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The Pixel tablet has been out for a little over a year now
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and I've been using it more and more lately. This Google made Android tablet slash smart home display
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definitely had a bit of a lackluster debut, but it's now a device that I pick up a lot
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So let's talk through how I've been using the Pixel tablet and if it's still worth it one year in
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But before we get into that, today's video is brought to you by EIP
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a new brand from the folks that make Panoval. Their new magnetics Bluetooth keyboard case
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for the Pixel tablet includes a detachable keyboard that has seven different backlighting colors
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and yes, a track pad that supports multi-gesture so that you can swipe between apps, pinch to zoom
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and even take a screenshot. The keyboard also has a row of built-in shortcuts
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giving you quick access to things like media controls on screen brightness. It has a whopping 200 hours of battery life
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and the whole thing magnetically attaches to the case so that you can just pop it off
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and just take the case when you're not typing. Maybe if you're taking notes or if you want to dock the tablet with the case
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maybe if you're working on a recipe in the kitchen. The protective case is also well-made
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with a sturdy stand that can adjust from 30 to 135 degrees
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a pin loop to easily store your Panoval USI pin, and the stand cutout allows for easy docking
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In addition to the new case, EIP also has a new slim tablet bag
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that's made to fit the Pixel tablet perfectly. It has multiple compartments inside for extra storage
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and the zippers are even lined, making this the only fully water-repellent bag
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on the market. So if you own a Pixel tablet, you really need to check out the new Magnetics Keyboard
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and Slim Bag from EIP. You can find links to both products down in the description
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And again, a big shout out to EIP for sponsoring this video
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All right, so first up, just a quick overview of the hardware here in case anybody needs a refresher
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The Pixel tablet is a mid-range Android tablet that was originally sold with an included speaker dock
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that could give you a Nest Hub-like experience all while charging the tablet
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so it's always ready to go when you just wanna pop it off the dock and just use the tablet
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The build quality is solid and it feels great in the hand. It's light and portable
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and certainly has that Google design aesthetic that I love. The bezels are a bit big, but they're necessary
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giving you somewhere to grab onto the tablet. And the screen is only 60 Hertz
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but it still looks great with plenty of brightness and punchy colors
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and the rounded corners on the display are just a nice touch that add to the whole user experience
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Internally, you've got eight gigs of RAM and the option for 128 or 256 gigs of storage
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paired up with a Tensor G2 processor. And moving around, this device is buttery smooth
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The back and front-facing cameras are both usable. They're not great, but they're usable if you need to scan a document
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or take a video call. The dock has magnets that are strong enough to hold the tablet on securely
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but not too strong that you can't easily pop it off. And it also has the built-in speaker, of course
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that I've been using a lot just to play background music in my home office. On the software side
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you're met with a nice, clean Google version of Android that also includes a few extras layered on top of the OS
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And although there's been some rumors of the Pixel tablet stealing a few features from the Nest Hub Max
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like look-to-talk and quick gestures, they haven't arrived yet. But honestly, for me
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the dock is more of just a convenient place to keep the tablet charged at all times
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It's a nice picture frame and an occasional smart home controller. But what about when you take the Pixel tablet
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off of the dock? Well, I'll tell you, this is where the Pixel tablet has really surprised me
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I have found several key use cases for just the tablet that I didn't think about when it first arrived
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And I think Google recognizes the usefulness of just the tablet too, since you can now buy just the tablet without the dock
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Again, the dock is great and does add some unique functionality to the tablet
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but what is it like just using the tablet? I've found the Pixel tablet
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to be a great around-the-house device that I've been using to read a few pages of a book
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here and there, to watch some YouTube videos, but mainly I've been using it to triage emails
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in the morning before I make it to the desk. And it's just nice to grab the tablet for these tasks
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instead of getting out my Chromebook. And there's just something about using the tablet
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in this way that forces me to focus on one thing at a time. At my desk, I might have a half dozen windows open
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with messaging apps running on the side, and I can easily get sucked into distractions
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But with the Pixel tablet, I find myself siloed in one or maybe two apps
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using split screen and staying much more focused on the task at hand
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But I've loved using the Pixel tablet as my portable baby monitor too
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If I wanna step outside or into the garage, but still keep an eye on the camera
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I can just pop off the Pixel tablet and take it with me. And this way I can use my phone
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without taking my eye off the camera. Of course, if you don't have kids
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you could still use the tablet as your portable security feed. But here's where things get interesting
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With a few accessories, you can actually get pretty productive on the Pixel tablet too
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And one of those is a stylus. With any USI 2.0 pen
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you can easily jot down notes, make sketches, or just navigate through the device
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But the other is a keyboard case. Of course, you could pair up any Bluetooth keyboard
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like the new Logitech keys to go to and a mouse to get productive
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but then you're gonna need a case with some sort of kickstand or a tablet stand
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and then you're gonna have to pack those accessories around with you. But a keyboard case gives you all of that functionality
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in a folio style form factor that you can easily throw in a bag
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or just carry around with you. I've been using the new EIP Magnetics case
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since they sent this over to us, and it's honestly been a game changer for the Pixel tablet
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I've been using it for a few weeks now, and I haven't taken the Pixel tablet out of the case once
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since you can just pop off the keyboard when you don't need it. And with the full backlit keyboard
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a shortcut row, a pen loop, this case gives you a lot of what you need
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to get some things done on the Pixel tablet. And I think for the right person, this could be your laptop replacement
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when you're away from the desk, or maybe even your main device, depending on your workload
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I personally like to still have a full desktop for certain things
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but that's just because of the work I do. If you're the type of person that is out and about a lot
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or at meetings a lot, and you just don't need a full desktop workstation
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this case could seriously be a game changer. Okay, so overall, what do I think about the Pixel tablet
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one year in? Well, I'll tell you this, I left it at the office the other day
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after we were making some social media videos for the new EIP case
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and I found myself really missing it. So while it's not perfect
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it has some real useful applications for me, and I've come to lean on it as my main smart home display
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in my home office, and as a tablet that I can actually get some work done on
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And I think that says a lot about the Pixel tablet. But that wraps up this video
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I appreciate you all watching. If you like this video, give us a thumbs up
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If you loved it, go down there and click subscribe, and make sure to ring that notification bell
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to get a notification when we publish new videos. And also drop a comment below if you use the Pixel tablet
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and let me know how you use it. We really do read those comments, and I'd love to hear from you
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All right, I'll catch you guys in the next one. See you
