Google's new speaker dock will turn the Pixel tablet into a smart home display

Google this morning announced its next Pixel tablet, which is expected to arrive next year, along with new hardware designed to make the tablet a more useful home device: a docking station. docking for charging speaker. This combination magnet base and speaker will allow Pixel tablet owners to charge their tablet while using it as they would any other smart display device, such as listening to music, watching videos, manage other smart home devices, etc.

At its hardware event this morning, Google explained how it's found that tablets aren't always useful in the home, as they're typically only used for a small part of the day. Often the tablets ended up hidden in a drawer or became a tripping hazard, the company said. And when users took them out, they ran out of battery. This gave rise to the idea of ​​creating a charging base for the tablet that would allow the tablet to function as a smart display when not in use for other tasks.

Its future charging speaker dock would allow the tablet to be propped up and charged when not in use. This could make it a handy kitchen assistant, for example, so users can watch recipe videos or listen to music while they cook. Or users can tap the screen to adjust their smart home controls, like turning off the lights or adjusting the thermostat. The tablet can also be configured to display photos when not in use, like a digital photo frame.

Credits image: Google

And, since the base is also a changer, the tablet can be removed at any time, fully charged.

The company didn't provide many details about the docking station at the event, but did note in a tweet how the docking station would offer improved sound, hands-free help with Google Assistant and a photo display function.

He also said that the charging speaker dock uses magnets that make it easy to connect and remove the tablet whenever it's needed for other purposes.

Of course, that positions Google's new tablet and dock combo as a competitor to its own smart display devices, like the Google Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max. It could also potentially reduce the sales of these devices, as a tablet is a more versatile device than a smart display, due to its portability. The advantage of Nest Hub devices would then only be their (probably) lower price.

Google didn't share the price of its tablet today, only teasing how the device looks and how it's also powered by the same Tensor G2 chip announced for its new Pixel 7 smartphones.< /p>