May 8, 2024. In my news feed, several tech blogs spotlighted Google Store’s sudden, shocking trade-in offer for Pixel Tablet: Up to $399—equivalent to the price of the 128GB variant—in exchange for one of many, many iPad models. Free plus sales tax is a rather compelling offer.
The device launched a year earlier, making so little positive impression that I ordered two Samsung Galaxy tabs—one for my wife and another for me. Pixel Tablet looks even more inferior than 12 months ago, coming right as Apple released new iPads packing M4 chips. But they do cost mountains of cash more. Got an organ to sell? Kidneys fetch a good return, I hear.
After some deliberation, I ordered a nearly free, after iPad trade-in, Pixel Tablet the same day. Shipment confirmation was swift, with expected delivery on May 9 or 10. But something delayed the package, which arrival slipped to the 11th but, instead, showed up on the 13th. By this time, I seriously considered cancelling and returning.
That’s how indecision hobbled unboxing until late this afternoon. Google setup assistant made easy the process of syncing accounts, apps, etc. with Samsung Galaxy S9 Ultra, which stays in service. Later, I installed the freshly-released Android 15 Beta 2.
There’s a purity about stock Android that I had forgotten, and the experience is so far refreshing. I haven’t used the tablet for much more time than setting up and upgrading, so first-impressions must wait.
I used Leica Q2 to shoot the Featured Image. Vitals, aperture manually set: f/2.8, ISO 100, 1/15 sec, 28mm; 8:15 p.m. PDT.