Google Pixel Pill overview: the worst Pixel I’ve ever used Leave a comment

The Google Pixel Pill marks lots of firsts for Google. It’s the primary pill Google has launched in practically 5 years. It’s the primary Android pill from the corporate in nearly eight years. And it’s the very first Google pill that tries to blur the strains between an Android pill and a sensible house show.

That’s a tall order with lots of expectations, and I like Google’s willingness to attempt its hand at tablets as soon as extra — particularly after lukewarm reactions to the Pixel Slate and Pixel C that got here earlier than it. Nonetheless, after utilizing and dwelling with the Pixel Pill for a few weeks, I’m beginning to suppose Google ought to have listened to its prior self and stayed out of the pill enterprise for good.

About our Google Pixel Pill overview

Our Google Pixel Pill overview was written by Joe Maring and initially printed on June 20, 2023, after testing the Pixel Pill for 2 weeks. It was up to date in December with the “six months later” part you’ll discover beneath. Andy Boxall then revisited the Pixel Pill in April 2024, and you’ll find his feedback on the pill within the “10 months later” part.

Google Pixel Pill: six months later

I ended utilizing the Google Pixel Pill shortly after I printed this overview, however in early November, I made a decision to dig it out of my closet and provides the pill one other shot. Absolutely, issues have gotten higher since I final used it in June, proper? After one other month and a half with the Pixel Pill as I write this in late December, that hasn’t been the case.

Sadly, all of my unique complaints in regards to the Google Pixel Pill nonetheless maintain true in December 2023. I’m nonetheless working into crashing apps, random UI freezes, and the Tensor G2 chip nonetheless heats up faster than I’d prefer it to. Twitter (X) now takes up all the show as an alternative of displaying in a small window with giant black bars, however different apps like Duolingo and Fb proceed to look fairly dangerous.

One thing else that hasn’t gotten any higher is the Google Assistant. All these months later, the Assistant remains to be constantly unreliable. Whether or not I’m asking it to manage good lights, test the climate, or give me an replace on an ongoing Lions sport, I can’t all the time belief it to reply the best way I count on it to. It means the Pixel Pill isn’t a very good good speaker/show, and when that’s imagined to be considered one of its important promoting factors, that’s not a very good factor.

I’m very interested in what Google does subsequent with the Pixel Pill, but it surely’s nonetheless not a product I’m desperate to suggest any time quickly.

Google Pixel Pill: 10 months later

Proper from the beginning, I didn’t have as many issues with the Pixel Pill as Joe did, however I did share lots of his misgivings and criticisms. I’ve used it constantly because it was launched, as I favored it sufficient that I used to be prepared to offer it a shot at doing extra in my life. However now, in April 2024, I’m on the level the place I quit. The Pixel Pill is nice at a handful of issues, and it’s greatest left to them reasonably than pushing it to be one thing extra.

That’s not good for a pill at this worth, notably when the issues it’s good at — principally video and audio at house — should not solely fundamental but in addition competently dealt with by different, cheaper merchandise. Leaving the Pixel Pill on its glorious tabletop stand so it might present images and play video is in regards to the extent of what I need to do with it, as the shortage of an official keyboard, moderately priced case, and an app retailer with loads of tablet-optimized apps cease it being a piece machine, and it’s even overwhelmed by the Amazon Fireplace Max 11 right here.

I can ignore the 60Hz refresh fee as I principally take a look at the display screen from a distance and infrequently learn something on it, however Google Assistant can frustrate when it doesn’t hear me (however Amazon Echo units with Alexa hear me positive), and having to undock the pill to make use of the keyboard in these conditions comfortably provides to the annoyance. I just like the Pixel Pill once I merely depart it alone and let it look smooth and minimalist in my kitchen, the place it might fortunately play video and music or exhibit my images. It’s nice at that, but it surely actually ought to do extra — particularly contemplating how a lot it prices.

Google Pixel Pill: design

I haven’t been a fan of the Pixel Pill’s drab look since Google first introduced it in 2022. Nonetheless, I’ve come round to really liking lots of the design choices that Google made.

The Pixel Pill has an aluminum body, however you wouldn’t know that while you decide it up, because the pill is roofed in a “nano-ceramic coating.” It provides the Pixel Pill a gentle, welcoming texture that feels nice to carry — all whereas nonetheless offering the rigidity and sturdiness of the aluminum enclosure hiding beneath it.

