Google Pixel Tablet
The Pixel Tablet is Google’s first tablet in almost five years. It’s a high-end slate with a Tensor G2 chip, good battery life, and an optional dock that converts it into a smart display.
Apple iPad Mini (6th Gen, 2021)
The iPad mini (6th Gen) is a compact but powerful slate from Apple. It uses the same chip that powers the iPhone 14, and the iPadOS has tons of tablet-optimized applications.
Google’s history with tablets is a bit of a mixed bag, featuring hits and misses with the Nexus 7 tablets and Pixel Slate devices, respectively. While theGoogle Pixel Tabletis a step in the right direction, it still suffers from a few first-generation shortcomings.
Despite any faults, it’s a quality device worth considering if you’re in the market for anAndroid tabletunder $499. By contrast, the Apple iPad mini (6th gen) benefits from years of polish, but not without its compromises, such as the strengths and weaknesses of Apple’s ecosystem. These are two quality choices, but which is right for you?
Price, availability, and specs
The Google Pixel Tablet is available through Google and Best Buy starting at $499 for 128GB, with a 256GB variant available for $599. Google offers its tablet in three colors: Porcelain, Hazel, and Rose.
Meanwhile, the iPad mini sells through Apple for the same starting price of $499, but with only 64GB of storage. A 256GB variant is available for $649 — a premium over the Pixel Tablet. Apple offers the iPad mini in four colors: Starlight, Space Gray, Pink, and Purple. Unlike the iPad mini, the Pixel Tablet has no LTE version.
Despite going in a different direction with the designs of the Pixel 6, 7, and newestPixel 8, Google calls back to the Pixel 5 for its tablet design. Like the Pixel 5, it features a textured material around its metal body. On the Pixel Tablet, the feel is created by the nano-ceramic coating around the aluminum enclosure. It results in a premium finish that sets it apart from the standard metal or glass constructions we are used to on other products. You’ll find quad speakers around the tablet’s frame (the iPad mini only has two) and a USB-C connector.
No Pixel Tablet discussion is complete without talking about the dock. Whether you want it or not, the Charging Speaker Dock is included with your purchase and has useful functionality. While the magnetic connector leaves a bit to be desired, the speaker is decent, and the Hub Mode allows usage as a smart display when the tablet is stationed on the dock.
Apple’s 6th generation iPad mini design borrows inspiration from iPhone and iPad Pro models of the last few years, with flat edges running along the tablet. Like the Pixel Tablet, it charges via a USB-C connection along the bottom of the device. And unlike the recent iPad 10th-gen, the iPad mini still positions the front-facing camera in portrait orientation. The entire enclosure is aluminum and feels premium in the hand. As expected, the iPad mini carries the usual Apple fit and finish.
It’s hard to deny the apparent size differential between the two devices. If you want a larger tablet experience, the Google Pixel Tablet will function better as an entertainment hub for streaming content and videos. With that extra size comes weight, with the Pixel Tablet coming in at 493g. Meanwhile, if you’re concerned about portability, the relatively light (293g) iPad mini is the stronger choice for class and work.
As the name suggests, the iPad mini sports a modest 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display, Apple’s fancy way of describing its LCDs. Don’t let the LCD part fool you, though — Apple ships fantastic displays with color saturation and contrast that can rival OLED panels. The iPad mini has a resolution of 2266x1488 at 326ppi, and the display is fully laminated, which means there will be little perceived gap between the glass and the panel. In addition, the iPad mini supports the 2nd generation Apple Pencil. For artists, the laminated display will make a big difference while drawing on the display.
Not to be outdone, Google has included a 10.95-inch laminated LCD panel on the Pixel Tablet with a resolution of 2,500x1600. Both tablets have the same brightness rating at 500 nits, so neither claims an advantage for better outdoor viewing. Like the iPad mini, the Pixel Tablet also supports a pen, although several more choices exist. It can support any USI 2.0 stylus pen, so it will work on the Google tablet if you already have a favorite.
Performance and battery
Google has selected the Tensor G2 to power the Pixel Tablet. It features impressive near-flagship performance, although the thermals leave something to be desired. Regardless, it’s excellent on the Pixel Tablet and will easily chew through nearly any task. Your tablet will have little issue with intensive apps or games, all with decent frame rates and graphics settings. If you’re looking for power in a relatively inexpensive tablet, Google may have the answer for you.
