![]() ![]() That way, you can open all your windows on at most 3 screens. ![]() With this dock, you can connect up to 2 monitors to your laptop. But because the Pixel Tablet can't be purchased without a dock, for anyone who doesn't feel that way, it's a good reason to skip Google's tablet altogether - and buy one from Samsung or Apple, instead.You can connect your Windows laptop with all your peripherals with the Dynabook USB-C Dock. I love the idea of the Charging Speaker Dock even if it can't replace my more capable smart speakers, it's a cool concept, and I'm sure I'll get plenty of use out of it. Worse, for users who simply don't want a charging dock, the Pixel Tablet comes with what amounts to mandatory e-waste - not a good look for Google. Time will tell if Google's strategy of bundling a dock with every tablet it sells will play out in a way that makes inroads upon the tablet market at large, but considering the dock's limitations - its comparatively weak audio chops, its slow charging speed, and that it doesn't do anything at all when the tablet's not attached - I think a lot of buyers are going to be let down. On its own, the dock can't take Google Assistant commands or play audio - all that is handled by the tablet. There's no charging dock included with the iPad, of course, but that's kind of my point: if Google were to offer the Pixel Tablet in a configuration without a dock, it seems likely it could better compete with Apple on price while still turning a profit. The 10th-generation iPad retails for $449, undercutting the Pixel Tablet by a full 50 bucks. But I have to wonder whether Google could have hit a lower MSRP if it didn't stuff a "free" accessory many users won't want or use in every box. Personally, I'm still excited about the Pixel Tablet I've wanted a tablet running Google's version of Android for years, and I think $499 seems like a fair price. Only selling the tablet bundled with the dock makes it clear that smart display functionality is a core component of the experience here, and anybody buying the Pixel Tablet to serve as a premium smart home gadget is going to be sorely disappointed by the dock's audio capabilities - and by the fact that it's a paperweight when the tablet isn't attached to it. ![]() Google's been careful to frame the Pixel Tablet as a tablet first, with some smart home bonus features, rather than a full dual-purpose device that can replace both your iPad and the Nest Hub Max in your kitchen. Otherwise, the standalone Charging Speaker Dock is fantastically overpriced. But considering additional docks will retail for a staggering $129 apiece, it's hard to believe including one with every single Pixel Tablet isn't adding something to the bundle's price tag. All this could be tempered by the fact that the dock is ostensibly free, positioned as a bonus with your purchase of a $499 tablet. It's not even a powerful charger, topping out at paltry 15 watts. At the very least, Google should give the dock the electronics to put it on par functionally with something like a Nest Mini. On its own, it can't take Google Assistant commands or play audio - all that is handled by the tablet. What's more, when the tablet isn't attached, the dock doesn't do anything. For comparison's sake, the Nest Audio and Nest Hub Max both feature 75mm drivers paired with dedicated tweeters. Driver size isn't the only indicator of audio quality, but it's not a small part of the equation, either. Google has confirmed that the Charging Speaker Dock's sound output comes from a 43.5mm driver - the same size as the one in the smaller Nest Hub smart display. That experience is disappointing, but unsurprising. ![]()
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