I’ve additionally been proud of the fingerprint sensor, which is embedded into the facility button on the highest body of the Pixel Pill. It was straightforward to arrange,  could be very quick, and has labored reliably for me throughout my whole overview interval.

I additionally suppose the colours for the Pixel Pill, whereas decidedly bland, are completely positive. My mannequin is the Hazel colour, and it’s the one one with a black bezel across the show. The Porcelain and Rose colours each include a white bezel. I like that Google provides you a alternative right here, and for a tool that’s going to spend a lot of its time propped up in your kitchen counter or finish desk, I feel the muted colours work fairly properly.

Google Pixel Pill: charging speaker dock

We’ll dive into the Pixel Pill extra in a minute, but it surely’s solely half of the equation right here. Each Pixel Pill additionally comes with its personal charging dock within the field. The concept is that everytime you aren’t actively utilizing the Pixel Pill as, properly, a pill, you place it on the charging dock. This does just a few issues: Your Pixel Pill costs at any time when it’s on the dock, it makes use of the dock’s a lot better speaker, and it will get a particular good home-focused interface.

My favourite factor in regards to the charging dock is the way it sounds. There’s solely a single 43.5mm full-range speaker inside, but it surely sounds nice to my ears. It will get very loud, audio has a very good quantity of depth to it, and it’s labored properly for every part from YouTube TV to Apple Music. Particularly contemplating that it’s one thing that’s bundled with the Pixel Pill at no additional value, there’s not a lot to complain about.

Nonetheless, that reward solely applies to the audio high quality. Elsewhere, the charging dock disappoints.

The Pixel Pill locks onto the charging dock utilizing magnets, and in my testing, these magnets are extraordinarily weak. A number of instances once I’ve pressed the quantity rocker or energy button on the Pixel Pill whereas docked, the pill fully falls off and onto my kitchen counter. I’ve misplaced monitor of what number of instances the Pixel Pill has plopped off its charging dock simply because I wished to regulate the quantity.

The Pixel Pill’s charging dock disappoints.

The opposite problem is that the charging dock is rendered ineffective at any time when the Pixel Pill isn’t connected to it. The dock by itself doesn’t help voice instructions, can’t be used as a Chromecast goal to ship audio to, and doesn’t even perform as a Bluetooth speaker. There’s a nice-sounding speaker system within the charging dock that I’d love to make use of extra typically, but when the Pixel Pill isn’t connected to it, there’s nothing I can do with it. As an alternative, it’s only a hunk of plastic and cloth taking on area in my kitchen.

Google Pixel Pill: display screen and audio

Shifting again to the Pixel Pill itself, the display screen and audio expertise are equally puzzling.

The Pixel Pill has an 11-inch LCD show with a 2560 x 1600 decision and 500 nits of brightness. For probably the most half, the show seems excellent. Colours look very good, every part is loads sharp, and I’ve had no points with how vibrant the display screen will get. It’s doubtless not the only option for outside use, however when utilizing the Pixel Pill indoors and in brightly-lit rooms, I’ve by no means had hassle seeing what’s on the display screen.

What doesn’t look good, although, is the Pixel Pill’s 60Hz refresh fee. Scrolling by way of menus, apps, and so forth., seems sluggish and uneven on the Pixel Pill — as do any system animations. I can get used to a 60Hz show on a telephone just like the Pixel 6a, however when you’ve gotten a big 11-inch canvas like this, a slower refresh fee actually stands proud. Particularly when Lenovo can put a 120Hz show on the $335 Lenovo Tab P11 Professional Gen 2, getting caught with a 60Hz panel on the $499 Pixel Pill doesn’t really feel nice.

I’m additionally left scratching my head with the Pixel Pill’s audio system. The are 4 audio system on the pill — two on the left body and two on the suitable — and so they sound good! However solely while you aren’t holding the Pixel Pill.

Two of the 4 audio system align completely the place my fingers relaxation once I maintain the Pixel Pill, and in doing so, any audio popping out of these audio system sounds terribly muffled. It’s unattainable for me to comfortably maintain the Pixel Pill with out in some way distorting the audio system, and that’s made taking part in video games or watching YouTube movies a irritating expertise.

