It’s been almost a year since the Google Pixel Tablet went up for preorder, leading many Android tablet fans to wonder when the inevitable Pixel Tablet 2 will arrive. A new rumor suggests that Google could release a new Pixel Tablet as early as next month, but it’s probably not what you were expecting or hoping for.
According to @MysteryLupin on X (formerly Twitter), Google is planning to “relaunch” the Pixel Tablet without the charging/speaker dock included in the box. As you’ll likely recall, the speaker dock is the Pixel Tablet’s standout feature. You can use the Pixel Tablet on its own as a traditional Android tablet when you want, and when you’re done, you throw it on the dock to transform it into a smart display. The idea of Google selling the Pixel Tablet without its claim to fame is an interesting one.
The current iteration of the Pixel Tablet (with the speaker dock included) retails for $499, with additional docks available for $129 a pop. A Pixel Tablet sans dock would presumably be much cheaper, potentially retailing for around $370 or $350.
On the one hand, I get this strategy. Chances are Google has a lot of excess Pixel Tablets it needs to get rid of, and with this move, the company could repackage the tablet, promote it as something new, and sell it at a lower price. Win, win, win — right?
While it might make sense from a business perspective, I don’t see the appeal for you and me. Let’s say the Pixel Tablet relaunches for $350 without the dock. While a good deal cheaper than the current $499 Pixel Tablet, that’s still more expensive than the 9th-generation iPad ( Buy at Best Buy ) and considerably more than the excellent Amazon Fire Max 11 ( Buy at Best Buy ).
And it’s not just a price thing. Unfortunately for Google, the Pixel Tablet is remarkably unremarkable as a standalone Android tablet. The screen doesn’t get very bright, its Tensor G2 chipset is underpowered and heats up easily, and its battery life is mediocre. Sure, you would still have the option of turning it into a smart display with the optional $129 speaker dock, but at that point, why not just buy a Nest Hub for $99?
Putting a cheaper Pixel Tablet on virtual and physical store shelves has a certain appeal, but it does nothing to solve the Pixel Tablet’s problems. It’s still a generic Android tablet, Google Assistant remains just as unreliable of a digital assistant as ever before, and even with a $100 or more discount, the Pixel Tablet would still be overpriced for what it is.
The leaker also notes that Google is planning to release a “Pen and Bluetooth Keyboard” at the same time as the dock-less Pixel Tablet relaunch, with both accessories reportedly retailing for 100 euros each. That’s potentially interesting, but for context, Amazon’s Productivity Bundle for the Fire Max 11 — which includes a keyboard case and a stylus — retails for about $350 combined. If Google’s new goal here is to deliver a compelling Android tablet value, it’s still missing the boat.
It’s unclear when this “new” Pixel Tablet is coming, but it’s safe to say we’ll hear something at Google I/O next month. In other words, we shouldn’t have much longer to wait to see what does (or doesn’t) happen here. At least from where I’m standing, I’m not sure where this is supposed to go.
Affinity’s new all-in-one creative app is finally coming to the iPad, nearly a year after Canva launched the redesigned desktop version for Mac and Windows. Creatives have been asking for the iPad release ever since, especially because files created in the new Affinity app cannot be opened in the older V2 iPad apps.
Affinity already has Photo, Designer, and Publisher apps on iPad, but the new release combines those tools into the same unified app that Canva launched on desktop last year.
Touchscreen laptops have been around for years. You can get them in all sizes and shapes. Just not from Apple. For years, the Cupertino giant has treated the idea of a touchscreen MacBook the way I treat a meeting that could have been an email: with open contempt. However, Wednesday looks like the day the company could finally change its mind.
The latest Apple invite puts the “Pro and Tell” showcase in Los Angeles at 10 a.m. PT (1 p.m. ET) on October 28, 2026. Instead of a regular live-streamed keynote, it is an invitation-only, hands-on event for a handful of press and creators (similar to what the company did for the MacBook Neo earlier this year).
Apple has just launched its latest iPad mini with a notable set of upgrades, including an OLED screen, improved speakers, and a more resilient build. It also gets a new chip, and the whole package costs $200 more than its predecessor. But if you look closely at Apple’s online store, you’ll realize that $699 isn’t enough to get you the most powerful version of the A20 Pro chip inside this tablet. In fact, even if you pay $800 for the 256GB model, you still won’t get the beefiest variant. Only when you jump to the 512GB trim, which costs an absurd $999, do you get the most powerful flavor of the A20 Pro.
The $999 model gets more than extra storage