Google Pixel Tablet
Looking for a smart home hub that can double as a gaming tablet? Google’s Pixel Tablet fits the bill. It flaunts a 10.9-inch IPS LCD screen, backed by the power of the Google Tensor G2 chipset and 8GB RAM for a snappy experience. Its camera setup includes an 8 MP rear and front camera, perfect for capturing those spontaneous moments or crystal-clear video calls.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8
For an affordable price, Samsung’s Galaxy Tab A8 can handle various applications. Users may also appreciate its microSD expansion and its headphone jack. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 has a few drawbacks from a gaming perspective, but the price is right.
TheGoogle Pixel Tabletwas a highly anticipated release that hit the market midway through 2023. Its impressive spec sheet and competitive pricing made this Pixel device one of the mostsought after Android tabletsof the year. But for anyone looking to save a few dollars on their next purchase, theSamsung Galaxy Tab A8might still prove to be the better option.
Price, availability, and specs
The Google Pixel Tablet is available directly from Google, and it can be found at Best Buy, Amazon, and elsewhere. The tablet goes for $499, with this price including the tablet’s associated charging speaker dock. If you buy an additional dock separately, it will cost you an additional $129. A branded Pixel Tablet case is also available for the device, running at $79. The Pixel Tablet comes with 8GB of RAM and has two storage configurations: 128GB and 256GB.
Because it’s been out for some time, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 enjoys a definite price advantage. The tablet is widely available from Samsung or Amazon for $179 in the base configuration. Other brick-and-mortar retailers will also carry this model, making for a wealth of options while you’re shopping around for a bargain. For $179, you get 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, but if that’s not enough, configurations go up to 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Also, unlike the Pixel Tablet, the Tab A8 features expandable storage with a MicroSD card slot, making for a more accommodating machine if you find you need more data storage down the line.
For its first tablet, Google has crafted a device that leans on a polycarbonate design with nano-ceramic coating, producing an attractive matte finish and comfortable textured feel. This isn’t Google’s first attempt at using textured finishes, as owners of the Pixel 5 will remember. Samsung continues in the familiar tradition that features metal construction, even on budget tablet offerings like the A8. It will provide a sturdy feel, but this choice does contribute to a slightly more substantial weightiness than the Pixel Tablet (about 10 grams heavier).
We like the decisions Google has made with the Pixel Tablet. Although a metal construction often results in a premium feel, the selection also produces a tendency to show wear and damage far more easily. It won’t take many bumps and bruises that are certain to occur during everyday use for the back of the Tab A8 to look battered and aged. The Pixel Tablet promises a sturdy design, yet it features a notable improvement in overall durability thanks to the polycarbonate shell.
Both tablets feature a quad-speaker setup; however, the Pixel Tablet does not retain the once-standard 3.5mm headphone jack, so if you are reliant on a favorite wired headset, you’ll need to go with the Tab A8, regardless of other specific build properties. The Pixel Tablet’s charging speaker dock provides fuller sound than either tablet can manage on its own, but only when the Pixel Tablet is docked on it.
As expected, the Pixel Tablet supports Wi-Fi 6, while the Tab A8 is left on Wi-Fi 5. For the price difference, this shouldn’t be a deal-breaker, but if you’re after the fastest possible connection, the improvements from Google are certainly worth considering.
Even though both devices pack LCD screens under the glass, the resolutions of the tablets actually vary quite a bit. Google has gone with a 10.95-inch 2560 x 1600 display, while Samsung’s slightly smaller 10.5-inch panel on the A8 is limited to 1900 x 1200.
You may not see a major difference between the screens, depending on the type of content you’re consuming, of course. Yet, a big rift appears when it comes to the setting you’re using the device in. Brightness levels depart from one another significantly here; at 500 nits, Google’s tablet screen is significantly brighter than the one featured on the Tab A8.
Neither tablet is great for outdoor use, but the Pixel’s additional lumens will come in handy in brighter indoor environments. If all you are doing is binging Netflix in bed, though, neither the resolution nor the brightness will be a deal breaker for the Tab A8, which features slightly weaker performances in both categories.
Another difference to consider is stylus support. The Pixel Tablet supports any USI 2.0 stylus you might want to use, while the Tab A8 does not provide pen support at all. That’s a little disappointing since other Samsung offerings in its price range have featured S Pen support. It certainly would have been nice to see that replicated here, but this wasn’t to be. As a result, your decision to use a stylus or not can help sway your tablet preference.
