Google Pixel Tablet
Thanks to its included dock, the Google Pixel Tablet quickly turns from a tablet great for watching movies and scrolling social to a fantastic home hub that lets you listen to music and easily keep up with your other Google devices in one place.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite 2022
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite offers a solid tablet experience at an affordable price that’s hard to beat. The headphone jack makes it easy to pair the tablet with any set of headphones, and its included Snapdragon 720G should handle almost everything you throw at it.
TheGoogle Pixel Tablethas finally brought the tech company’s powerful Google Tensor 2 chip to a tablet. In comparison, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite was released in 2022, but it still offers a fantastic Android tablet experience without breaking the bank. How does Google’s new Tensor-powered Pixel Tablet stand up to the already battle-tested Tab S6 Lite? Let’s take a look.
Price, availability, and specs
The Pixel Tablet starts at $500 for the 128GB storage option. At that price, it will certainly clock in as a high-end tablet. This price tag makes it substantially more expensive than the 2022 Galaxy Tab S6 Lite version, which starts at $350 for a 64GB model. The price point for the S6 Lite makes it one of thebest cheap Android tabletsavailable to consumers.
The Galaxy Tab S6 Lite might not be as high-end as Google’s Tensor-powered Pixel Tablet, but that doesn’t mean it should be written off. Both tablets will be readily available at most major vendors, like Amazon and their respective stores (the Google Store and Samsung’s website). The result is a pair of quality devices that won’t be difficult to find, regardless of which direction you end up deciding to go with your next tablet purchase.
Regarding specs, both tablets are built on solid platforms and provide responsive user experiences. However, the power of Tensor 2 allows the Pixel Tablet to rise above its competitor by a good margin. There’s also the fact that the Pixel Tablet offers more RAM and storage than the Tab S6 Lite, something that will be important for heavy-duty users planning to pick up one of these tablets.
Tablets can be an incredibly useful addition, but they can also be infuriating to deal with. This usually comes down to the design of the platform itself. Thankfully, the new Pixel Tablet and the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite are technical masterpieces. In addition, both devices are fairly light for tablets, just over a pound each, especially considering the large screens they tout. These realities offer the best in technical design and physicality for a great user experience all around.
Both the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite and the Pixel Tablet are made of durable material, with the Tab S6 Lite sporting a metal unibody construction. The Pixel Tablet, in contrast, is made of aluminum with an AED/nano-ceramic coating. However, these designs won’t protect either device from scrapes and scratches, so picking up a case will be important for either selection.
While their displays are similar, and their general designs aren’t much different, the Pixel Tablet and Galaxy Tab S6 Lite share one big difference — the Pixel Tablet doesn’t offer a headphone jack while the Tab S6 Lite comes with this embedded in the frame. It’s common these days for higher-priced tablets like the Pixel Tablet not to offer a headphone jack, but it could be an important inclusion if you haven’t made the jump to wireless headphones just yet.
Furthermore, both devices use the USB-C standard for charging and other connections. Another key difference to keep in mind is that while the Tab S6 Lite offers smaller internal storage, it can be expanded using a microSD card up to 1TB. The Pixel Tablet does not offer expandable memory, so purchasing a model with the required storage already built in will be a must for buyers opting for the Google device.
Overall, the Pixel Tablet feels more like a premium device thanks to its ceramic coating and higher-end outward features. The fact that it can easily be connected to its dock via a magnetic holding mechanism in the docking station also helps it stand above the Tab S6 Lite, though that shouldn’t be a surprise given the divergent price points of the two devices. you’re able to also purchase additional docks and set them up throughout your house to easily turn your tablet into a mobile smart home device that can be easily dropped into any room.
Neither the Tab S6 Lite nor the Pixel Table offer AMOLED displays. Instead, they both feature LCD panels, which means you may expect a similar visual quality on both screens. However, Google Tensor 2 does offer some AI-backed improvements, which could make for a brighter image on the Pixel Tablet.
One key thing that makes the Tab S6 Lite stand out above other tablets is its support for the S Pen, Samsung’s own stylus. The Pixel Tablet also supports styluses. However, Samsung has made it a point to update and improve its stylus software over the years, making it the best option for tablet users who routinely reach for this accessory.
