The Pixel Pill is like an emotionally unstable associate. On good days, it’s dependable and useful, all the time able to pay attention and help me. From time to time, although, I really feel gaslit and aggravated by its inconsistencies and combined messages. This may be as a result of Google’s newest pill/smart-display hybrid straddles two product classes: one at which it excels and one other the place it’s simply enough. As a wise show, the Pixel Pill principally shines. It has a helpful dashboard, an easy-to-read interface and spectacular audio high quality. As a pill, it’s first rate, however doesn’t blow me away. Throw within the case that Google made although, and it instantly turns into extra versatile. At $500 with an included charging speaker base, the Pixel Pill is a compelling marriage of two merchandise with an affordable value.
{Hardware} and design
If we do the mathematics, since you should purchase further speaker docks for $120 every, this implies the pill principally prices $380. But it surely definitely doesn’t really feel like a sub-$400 system. Whereas the nano-ceramic coating isn’t exceptional, it lends a glass-like sensation to the again that makes it really feel costlier. Impressively, the Pixel Pill manages to weigh simply 1.09 kilos (493 grams), making it lighter than the Galaxy Tab S8 and the OnePlus Pad. That stated, it’s nonetheless heavier than the iPad Air.
Google Google Pixel Pill
Execs
- Helpful charging speaker dock
- Intelligent idea
- Good sensible house options and controls
Cons
- Awkward digital camera angle for video calls
- Some software program quirks
The assessment unit Google despatched was the Rose colour possibility, which is nice and inoffensive. It’s probably the most thrilling out of the three colours (black and white being the opposite two, in order that’s not saying a lot), and it blends (or blands) effectively with my dwelling house. I want the inexperienced hue of the OnePlus Pad, but it surely’s price noting that once I handed the Pixel Pill to my colleague Nathan Ingraham, who lately reviewed the $480 OnePlus Pad, he thought Google’s system felt extra premium.
What actually units the Pixel Pill other than different current Android slates is the truth that it’s designed to connect to a charging speaker base and double as a wise show. Now, let’s not overlook different units do that, primarily quite a few Amazon and Lenovo tablets with a Present mode that turns them into Alexa-enabled screens. But it surely’s a primary for the Google ecosystem.
Earlier than I get to how the Pixel Pill works as a wise show, although, a fast phrase on its look. In the event you’ve seen one Google Residence product, you’ve principally seen all of them. The Pixel Pill, when docked on the speaker, appears virtually precisely just like the Nest Hub Max. It has the identical rounded rectangle form, white bezel surrounding the 11-inch display screen and the bottom has an analogous mesh cloth protecting to the remainder of the corporate’s sensible house merchandise. Once more, it’s inoffensive and nice however doesn’t stir my coronary heart the best way a West Elm or Article decoration does. (I do know, I’m fundamental.)
As a wise show
I used to be excited to stay the Pixel Pill on the chest of drawers (from Article) in my bed room so I might watch exhibits on it as a substitute of getting to purchase a second TV or play them on my telephone. Google cautioned towards having a number of Assistant-enabled units in a single room, and I ought to have disconnected the Nest Mini speaker I already had on my nightstand. But it surely didn’t create too many issues throughout the few days I had them each in there; once I stated “Hey Google” whereas standing nearer the small speaker, the quantity of the video taking part in on the Pixel Pill dipped so I might be heard extra clearly.
After every week, I can now confidently take away the Nest Mini. Not solely is the Pixel Pill adept at listening to my instructions, it additionally provides a lot better audio high quality and is solely extra helpful. That’s form of an apparent assertion; clearly, a show can be extra versatile than a speaker alone. However I’m shocked on the enchancment in sound from the speaker dock, because it’s not a lot greater than the Mini. It offered ample bass in my infinite binging of The Weeknd and Jay Chou playlists, whereas trebles and voices sounded crisp.
I’m not the type of individual to hover in entrance of a wise show to fiddle with my linked house controls, nor do I’ve individuals over usually sufficient that I would like some form of guest-friendly interface to activate my lights. For many who do, although, the Pixel Pill’s Hub Mode is probably going very helpful. Tapping on the home icon on the backside left of the lock display screen brings up a dashboard displaying all units in your house, and also you’ll have the ability to monitor your digital camera feeds, swap lamps on and extra. Friends may even have the ability to ask the Assistant to set timers, alarms, play music and extra without having to unlock your pill, so long as you’ve set the permissions correctly.
