
If you know anything about Android tablets, you’ll know that the market is pretty bare. There’s Samsung, Lenovo, and, well, that’s about it. But in a matter of a couple of weeks, Android fans gained not one but two solid tablet options, both of which are under $500.
Also: Google announced the Pixel Tablet, and it’s not the iPad killer we were hoping for
That’s right. Google just announced the $499 Pixel Tablet which pulls double duty as an on-the-go tablet or an always-docked smart display. Google’s announcement comes shortly after OnePlus released its first tablet, the $479 OnePlus Pad.
Below you will find many reasons to choose either tablet over the other.
Details
Pixel Tablet | OnePlus Pad | |
exudation | 10.95-inch LCD, 2560 x 1600, 500 nits | 11.61-inch 2800×2000, LCD, 144 Hz, 500 nits |
Processor | Google Tensor G2 | MediaTek Dimensity 9000 Mobile Platform |
Operating system | Android 13 | Android 13.1 based on Oxygen OS |
Memory and storage | 8GB with 128GB/256GB | 8GB with 128GB |
Cameras | 8MP rear and 8MP front | 13MP on the back and 8MP on the front |
Battery | 12 hours of video streaming | 9,510mAh, 67W Supervooc charging |
relationship | Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax, Bluetooth 5.2, USB-C | Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax, Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C |
Colors | Porcelain, Hazel, Rose | Hello Green |
Price | $499 | $479 |
You should buy the Pixel Tablet if…
1. You find the charging dock attractive
One of the main selling points that Google is pushing for the Pixel Tablet is that when you’re not using it, you can place it in the Charging Speaker Dock to not only keep the tablet charged but to instantly transform it into a Nest Hub Max-like a smart display. The port’s integrated speaker brings 4x bass to the Tablet’s audio quality and also allows you to use the tablet as a screen/speaker combo so you can cast video and audio from another device.
Also: Google Pixel Tablet vs. Apple iPad (2022)
You can also use the new Home app to control your smart home devices, take a video call via Google Meet (and use the 360-degree background feature), or use it as a digital picture frame. So if you’re someone who likes the idea of a tablet, but can’t get past the idea of it sitting idle when you’re not using it, then maybe the Pixel Tablet designed for you.
2. You need a tablet for multiple users
Currently, sharing a tablet like iPad among family members is not possible. Well, it is possible, but you cannot fully use it as you would like by installing apps, rearranging the home screen, or even storing private information on it.
And while it didn’t get much attention on the Pixel Tablet side of the keynote, Google showed a lot of support for Pixel Tablet users. The quick demo shows someone switching between user profiles and realizing that all your information and settings are kept in your specific profile and not shared.
If you need or want a tablet for the family or even just the kids, then the Pixel Tablet appears to make it possible to do so.
3. You’re already invested in the Google ecosystem
The OnePlus Pad is a great tablet, don’t get me wrong. But OnePlus doesn’t have the same reach in our homes as Google. Given how intertwined our lives are with Google, and how likely it is that if you’re considering buying a Pixel Tablet you may already own some Google hardware, it makes sense to stay in the Google ecosystem.
Also: All the hardware announced by Google at I / O this year
In fact, the OnePlus Pad runs Android, and it shares many features and capabilities because of that, but if nothing else, Google made it clear during this year’s Google I/O that it will continue to provide Pixel products with exclusive features. .
And for many, that’s a very good reason to stick with Google’s Pixel platform.
You should buy the OnePlus Pad if…
1. You want a tablet now
While the Pixel Tablet is new and shiny, it hasn’t been officially launched yet. You can preorder nowbut it doesn’t start shipping until June 20. That’s a long wait.
Review: OnePlus Pad: A tablet for Android fans who secretly want an iPad
If you need a tablet now and don’t want to wait, the OnePlus Pad is for now available for purchase and currently, arrive within a week, depending on your shipping preference. For those in a hurry to get their hands on a tablet today, then the OnePlus Pad is the easy choice.
2. You need a tablet with a keyboard case
Google has announced a number of features that the Pixel Tablet will be capable of, but one thing that hasn’t been mentioned is the ability to use some kind of keyboard/trackpad case on it.
However, the OnePlus Pad works with the $150 Magnetic Keyboard that turns the tablet into a laptop-like experience by adding a trackpad, complete with mouse pointer and gestures, along with a keyboard.
In my review of the Pad, I heard it wasn’t the best tablet for productivity. And while I stand by that, the lack of any kind of productivity features for the Pixel Tablet makes the Pad the better option of the two.