Tablet available in Europe

Kong

I am looking for a new tablet available in Europe on which I could install some alternative OS. It's sad that GOS supports only Pixel series. It would be lovely to see it on other devices (I am aware of security requirements, that device must met).

I was thinking about Pixel Tablet, but they are too expensive and at this moment support for them is too short.

I would only like to watch movies, browse the Internet and store photos on it. Of course everything without glitches and lags. And of course reasonable battery life.

Any suggestions of devices and OS which could be installed?

Emerald

I was in a similar situation just a few weeks ago and I bought the Pixel Tablet anyway. Amazon.com often sells it for 249$ whereas in Europe you would have to pay 600-700€. Just wait for an offer and make sure to choose fast delivery (about 15$).

gta3

Wat about a tablet that supports lineageOS or CalyxOS?

Elgoog

CalyxOS is, at the very least, going through a rough patch and has credibly been characterized as unsafe.

The drift I have gotten from other threads in this forum is that the next best tablet after a GOS Pixel for the privacy- and security-conscious user is an iPad.

Kong

Elgoog
Do you use iPad?

Elgoog

Kong No - I have a Pixel tablet. But I understand the others' reluctance, given Google's apparent abandonment of the format and the relatively imminent end of support.

nologo

If you want GrapheneOS on a tablet, the Pixel Tablet is your only option. Did you check refurbished options, or second hand? I got my Pixel Tablet on Vinted, paid 200 euros for a hardly used one in the original box.

Kong

I do not like iPad because of the difficulties with sharing photos between devices.
If you take photos on Pixel, you can't easily transfer them to the apple device.
With Pixel and laptop it is great, just USB cable and you can do what you want.

Elgoog

Kong Yeah, even before I became privacy-aware, I avoided Apple products in part because of their tendency to lock you into the Apple ecosystem.

Kong

So if iPad and neither Pixel are the options what should I buy?
I really want to replace my old iPad after I sold iPhone.

nologo

Kong well, you wrote you want to install "some alternative OS". So you need to decide which OS you want and see which devices are supported by that OS.

What are your requirements for the OS? What do you want to achieve by installing an 'alternative' one?

Kong

nologo
Preferably GOS, but because of pricey Pixel I must reject it.

So I am counting on some open source project which will be secure and support my tablet for at least 3-4 years.
I do not want to use standard preinstalled Android full of trackers nor iOS.

Tablet on which OS would be installed should also be in size of iPad gen 11 and live long with battery.

libertarian

I know that the Pixel Tablet is pricey and it's not the "best" device out there, the performance is mid-tier, it is a bit heavy. But I put capitalism to use, voted with my walled and purchased one. I use it every day to watch Netflix, and I use it for all of my online banking and tax filings, because I feel like it is more secure than my laptop (which runs like a million lines of code of untrusted software on it every day when I code).

pimp

Without making any statement about whether they are private or secure, here is a list of possible tablets besides Google Pixel Tablet that should support alternate/non-vendor OS and the country the vendor is based on (afaik, feel free to correct me).

Tablets that should support Linux:

MS Surface with Linux (USA, see the linux-surface github repo for compatibility matrix)
Volla Tablet (DE)
StarLite (UK, uses coreboot)
Fydetab Duo (UK, also supports AOSP, nice specs & open source)
Minisforum V3 SE (CN)
Pinetab2 (CN)

Android (Lineage/eOS)

OnePlus Pad 2/3 (CN, specs are nice)
older Samsung S6 Lite or S7 (SK, still new available if you look for them, but bad perf/price compared to newer tablets)

I'm not really in a position to make a recommendation, as everything depends on your budget, usage & perceived threat level. Maybe a 2-in-1 laptop could also be an option for you?

kopolee11

Two other options that haven't been mentioned.

Get something like the NexPad which can convert any Pixel 8 and newer Pixel smartphone into a tablet. I haven't personally used this, so I can't comment on the user experience.
Get a Pixel 9 Pro Fold or Pixel 10 Pro Fold which serve as a hybrid phone and small tablet. Of course they are very expensive.

CharlieMander

Ive been looking as well "but for USA" and im not happy with my opinions. I was useing a Galaxy Tab S9 but I hate Samsung Software. Its like haveing Google Spyware and Samsung Spyware at the same time...
I obviously looked at Pixel Tablet but Software Support ends soon and I need OLED screen for my use case...

Everything else Android im just not really interested in.
Worse Hardware than my current tablet and also bad software..

The only thing that really has my interest is the next IPad Mini that has not been released yet. Prob late 2026.

Its the perfect size, will have a OLED screen, now its USBC
"Thank You Europe", and apparently the drawing app on IOS is much better than anything on Android.

I dont want to trade Samsung BS software for Apple BS software but atleast IOS is apparently more secure and privacy friendly than "Stock Android"/Non GrapheneOS Android?
I have not had an Apple device since the Ipod Touch 2nd or 3rd Gen. So I have no Idea if ill be able to live with Apple software but from watching YouTube videos it looks horrible.

But im still thinking it might be best option
"atleast for my use case".
I just want a bigger screen for Media Consumption.
I like drawing on Tablet.
I like reading/manga on Tablet.
I am trying to get away from Google Maps but I honesty love it. "Besides the spyware".
Would be nice to have larger screen for navigation.

And I feel "Dirty" haveing anything google/spyware on my phone. Im worried I didn't set it up well. I use a secondary Profile for all the junk. But I was thinking potentially I could have my Phone/Device I constantly have on My Person and Turn On have nothing anti privacy on it whatsoever.

And if I needed to use some service/app/Software that either does not work on my GrapheneOS Pixel, or dont want on my Pixel. I could have that junk on the IPad Mini 8.
And have that device constantly turn off if not in use.

IDK if this is good idea or not. Im new to all this and still learning. And looks like I have a year to think about it till the new Mini is released. I have no interest in current gen Mini. I need OLED. And like anything larger than Mini.

I do miss the Tablet Form Factor.
I refuse to use my Samsung Tablet. Im selling it now.
I had turned it on recently to see if I could set it up for occasional use but its even more infested in bloatware and bs than I remembered. Im spoiled from GrapheneOS now. Ha ha

Also im not interest in Foldable Pixel. On paper seems like it would be the perfect solution and give me the secondary screen size im after... But I dont trust its durability and the crease would drive me insane. People say you will get used to it. But im still not used to haveing a hole punch ruin my screen. Had a Samsung phone for over a year with hole punch and now a Pixel for few months with hole punch.

Ill never get used to it. Bring back the bezels please.

Hope my rant helps.