Google Pixel Pill: cameras

I gained’t spend an excessive amount of time on the cameras, as there’s nothing right here that actually calls for an excessive amount of of your consideration. The Pixel Pill makes use of an 8MP sensor with f/2.0 aperture for each the entrance and rear-facing cameras. Each cameras are additionally fixed-focus ones, which means there’s no autofocus functionality for both one.

You’ll doubtless use the front-facing digicam probably the most, and it’s completely ample. It’s definitely not one of the best I’ve ever seen, but it surely’s additionally not the worst. If you’ll want to take a fast selfie or hop on a Google Meet name, it’s greater than succesful.

The rear digicam is equally positive. If you’ll want to scan a doc or take a photograph and don’t have anything at your disposal, it’ll get the job accomplished. However with no autofocus, poor lowlight efficiency, and noisy element, it’s not a digicam you’ll need to depend on for something severe.

Google Pixel Pill: efficiency and battery

Powering the Google Pixel Pill is Google’s personal Tensor G2 chipset — the identical one contained in the Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Professional, and Pixel 7a. And identical to in these different devices, the Tensor G2 within the Pixel Pill is a combined bag.

One of the best factor about Tensor G2 is how perfomant it’s. Whereas not as succesful as flagship chips from Qualcomm, Tensor G2 is loads quick for every part I need to do. Watch stay tv on YouTube TV or stream a 4K film on Max (the artist previously often known as HBO Max), and the Pixel Pill handles it with ease. It will probably additionally run two apps facet by facet with out a drawback (due to the 8GB of RAM), and apps open immediately with out extended loading instances. I’ve additionally been very happy with the gaming expertise. Enjoying Name of Responsibility: Cellular with Very Excessive graphics and Max body fee settings, the Pixel Pill constantly hits a easy 60 frames per second (fps) and runs the sport with out a drawback.

However identical to on different Tensor G2-powered units, the Pixel Pill leaves a lot to be desired in relation to battery life.

Streaming a 4K video at max show brightness makes use of over 15% of the battery in only one hour. And gaming is even worse. The Pixel Pill misplaced 11% of its accessible battery life after simply half-hour of taking part in Name of Responsibility: Cellular, placing it on monitor to make use of over 20% after a single hour of gaming.

Google claims the Pixel Pill’s battery can final for “as much as 12 hours of video streaming,” however primarily based on my testing, it could take lower than seven hours to take the Pixel Pill from 100% to zero whereas doing nothing however streaming a 4K video. And in the event you’re taking part in a graphically intense sport, you can theoretically kill the Pixel Pill in beneath 5 hours.

The counter-argument is that you just in all probability aren’t streaming video for seven hours straight or gaming for 5 hours at a time. When you’re utilizing the Pixel Pill in shorter spurts and may simply throw it on the charging dock everytime you’re accomplished, the concept is that it ought to all the time have a full (or principally full) battery while you need to use it as a handheld.

That’s a good level, however I don’t suppose it fully excuses what’s objectively poor battery life on the Pixel Pill. When you’re taking the Pixel Pill on a visit or someplace out of the home, its battery may simply turn out to be an issue — be it on a highway journey, an extended flight, and so forth.

The charging setup for the Pixel Pill can be an odd one. When positioned on the dock, the Pixel Pill doesn’t cost past 90%. You possibly can power it to cost as much as 100%, however you’ll want to manually power it to take action each single time you place it on the dock. And there’s no useful pop-up telling you that is doable. After placing it on the dock, it’s a must to open the Settings app, faucet on Battery, after which faucet Cost to full.

Once more, this shouldn’t be a difficulty in the event you maintain your Pixel Pill at house. However in case you are planning to take it wherever else or use it off the dock for a protracted time frame, you’re in all probability solely utilizing 9/10ths of the accessible battery. And for a pill that’s already not very energy environment friendly, that solely compounds an already irritating battery expertise.

Google Pixel Pill: software program

OK — let’s discuss software program. The Google Pixel Pill ships with Android 13 (and is now working Android 14) and is promised three years of OS upgrades and at the least 5 years of safety updates. This is similar Pixel software program you’ve come to count on from Pixel smartphones, although it’s been optimized for the Pixel Pill’s bigger show.