Overall, the displays on these two tablets aren’t very different, though the Pixel Tablet’s resolution is a bit higher. Both tablets will offer crisp images, so it ultimately comes down to what you’re willing to pay for that pretty picture.
In terms of software, the Pixel Tablet and the Tab S6 Lite are similar, offering the latest version of Android — Android 13. However, as with any Google device, the Pixel Tablet is expected to get access to Android 14 and even future Android updates beyond that before the Tab S6 Lite does. Moreover, with a release year separating the two tablets, you can expect one additional year of Android system updates from the Pixel Tablet over its Samsung competitor. Samsung is pretty good about updating their devices, but if you really want the most up-to-date version of Android as quickly as possible, then the Pixel Table is a great choice.
There are, of course, other differences between the software. For example, the Pixel Tablet features Google’s stock Android option, which is fairly stripped down compared to other Android skins. That means fewer frills and unneeded bloat, which Samsung has been known for in the past. The company has gotten better about how much bloat they pack into their devices, but if you are looking for a truly streamlined experience, the Pixel Tablet is the winner here.
Samsung’s tablet comes with its own version of Android, which has been tweaked to work efficiently with the S Pen. On the other hand, the Tensor chipset included in the Google Pixel Tablet unlocks a slew of important software features, like Magic Eraser, Unblur, and several other features that help make the 8MP camera better than it would be alone.
There’s also the fact that Google has worked closely with several big applications, like Spotify, to help them run more smoothly on the Pixel Tablet. Luckily, the Tab S6 Lite’s processor is still more than capable of running those apps without any issues. Even so, the Pixel Tablet edges out the performance standards of the Samsung Tab S6 Lite.
Performance
Regarding performance, the Google Tensor 2 is hard to beat, but the Tab S6 Lite has a solid processor pushing it forward. That being said, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G in the Tab S6 Lite isn’t going to break any records. Although it will handle just about anything you throw at it during daily use, you can expect a few stutters here and there. On the other hand, Google continues to optimize Tensor 2, offering one of the smoothest experiences you’ll find on an Android device, as seen with the Pixel 7 andPixel 7 Pro.
Battery life
Both devices offer a quality battery life. The Tab S6 Lite provides up to 11 hours on a single charge, while the Pixel Tablet claims up to 12 hours with continuous video streaming. Of course, the actual amount of time you get from the tablets will vary, depending heavily on your personal usage requirements.
The biggest difference here is the dock that the Pixel Tablet comes with. This dock not only acts as a charger, but it also lets your Pixel Tablet act as a smart home hub, allowing you to use it while it recharges, which means you won’t lose valuable battery life during some tasks like you would with the Tab S6 Lite.
The cameras on either of these tablets don’t offer anything special. On paper, the Pixel Tablet offers a better camera, coming in at 8MP compared to the 5MP of the Tab S6 Lite. However, Google also has the power of Tensor 2 behind it, which means AI features like Magic Eraser, Unblur, and more. While 8MP won’t blow anyone away, these inclusions make for an interesting image capture and manipulation platform. Also, the cameras on the Pixel Tablet are locked at 1080P recording for videos, so you won’t see insane captures here like you might with the Pixel 7 or Pixel 7 Pro, which feature the same processor. If you need a camera on your tablet, though, the Pixel will offer better options.
Which is right for you?
It’s time to make a decision. Is the more pricey Pixel Tablet the best option, or should you save money and go with the Tab S6 Lite? Both tablets have their own strengths, but the Pixel Tablet offers a better-performing system and cleaner software. Plus, it comes with a great dock that lets you turn it into a smart home hub.
A top-tier Android tablet with a cool dock
The Galaxy Tab S6 Lite offers a solid tablet experience at an affordable price that’s hard to beat. The headphone jack makes it easy to pair the tablet with any set of headphones, and its included Snapdragon 720G should handle almost everything you throw at it.
The Galaxy Tab S6 Lite isn’t a bad option, especially if you don’t want to spend a ton of money on the Pixel Tablet. The included Snapdragon 720G won’t blow your mind, but it will deliver a solid tablet experience that you can keep coming back to, and the included S Pen support is hard to beat.
A solid Android tablet that won’t break the bank
