A new Google Home Display is reportedly on the way but what our smart homes actually need in 2026 is a proper Pixel Tablet successor

Date:
Tue, 21 Jul 2026 11:30:57 +0000

Description:
A new Home Display sounds intriguing but Ill be disappointed if Google gives us another stationary screen instead of a movable AI hub.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter A new Google Home Display might be on the cards, but sticking to the traditional smart home hub format seems like a missed opportunity. What I really want to see this year is a new version of 2023's Google Pixel Tablet and it would be a much better fit for
a modern AI-powered smart home.

Google hasn't officially announced a new smart screen, but I think it's only
a matter of time. Last year, Anish Kattukaran, Chief Product Officer for Google Home, said the company was still committed to the smart display
format. "If you think about the properties of a smart display: a microphone, which means audio in, a speaker, so audio out. Its got a screen, which complements a voice modality, you can interact with it and visualize information," he told The Vergecast . "As I see where Gemini for Home is
going and Gemini more broadly, all of the things Google is investing in building, for me it feels like almost the ultimate form factor to be able to deliver a really great home experience. So, thats why we are going to
continue to invest in that category, so I think its going to be awesome." Latest Videos From Watch full video here:

A smart home hub can be so much more than a speaker, screen, and microphone though, as the 2023 Google Pixel Tablet demonstrated and I think a new version of that device would be an even better platform for Gemini than a Google Home Display. The smart home untethered If you're not familiar with
the Pixel Tablet, it's essentially a full Android tablet specifically
designed for use around the house. It doesn't have great battery life, and there's no SIM card slot for mobile data, but that's not a problem when
you're never straying outside range of your home Wi-Fi network, or taking it far from its dock. You may like New Google Home Speaker Expected to Go on
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At first glance it looks just like a Google Home Display, but there's one big difference: while the Home Display is all one unit, the Pixel Tablet's screen lifts off its magnetic dock so you can carry it from room to room.

Unlike a Google Home Display, the Pixel Tablet isn't just a hub, either. Although it can be the heart of your smart home, providing quick access to your lights, switches, robovacs and cameras with quick voice controls, it's also a fully-featured Android tablet, with access to the whole Google Play Store. That means you can install your favorite web browser, stream movies from Netflix, or spend hours on YouTube on its 10.95-inch display. It has a reasonable front-facing camera as well, so it's ideal for Zoom calls with the family from the comfort of your sofa. Get daily insight, inspiration and
deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. (Image credit: Future / Philip Berne) My
Pixel Tablet lives on my kitchen table, where it serves as both a smart home hub and a second TV, letting me stream shows via BBC iPlayer at breakfast time, or use YouTube Music to play music while I work. The tablet's built-in speaker is quite tinny, but the one housed within its dock sounds
surprisingly rich and well-balanced.

When it's time to make dinner, I can simply pluck it from its dock, stand it on the kitchen counter, and load my recipe app of choice, then in the
evening, I can crash out on the sofa, adjust the lights, and finish my daily Duolingo session. You can't do that with a Home Display. Sounds good? It is and it's now discontinued. A smarter Pixel Tablet So what would a 2026 Pixel Tablet look like? Well, apart from having Gemini pre-installed (naturally),
it needs to function as a Thread border router, and its speaker needs a boost to bring it level with the new Google Home Speaker. Its 2,560 x 1,600px
screen resolution is already respectable though (for comparison, the larger Amazon Echo Show 11's screen is 1,920 x 1,200px) and its weight doesn't
matter considering it's not intended to travel outside the house, so I wouldn't worry about slimming it down much.

It would be nice to see a lower price, though. The original Pixel Tablet had
a list price of $499 / 599 / AU$899, which is a hefty fee for a smart
display. A cheaper Pixel Tablet might be wishful thinking, but considering
you would need a Google Home Premium subscription to get the most out of Gemini, a lower asking price would make it a more tempting proposition.

There's a chance that Google might surprise me with a Google Home Tablet that can roam from room to room, but somehow I doubt it. Apple 's vision for the future seems to involve multiple screens scattered throughout your home , while Amazon Echo devices are so affordable, it's easy to justify buying one for each room. We'll have to wait and see. Follow TechRadar on Google News
and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Today's best Google Home Speaker deals bundle 99.99 View
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