That is seen all through the working system. The notification panel reveals your Fast Settings on the left and notifications on the suitable. Many Google apps are additionally optimized for the larger show, rearranging buttons and utilizing multicolumn layouts. These optimizations are nice! Apps like Google Calendar, Google Pictures, Google Maps, and Google House do an important job of utilizing the total show and feeling like they had been really made for a pill. Even some third-party apps, like 1Password and Microsoft Groups, look nice on the Pixel Pill.

I additionally love Google’s method to multitasking. Everytime you’re in an app, a small swipe up from the underside of the display screen shows a taskbar displaying the apps from your house display screen dock and an app drawer shortcut. This makes it lifeless easy to run apps in split-screen mode.

Utilizing Google Chrome and need to scroll by way of Twitter on the similar time? Deliver up the taskbar, press and maintain the Twitter app, and transfer it to the left or proper of your display screen. Identical to that, you’re working Chrome and Twitter concurrently. Apps routinely share the display screen 50/50, or you need to use the bar within the center to make it a 75/25 break up. I want there was extra freedom in how a lot you may resize apps in split-screen mode, however the present implementation is easy and simple to make use of. Plus, in the event you go house after working apps in split-screen, that split-screen setup shall be saved in your current apps menu like every other software. Google actually nailed it right here.

There’s nonetheless a looming drawback, although, and that’s third-party apps.

“However Joe, didn’t you say that third-party apps look good?” I did! However that’s solely true for some third-party apps. If an software hasn’t been optimized for tablets, it shows in a tiny window surrounded by a black background. You possibly can transfer the app to the left, proper, or heart, however there’s no technique to make an unoptimized app use all the display screen. When you open an app like Fb, Fb Messenger, Duolingo, Chewy, Goal, or Day One, it’s a must to take a look at it as this small window.

These aren’t random, unknown apps! We’re speaking about a number of the better-known cellular apps, and so they all look horrible on the Pixel Pill. It’s an unsightly reminder that — even with the entire work Google’s accomplished by itself apps — there’s nonetheless a lot of labor to be accomplished earlier than Android actually feels nice on an enormous display screen like this.

Google Pixel Pill: bugs and different points

In fact, the Android pill UI is simply one of many software program experiences supplied on the Pixel Pill. When it’s positioned on the charger dock, it basically turns right into a Google Nest Hub — and runs mainly the identical software program. Ask the Pixel Pill for the climate, a random query, or to play a present on Netflix when docked, and the interface you see is similar to a Google good show.

This all is sensible on paper. Put the Pixel Pill on the charging dock, and it capabilities like a sensible show. Take it off the dock, and it turns into an Android pill. Meaning you’re successfully working two fully completely different software program experiences at any given time, and as you may count on, it might create issues.

Let’s say you need to watch YouTube TV or Disney Plus — a fairly widespread ask for a sensible show! When you say, “Hey Google, open YouTube TV,” or “Hey Google, open Disney Plus,” it says, “Opening” … however refuses to really open the app till you enter your PIN code or use the fingerprint sensor to unlock the pill. That’s as a result of it’s making an attempt to open the Android app for these companies, and like several Android telephone or pill, you may’t open apps with out first unlocking the lock display screen.

Nonetheless! When you say, “Hey Google, play [a specific channel] on YouTube TV,” or “Hey Google, play [a specific movie or TV show] on Disney Plus,” it opens the good show model of that service — and performs it with out requiring you to unlock the Pixel Pill.

This isn’t defined wherever by Google while you’re utilizing the Pixel Pill. I ultimately figured it out myself (after lots of trial and error and a few assist from Ben Schoon at 9to5Google), however I can solely think about how complicated this shall be for anybody utilizing the Pixel Pill.

After which there are the entire random bugs/glitches I’ve needed to take care of.

A number of instances, when asking the Pixel Pill to play a channel on YouTube TV, it will get caught on the YouTube TV brand, and after just a few seconds, it tells me the app has stopped working. Equally, I’ve misplaced monitor of what number of instances the Pixel Pill has refused to listen to my “Hey Google” instructions if it’s streaming any kind of video — even with low quantity and me standing immediately in entrance of it, repeating the command numerous instances.  Regardless of having the pill’s darkish theme set on a dawn/sundown schedule, it usually will get caught in darkish mode and requires a handbook change again to gentle mode each single morning.

