Google is the only brand not milking the tablet market, and remains committed to their one and only product. They released one Pixel Tablet in 2023, and presented it as a smart-home anchor.
Till now, there's no successor and there probably won't be for years to come. But the company has stretched the tablet’s life by two years. You'll now receive major Android OS updates and security patches until June 2028.
Google doesn't want you to toss your tablet aside yet
Before the Pixel Tablet, Google was big on making large screen devices. Their first was the Nexus line, where they partnered with ASUS and Samsung, among other brands, to create the Nexus 7to 10 models.
The company tried a fully self-branded device, the Pixel C, in 2015, then paused its tablets for years. The Pixel Tablet in 2023 marked their return to the market and was primarily a smart-home device different from their earlier models.
Last year, Google told Bloomberg that they've “paused” making Android tablets for the second time until they figure out “a meaningful future for the category”. No Pixel Tablet 2 is coming soon as the company makes sure they have a clear purpose and can add real value instead of being just another device on the shelf.
On the bright side, you have two additional years of updates on your current Pixel Tablet. When it launched in 2023, Google promised three years of Android OS updates and five years of security updates. It would've ended in June this year without the extension, but is now stretching to 2028.
This development was spotted on the tablet's support page, originally by 9to5Google.
Is the Google Pixel Tablet still worth buying?
The Pixel Tablet remains available on Google's official website. It costs $399 for the tablet only, and you can get it with the charging speaker dock for $499.
It has a 10.95-inch IPS LCD display with a 1600 × 2560 resolution and runs Android 13. It should be upgradable to Android 17, if Google follows the same yearly update pattern and naming system.
A Google Tensor G2 chipset powers the device, and it comes in 8GB RAM with 128GB or 256GB storage. There's support for a stylus, but none for memory card expansion.
On the tablet’s back is an 8MP rear camera, while the front side houses an 8MP front camera. Both shoot 1080p video with HDR and panorama with four stereo speakers delivering sound. There's no 3.5mm headphone jack.
The battery is a Li-Po cell with 7020mAh capacity, with charging reaching 15W on wired charging. You can get it in Porcelain, Hazel, and Rose colors.
The optional dock is an accessory that magnetically attaches to the tablet and lets you charge it while also boosting audio. The screen enters a Hub Mode and transforms the device into a smart display.
The tablet itself is worth getting if you're someone deeply rooted in the Google ecosystem, and own many smart home devices. It's your one device to rule them all.
