It’s been a long time coming but Google has fixed our biggest gripe with its Pixel Tablet.
Normally this would be some kind of software bug or a bit of desired hardware we’d have to wait for the next generation to get. However, the Pixel Tablet is simply now available to buy without its docking station.
In my full review, I called the Pixel Tablet “something of hard sell” and this was largely down to the fact that Google offered no choice when buying it but to get the tablet and Charging Speaker Dock bundled together.
You could buy additional docks to place around the house, but what about customers who simply want an own-brand Google tablet to go with their Pixel 8a, Pixel 8 or Pixel 8 Pro and have no desire to turn it into a smart display by attaching it to the dock?
The asking price of £599/$499 meant you would be splashing out on two bits of tech when you only wanted one.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Google has finally seen sense and you can buy the Pixel Tablet on its own for £399/$399 (a bigger price cut in the UK for a change). And it only took a year for it to happen.
Although the docking station is a good piece of kit, able to magnetically hold onto the tablet, charge it while docked and turn it into a smart display via Chromecast and a built-in speaker, these are features that some people may never use.
Is the Pixel Tablet still worth buying?
In a word, yes. I would say the Pixel Tablet is an even better buy now than when it first launched thanks to this freedom of choice.
A year after testing it, I’m still using it almost daily. I love the sleek design with its matt finish, the nice display, Android 14, good battery life and more.
And with four years of promised security updates remaining and OS updates until June 2026, the Pixel Tablet still has lots of life left in it yet.
A slight spanner in the works is that you can get an iPad (9th gen) for a little less at £369/$329. However, in the Android world, this is one of the best tablets you can buy.
