I switched to the Google Home Speaker, but immediately missed my Pixel Tablet
Android Police 2026-07-01 16:15:12
Context: The author, Andy Boxall, a seasoned technology journalist, recently switched from using a Google Pixel Tablet as his primary smart home assistant in the kitchen to a Google Home Speaker. He found that although the Google Home Speaker has its advantages, he missed the Pixel Tablet's display, which was useful for setting and operating multiple timers and displaying the time. This experience led him to compare the Google Home Speaker with Amazon's Echo Show devices.
Key Facts
- The Google Pixel Tablet, paired with a dock, was used by the author as a smart home assistant in the kitchen for tasks such as setting timers, displaying the time, and controlling smart home devices.
- The Google Home Speaker, which costs $100, lacks a display, making it difficult for the author to keep track of time and timer settings, instead requiring verbal requests to Gemini for information.
- The author found that the Google Home Speaker's light array, which illuminates when Gemini is talking or thinking, does not provide a visual indication of timer settings or the time.
- The author compared the Google Home Speaker to Amazon's Echo Show 11 and Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen), which cost $90 and have a 5.3-inch screen, and found Alexa+ to be a more suitable smart home companion for tasks such as setting timers and displaying the time.
- The Google Pixel Tablet and its dock are currently discontinued, making it difficult to purchase a new one, while the Nest Hub (2nd Gen) and Nest Hub Max are also hard to find, leading the author to consider Amazon Alexa+ as an alternative.