Not to be outdone, Apple has included the A15 bionic chip in the sixth-generation iPad mini. It’s a touch older, but it can still get the job done. Apple’s custom silicon has been nothing short of impressive, and it ages well. You can expect your iPad mini to run apps smoothly almost to the end of its support life, which is a benefit of buying Apple devices and why you pay the premium to get them.
Google claims up to 12 hours of video playback on the Pixel Tablet with a single charge. In contrast, Apple promises up to 10 hours for the iPad mini, which is unsurprising given its slight form factor and smaller battery. Either one will get you through an entire binge-watching session, and USB-C charging on both allows for decent charging speeds. If you absolutely need that longer battery life, you should consider the Pixel Tablet.
Aside from display size, software is the biggest difference between the Google Pixel Tablet and the Apple iPad mini (6th-gen). Google’s first Pixel Tablet runs Android 13 out of the box, with an update to Android 14 expected within weeks. Unlike the Pixel phone you might have at home, the larger Pixel Tablet uses a version of Android L — a specialized version for larger displays. It makes multitasking easier and adds other creature comforts to make the Pixel Tablet feel more like a tablet, not just a large phone. Plus, with Google, you’ll get all those Pixel features you know and love.
Google promises five years of Pixel updates, but whether that means full Android version upgrades or only security updates remains to be seen. While it’s only available on the Android 14 beta currently, Google is working on a way for all apps to take advantage of the larger display whether the developer has optimized the app or not. It will make a huge difference in the experience, and we’re looking forward to the feature being released.
Similarly, iPadOS helped the iPad become a separate experience from your phone. With iPadOS 17, Apple added more home screen customizations, smarter widgets, a new mail app, and other AI-enhanced features to improve the experience. Unlike the Android 14 beta, iPadOS has no way of stretching apps that aren’t optimized other than to zoom in. With the iPad being around for so long, the iPad mini still has an advantage, as many apps have made dedicated versions for the platform. Still, it would be welcome to have a solution to convert any app.
Apple doesn’t quote firm support dates, but you should expect the iPad mini to be supported for another four or five years. But remember, it’s still the Apple ecosystem, so you’ll deal with all the benefits and limitations — it’s not meant for heavy customization.
While it’s rarely the focus of any tablet purchase, both tablets have fairly decent camera systems. The Pixel Tablet features a pair of 8MP shooters on the front and rear. Rear video is limited to 1080p, but we doubt that will affect many buyers. More importantly, the front camera will work fine for video calls and meetings, while the rear camera is perfectly capable of document scans.
By comparison, the iPad mini ships with two 12MP shooters for front and rear. The iPad mini can also shoot 4K video, although you’d probably never use the feature. Much like the Pixel Tablet, the front camera will work great for video calls and meetings, while the rear is fine for light photography or documents.
Which tablet should you buy?
If you’re already comfortable with Pixel devices or love Android, we recommend checking out the Pixel Tablet. Between the Pixel extras and the added versatility of the Speaker Dock, you’ll be pleased with how many ways you can use the device. The Tensor G2 will be a good performer for years so that you can enjoy your Pixel Tablet well into the future.
Excellent value
Google’s first tablet in years features some impressive specs for the price tag. The Pixel Tablet sports a large 10.95-inch display and is powered by the Tensor G2 for snappy performance. Its nano-ceramic coating gives the Pixel Tablet a different feel from other devices. The quad speakers and Speaker Dock can make the Pixel Tablet into a home jukebox if needed.
Not to be dismissed, the iPad mini is a fantastic option if you’re used to the Apple ecosystem and looking for a light and portable tablet. It sports a wonderful display and premium build quality that make it a great alternative if you’re ecosystem-independent.
A no-brainer for Apple users
The Apple iPad mini (6th Gen) is an excellent compact slate that delivers great performance. The A15 bionic, while a bit older, still powers through apps with ease, and the iPad mini’s 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display is ideal for watching content on the go. If portability and style are your main needs, the Apple iPad mini has a lot to offer.
