I’m looking for a tablet to last me at least 4-5 years doing -

  • Reading via Linkding, Audiobookshelf and Kavita
  • Note taking via Notesnook
  • Light media streaming via Jellyfin

I’ve been looking forward to the Google Pixel Tablet 2 to put “The OS that must not be named” on it and have a highly privacy respecting device. The current Pixel tablet just has a lot of drawbacks - support timeline is limited, speakers aren’t good, display is mehh etc. But of course Google didn’t announce the new tablet, most likely putting it off until next year.

I’ve considered a few options -

  • iPad Air - don’t have an Apple account, and frankly don’t want to get into their ecosystem in general.
  • Surface Go - Unavailable in the UK and the kernel required has some missing features as well.
  • Generic Android tablets from Samsung, Lenovo etc - Don’t want a device where I can’t fully control what the OS is doing, and I’ve used LineageOS, and didn’t really like it.
  • Generic Windows tablets from Dell, Lenovo etc - Is Linux really ready for a tablet use case? I’m not really sure about this. Will I have proper driver and hardware support here?
  • Linux tablets such as Pinetab, Starlite etc - These seem to be woefully underpowered and underspec.

So is my only real option to wait until May of 2025 for a Google Pixel Tablet 2? I’d love some input for this dilemma. Thanks!

  • @cm0002
    6•6 months ago

    What screen size are you looking for? How do you feel about foldy phones? I’d wait for the Pixel Fold 2 that’s supposed to be dropping in the Fall and all but confirmed to be hitting 8 inchs unfolded if you don’t mind that size of tablet

    For me the biggest problem with tablets is it’s never around when I want to do tablet things, having the Pixel Fold 1 that’s been entirely solved

    And then it should fill your other requirements as Pixel phones are good about allowing bootloader unlocks (If you’re buying from a carrier and your carrier is Verizon, don’t bother they’re assholes about BL unlocks)

    • @[email protected]OP
      3•6 months ago

      I’m pretty happy with my Pixel 6 for now, and carrying around that bulky phone doesn’t make sense for me personally.

      • @filister
        2•6 months ago

        How is your mobile coverage, mine is pretty shitty.

      • @cm0002
        2•6 months ago

        Fair enough, the PF1 is a hefty SOB with the case I have on it. The PF2 is supposed to be “thinner and lighter” but I doubt it’s going to be close to the Pixel 6

        I was skeptical myself about it, but once I got it going in my daily life I don’t think I can ever go back lmao