The Pixel Tablet is currently upgradeable to Android 14; the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 is on Android 13. Samsung has promised a window of four years of security updates on the Tab A8 from its launch in early 2022. Google, on the other hand, offers five years of updates for the Pixel Tablet.
Even though the Tab A8 has just under three years of support left, Android 13 is the last major Android upgrade it will receive. It’s nice that it will still get security updates, but we would’ve preferred to see at least Android 14 on the Tab A8, especially since many other Samsung tablets will get the update. It feels as if the A Series is seriously missing out.
Meanwhile, Pixel Tablet owners can expect major Android updates for years to come. In addition to the security updates, Google promises regular feature drops for the Pixel Tablet, much like they do for their Pixel smartphone lineup. Clearly, the Pixel Tablet has favor in this category.
Performance
There’s a lot to be excited about when it comes to the Pixel Tablet. Its performance stands out, allowing it to really pull away from its competition. A Unisoc T618 chipset powers the Samsung Tab A8, while Google has worked to dramatically improve its user experience with a Tensor G2.
The result is a device that will handle a wide range of duties that the Tab A8 simply can’t match. For example, multitasking, smart home hub usage, and productivity apps will all enjoy a more fluid experience on the Pixel Tablet. With 8GB of RAM, the Pixel Tablet can also cache a lot more, so maintaining numerous open Chrome tabs at once won’t be an issue.
In comparison, the Galaxy Tab A8 is designed to handle specific tasks. It’s not the competent multitasker that the Pixel Tablet offers itself up as, but this device is by no means a useless shell. If your tablet usage is limited to streaming and light-web browsing, you will have zero issues picking up a Tab A8. Indeed, when considering the typical tablet requirements of the everyday user, the Pixel’s Tensor G2 chipset might be considered overkill.
The Pixel Tablet doesn’t quite live up to the photography legacy Google’s Pixel phones have established. That shouldn’t matter much to most people — tablet cameras are for scanning documents — but photos from the Pixel Tablet aren’t any better than what you’ll get out of many other midrange tablets.
The quality differences in the devices' selfie cameras will likely be felt the most in real-world usage. The Google Pixel Tablet features an 8MP front sensor, while the Tab A8 includes a 5MP sensor; both are capable of 1080p video at 30FPS. However, the difference in megapixel ratings is not as big a deal as the processing power that underpins each device’s cameras.
For instance, if you use digital green screen backgrounds for your Zoom calls or classroom lessons, the Pixel Tablet will provide a smoother experience than the budget-powered Tab A8. Selfie portrait mode also benefits from the added power of the Tensor G2, which performs edge detection better and processes images faster for a superior overall usage experience.
Battery life
For video streaming, the Galaxy Tab A8 boasts over 10 hours of battery life, while the Pixel Tablet can manage 12 hours. Though, if you use your tablet for more than just binging, you should expect lower numbers. Given the lower resolution and budget processor offered by the Tab A8, this Samsung device should last longer into the day before needing a charge. On the other hand, a flagship SoC like the Tensor G2 will naturally draw more power, reducing the effective battery life of the tablet as a result. However, this is a calculated tradeoff that also yields a stronger overall performance from the device.
When it’s time to plug in, both tablets will be limited to 15W charging, placing them on even footing with one another. Samsung’s Tab A8 ships with a charger in the box; the Pixel Tablet can charge on its included charging speaker dock, but the package doesn’t include a standard USB charging brick. Given the slower charging speeds and large batteries, you should expect either device to require overnight charging rather than a fast top-up between use sessions.
Which should you buy?
It may sound like a cop-out, but the best tablet choice comes down to your personal needs. If you are someone who takes your tablet to work or school, the added Pixel Tablet benefits start to make more sense, justifying the higher price tag. Paired with the included charging speaker dock, the Pixel Tablet becomes a great smart home device, and the processing power makes it ideal for multitasking and productivity.
Good balance of power and value
We couldn’t honestly appraise the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 as abetterdevice than the Pixel Tablet, but there are numerous instances where it makes more sense than the more powerful Google offering. Most users don’t truthfully fall under the category of power users, so the Tab A8 offers ways to save a pretty decent chunk of money by foregoing some unnecessary features.
For example, if you’re a light podcast listener or someone who uses a tablet to stream a few episodes in the evening, the Tab A8 will admirably do the job for almost $300 less. The Google Pixel Tablet is a fantastic value, but the enormous savings make the Tab A8 a quality device at a bargain price that’s hard to overlook.
Fantastic screen for the price point