My Pixel Pill has additionally gotten confused about tips on how to open apps once I ask it to. One night once I requested it to open an software, it tried to take action on my smartphone. The Pixel Pill was the system that heard and registered the command, however its response was, “Okay, opening in your Motorola telephone.” Not as soon as did I modify any settings to make it do that, and simply as rapidly because it began appearing up, it stopped the subsequent morning – with no rhyme or purpose for any of it.

Buggy software program isn’t something new for Pixel units, and the Pixel Pill definitely doesn’t break that rule. If something, it’s turn out to be probably the most infuriating Pixels I’ve ever used.

Google Pixel Pill: equipment

Equipment are an vital issue for any pill, and that is an space the place the Pixel Pill feels oddly incomplete.

The one first-party accent Google has for the Pixel Pill is a $79 case. To Google’s credit score, it’s a very good case! The silicone on the skin feels inflexible and sturdy, and the raised edges across the show ought to provide good safety within the occasion of a drop.

One of the best side is the metallic ring on the again, which you’ll place at any angle to prop up the Pixel Pill on a flat floor. The stand additionally strikes all the best way to the highest of the pill, which means you can dangle it on a nail/hook if in case you have one round your home. The stand is tremendous sturdy, feels glorious to maneuver, and has an ideal cutout so you may nonetheless put the Pixel Pill on its charging dock even with the case. Whereas the $79 price ticket is quite a bit to swallow, this is likely one of the greatest circumstances I’ve seen from Google in years.

Nonetheless, that’s the place the accent dialog for the Pixel Pill begins and ends. Issues like split-screen multitasking and the taskbar are nice productiveness options, however with out an official keyboard dock to make use of the Pixel Pill with, they nearly really feel wasted. Official keyboards for the OnePlus Pad and the 2022 iPad have confirmed to be vital equipment, and never having one for the Pixel Pill is a missed alternative.

The identical may be stated about Google not providing an official stylus accent. The Pixel Pill helps USI 2.0 styluses, however Google isn’t promoting a Google Pen or Pixel Pen to go together with the Pixel Pill. If the help is there, why not really do one thing with it? Third-party styluses will work positive, however with tablets from Apple, Samsung, OnePlus, and Lenovo all having official stylus choices, it’s only one other thing Google doesn’t have a solution to.

Google Pixel Pill: worth and availability

The Google Pixel Pill is offered now and begins at $499 for the mannequin with 128GB of storage. If you wish to improve to the 256GB mannequin, you’ll pay $599.

Whereas the Pixel Pill comes with a charging dock included within the field, you should buy further ones for $129 every in the event you’d like.

Google Pixel Pill: verdict

In order that’s the Google Pixel Pill. I firmly consider that the thought behind the Pixel Pill is an effective one. As somebody who has a number of good shows scattered all through my house, the idea of a sensible show that additionally doubles as a pill is one which will get me excited.

Google gave that idea a good shot, however its execution with the Google Pixel Pill fully misses the mark. There’s not one single deal breaker that instantly stands out, but it surely’s an ideal case of a demise by a thousand cuts. The oddly positioned audio system that spoil the pill’s audio high quality. The 60Hz show that appears sluggish and outdated. The poorly designed charging dock that might have been a lot extra. The wonky software program expertise that makes the Pixel Pill infuriating to make use of at instances.

I’m not assured about the place the Pixel Pill goes from right here.

In order for you an Android pill for about the identical worth, you’re far higher off with the OnePlus Pad or Lenovo Tab P11 Professional Gen 2. Each have a lot better shows, longer battery life, extra attention-grabbing designs, and higher first-party equipment — to not point out, they’re each cheaper than the Pixel Pill. Hell, you can purchase the Tab P11 Professional Gen 2 plus a Google Nest Hub and nonetheless spend lower than what you’d pay for a Pixel Pill. And in doing so, you’d get a greater Android pill and a greater good show than what the Pixel Pill is able to.

There’s a very good product hiding someplace within the Google Pixel Pill. Perhaps after one other era or two, Google may make it one of many greatest Android tablets round. However for the corporate’s first pill displaying in spite of everything this time, I’m not assured about the place the Pixel Pill goes from right here.

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