Even when it was brand new, the Google Pixel Tablet wasn't the best of its kind, and with its high price, not the best value tablet you could buy either.
Yet, with 2026 well underway, I've realized the Pixel Tablet is the tablet I've most regularly used since it was released, despite it coming up on 3 years old and having a host of higher performance, longer-lasting, more capable alternatives around me.
Why? It's my sous chef and my kitchen entertainment hub all-in-one, and I use it more than any other because of its unique magnets and fantastic dock.
Justified hate
Not up to standard
The Pixel Tablet wasn't very good when it was released, and that hasn't changed at all. It cost twice as much as it was really worth. The Tensor G2 underperformed, the software and chip pairing was unreliable, and the LCD screen was average at best.
There's no official keyboard case, so working on the Pixel Tablet is a pain and an extra expense. Android has never looked or operated all that well on a tablet, and Google did little to customize it for its own model, meaning there was little motivation to buy it over any other.
Compared to the Apple iPad models of the time, it was far behind in power and performance. Since then, it has been shuffled to the sidelines by tablets like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 and the Poco Pad X1 . The Pixel Tablet wasn't what we all wanted from a Pixel-era Google tablet.
My most used tablet?
All for two reasons
Despite all this, and looking back over the last few years, I've used the Pixel Tablet more consistently than any other, but for a very specific reason. It's all due to the magnets inside the tablet, and the fantastic dock which came bundled with the tablet when it was released.
The Pixel Tablet doesn't move from my kitchen, where it serves as my sous chef and my entertainment hub. Most of the time, it's attached to the dock, which sits out of the way, and high up on a cupboard.
From here, the sensitive microphones work their magic and I use Gemini for timers, reminders, and cooking advice. It almost never fails to do what it's asked, and never needs physical input at any time. It's kept out of the way so it doesn't get dirty, knocked, or damaged, but this never impedes its functionality.
The Dock ensures the battery stays charged, and the clock is always shown on the screen, but also does its best to manage the charge process, and even after a couple of years, the battery still delivers good standby and use time.
Moving it around
A feature no other tablet has
The Pixel Tablet attaches to the Dock using magnets, but it's not the only opportunity to use them. Due to the layout of my kitchen, I can attach the undocked Pixel Tablet to the door or side of my refrigerator, where the magnets firmly hold it in place.
Here, it becomes a wonderful entertainment hub. I can watch long-form videos while I cook or work in the kitchen, without the tablet resting on a surface or being shuffled out of the way, and with no chance of it getting knocked on the floor.
The audio performance is amazing on the Dock, but still fine for spoken word when the Tablet is attached to the side of my fridge.
Because Android has tried to manage the charging cycles while attached to the Dock, the battery hasn't suffered too much, and battery life is never an issue when it's undocked.
Quite simply, no other tablet has these two combined features, which work to ensure I never think about battery, storage, or functionality, making the Pixel Tablet indispensable to me.
Everyday use
No other tablet comes close
Because of the Pixel Tablet's Dock, magnets, microphones, audio performance, and Gemini functionality, plus its placement in my home, I use it almost every day, and have done so for the last few years.
This makes it my single, most often used tablet by a long, long way. Aside from review models, I sometimes use my iPad Air for light work when I don't want to carry my laptop, and will sometimes play games or use Chrome, but when I always have my phone, laptop, and television somewhere nearby, it's not all that often.
As a reviewer, the Pixel Tablet is one of my least favorite Google products. I've had issues with the software, and know others who've had even more of them, yet it has become one of the Google products I'd never want to be without.
Can you still buy it?
Yes, and no
It has taken a while to find its place, but I have found myself appreciating the Pixel Tablet more than any other tablet. However, for my basic use, its original $600 price with the dock should be considered outrageously expensive.
Google dropped the price to $500, and then dropped the Dock — an essential part of its appeal, in my opinion — to make the Pixel Tablet $400 on its own. This is currently the only way you can purchase the Pixel Tablet through Google.
Google recently tried to incentivize purchases by extending the software update commitment to mid-2028 . Does this, along with my continued use and enjoyment, mean I'm about to say one of the least desirable tablets of the last few years is a good buy in 2026?
It's still not one I'd recommend
Other choices work well
Unfortunately, I can't recommend buying the Pixel Tablet without the Dock. It's a fundamental part of what makes it work so well for me, and without it, it'd become a burden to remember to charge it, and also find somewhere to keep it in my kitchen.
It's a real shame the Dock has become a thing of the past. The Google Nest Hub Max and Amazon Echo Hub take care of the voice assistant duties, but lack the overall versatility of the Pixel Tablet's removable tablet display and built-in magnets.
However, I am pleased to have finally been able to appreciate what makes the Pixel Tablet special. It's just a bit of a shame it's a low-tech set of magnets rather than anything more spectacular.
