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Not just any tablet
The Google Pixel Tablet may look like a regular Android tablet, but thanks to the included Charging Speaker Dock, it can be transformed into a smart home hub.
Still the best smart display
The Nest Hub Max has been around for a few years now, and while it’s a bit long in the tooth, it’s still a fantastic smart display and has the advantage of being your smart home hub.
For
- Better sound with larger speakers
- Features a built-in Thread radio
- Better as a stationary smart home display and hub
- The physical switch disables the camera and microphones
- Built-in Chromecast
- Less expensive
In return for
- Lower resolution front camera
- Outdated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth radios
- Lack of support for downloading more apps
Comparing the Pixel Tablet vs. Nest Hub Max might come as a surprise, but if you watched Google’s presentation at I/O 2023, it’s not that far-fetched. That’s because while the Pixel Tablet runs Android and the Nest Hub Max runs Fuschia, there are more similarities than you might think.
Google Pixel tablet vs Nest Hub Max: design and specs
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When docked, the Pixel tablet and Nest Hub Max look virtually identical thanks to Google’s addition of the charging speaker dock. Essentially you get a big screen connected to a speaker base that allows you to control your smart home, make video calls or stream content.
The Pixel tablet has a slightly larger 10.95-inch display with a resolution of 2560 x 1600 compared to the 10-inch 1280 x 800 display on the Nest Hub Max. This immediately gives the former an edge, as the screen looks sharper, while also being better for media consumption.
Released in 2019, the Nest Hub Max is powered by the AMLogic S905D2 processor, which you won’t really find on the best Android tablets. That’s mainly due to the fact that the Google smart display runs Fuchsia OS, an operating system developed by Google that aims to be “simple, secure, updatable and performant”.
With the Pixel Tablet, you get Google’s Tensor G2 chip running Android 13 out of the box. This means that you can download and use the best Android apps.
Both devices also have built-in Chromecast, with the Pixel tablet being the first Android tablet to include it. It offers the same functionality as the Nest Hub Max, which also includes a Chromecast.
Moving on to the speakers, the Nest Hub Max is equipped with two 18mm 10W tweeters and a single 75mm 30W woofer. By comparison, the Pixel Tablet has a four-speaker array on the tablet itself, along with a single 43.5mm woofer built into the charging speaker dock.
The Nest Hub Max also gets the edge in smart home compatibility thanks to its built-in Thread radio. This is a network protocol that helps connect the best smart home bulbs and other accessories.
However, and rather surprisingly, the Pixel Tablet and its Speaker Dock do not include a Thread radio. This means that your Pixel Tablet cannot act as a central hub for communication between different smart home accessories. While the Nest Hub Max can and is more suitable to act as a central hub in the home.
Google Pixel Tablet vs Nest Hub Max: Features and Pricing
As we mentioned earlier, the Pixel Tablet runs Android 13 out of the box while the Nest Hub Max runs Google’s Fuchsia OS. This makes for completely different interfaces, but Google is also starting to blur the lines a bit.
In addition to charging the speaker dock, Google has implemented a new “Hub Mode” feature in the Pixel tablet. When docked, the Pixel Tablet can be turned into a smart photo frame, smart home controller, and more. While they look different, it’s pretty much the same functionality as what you’ll find on the Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max.
But the Pixel tablet also has another big advantage: you can take it out of the Charging Speaker Dock and use it just like any other Android tablet. This is clearly something you can’t do with the Nest Hub or Nest Hub Max. So essentially the Pixel tablet is a two-in-one type of device compared to the “set and forget” nature of the Nest Hub Max.
While the Nest Hub Max might be better suited for those wanting a smart home hub with its Thread radio, the Pixel tablet is definitely the most versatile device. However, there is one more thing to consider when comparing the Pixel Tablet vs Nest Hub Max; the price.
Despite being released nearly four years ago, the Nest Hub Max remains one of the best smart displays and still costs $229. Meanwhile, the Pixel tablet costs $499 and comes with the speaker charging dock, so you get the full experience have without spending more.
We’d venture to guess that Google hopes you’ll end up spending more, as you can purchase additional Speaker Docks for $130 each. This would give you the flexibility to dock your Pixel tablet when moving between rooms. So instead of needing multiple Nest Hubs, the Pixel Tablet can simply be docked anywhere.
Google Pixel Tablet vs Nest Hub Max: Which One Should You Buy?
On the one hand, the Nest Hub Max is arguably the better smart home hub simply because of its built-in Thread radio. This is an important piece of the smart home puzzle, and something that Google isn’t including in the Pixel tablet or speaker charging dock. The Nest Hub Max is also cheaper, so for the price of one Pixel tablet you can buy two Nest Hub Max displays.
But on the other hand, the Pixel tablet is easily the more versatile device of the two. Simply place the Charging Speaker Dock on a counter or side table and throw the Pixel Tablet on top to read recipes or have something in the background. Then you can just undock it and use it like a regular tablet with all your favorite apps.
It really just comes down to whether you appreciate the versatility of the Pixel tablet or just want a smart home display.
Versatility at its best
Instead of releasing a productivity-focused tablet, Google took a different approach. Between the Pixel tablet and the included charging speaker dock, this offers a lot more versatility than most other tablets out there.
Control your smart home
We’re still waiting for a successor to the Nest Hub Max, but the current iteration works almost perfectly. There are a few issues and frustrations, but it serves one purpose and it does it well.