Lack of tourists apart, it’s simple to see issues on the Pixel Pill’s display screen each time I set foot in my room, regardless of how darkish or vibrant it’s. At evening, the show goes right into a dim mode that exhibits the time in giant font however isn’t so vibrant that it burns your retinas. Since my dresser is within the furthest nook away from the door, it’s good to not should squint to see data just like the time, countdowns or the temperature. And like a real narcissist, I additionally set the Pixel Pill to point out a rotating stream of pictures of my favourite individuals (principally me).
Not that any of that is distinctive to the Pixel Pill, by the best way. The Nest Hub Max has equally bigger fonts for timers and different data, and the photograph body characteristic is principally a staple of any sensible show.
Again to the principle factor I wished to make use of this pill for, although: as a TV substitute. Because it’s the primary pill to be a Chromecast receiver, the Pixel Pill could be managed remotely together with your telephone because it streams from apps like YouTube, Disney+, Hulu and extra. In fact, different bigger sensible shows just like the Nest Hub Max may do that, and since this doesn’t work on the Pixel Pill when it’s not docked, it’s not likely a pill you possibly can forged to. We’re getting actually technical with definitions right here, however in sensible use, it means you possibly can’t forged to the Pixel Pill when you’ve got it hanging or propped up elsewhere in your house, for instance. It’s not an issue, but it surely limits the flexibility of this characteristic.
Curiously, Netflix doesn’t help Chromecasting to the pill, in contrast to the opposite apps. It’s all of the more bizarre contemplating it really works on Google’s different bigger sensible shows. I additionally encountered a bug the place YouTube refused to forged movies from a particular channel, saying they weren’t allowed once I was in Restricted mode. However not one of the units I used to be logged into had that setting enabled. Different reviewers I spoke to didn’t have this challenge, so this may be a bug particular to my setup.
It did infuriate me, although, as a result of it’s simpler to Chromecast my favourite commentary movies since I can skip advertisements or add extra titles with out having to pull myself off the bed. Sadly, I needed to just do that since I ended up taking part in them by way of the native YouTube app. My hatred for this bug grew every time I needed to get out and hit “Skip advertisements” on the display screen. (No, you received’t persuade me to get YouTube Premium.) This small bug apart, nevertheless, Chromecasting is a pleasant contact on the Pixel Pill, even when it isn’t distinctive.
I’ve a number of Google Residence merchandise in my condominium, and a few of my points with the Pixel Pill as a wise show are ecosystem-wide as a substitute of particular to the system. As an illustration, once I arrange an Automation via the Residence app, I wished it in order that saying “I’m house” would begin a playlist on the pair of Nest Audios in my front room. Nevertheless, in the mean time solely the system that heard you could be the one taking part in the music. You’ll be able to’t determine which of your linked audio system does the motion.
Relying on the best way your property is ready up, like when you’ve got a Mini in your entryway and like your beefier front room system to be the output, this may be irritating. Fortunately for me, the proper units heard me more often than not, and I virtually all the time acquired my desired end result.
That’s extra of a grievance about Google’s sensible house system as a substitute of simply the Pixel Pill, which frankly I’m fairly proud of. Not solely is it a superb linked show, but it surely’s additionally helpful as a second display screen when sat subsequent to my laptop computer.
Because it runs full Android, I can have apps like Solitaire or Slack open on it whereas I work on a assessment. You can even take video calls via Meet, Zoom, Groups or extra, utilizing the 8-megapixel webcam. The angle at which the speaker dock props up the pill makes for a really unflattering shot, although. To mitigate that, Google in-built an auto-framing characteristic that kicks in everytime you take a Meet name whereas linked to the bottom. It solely works with Meet, although, so that you’ll should depend on third-party apps to offer their very own options.
I discovered that eradicating the pill and propping it up with the kickstand on Google’s case made for the most effective view. Actually, I’m just about in love with this accent.