nest Hub Max for $229. Damn, I could buy two of them and still save some money over a Tablet, if all I really wanted was a smart display.
But I digress.
Hey Apple, you might want to pay attention to this sequel.
Near the end of Yao’s time on stage, she briefly mentioned a trait that made me sit up straight in my chair. She had my full attention. That feature? Multi-user support on tablets.
The performance took just 17 seconds (yes, I counted) in a 2 hour 5 minute speech. This is exactly what she said about this feature: “We know that tablets are often shared. So family tablets need to support multiple users. Pixel Tablet makes switching between users super easy. So , you get your own apps and content while maintaining your privacy.”
And here’s how it will work:
She is right. Google is right. The tablet is shared at home. And so tablet users deserve multi-user support, a feature Apple’s iPad still no, unless it is used in a education or business setting. This feature is called a shared iPad, and it allows students and colleagues to share tablets in a private way.
So, technically, multi-user support on the iPad is possible, but Apple has deliberately made the decision to keep it for the average consumer. And that’s a shame.
Also: Google Pixel Tablet vs Apple iPad (2022)
Of course, I’ll have to go through the Pixel Tablet’s multi-user support myself before claiming outright victory for Google, but at least it’s trying. And it looks a bit promising. Notice how in the GIF above, the background image changes when the user changes it? It’s a small detail, but gives us a glimpse of the full customizability of a tablet for each user. I am here for it.
It’s crazy how a single feature instantly generates Pixel Tablet more attractive to me. Sharing the tablet with my wife and kids is something I like to do. And right now, it seems the only way to do that is to put down my iPad and pick up a Pixel Tablet.
