6 Google Gadgets to Avoid Buying Right Now
▼ Summary
– The Pixel Tablet is not recommended due to outdated specs, a high price, and limited stock, making it a poor value in 2025.
– The Pixel 9 should be avoided as it costs the same as the newer Pixel 10, which offers better performance, camera features, and built-in magnets.
– The Pixel 9 Pro is not worth buying at its original price when the Pixel 10 Pro is available for the same cost and has superior camera processing and features.
– The Fitbit Sense 2 and Fitbit Versa 4 are outdated and not recommended, as Google has shifted focus to Pixel Watch models that offer better value and features.
– The Nest Hub Max is overpriced for its age, and alternatives like the Nest Hub or Amazon Echo Show provide better value, especially with a new Google smart display potentially coming soon.
With the holiday shopping season approaching, many consumers turn to the Google Store for the latest tech, but some older Google gadgets represent poor value and should be avoided. While newer releases like the Pixel 10 series and Pixel Watch 4 shine, several legacy products remain at inflated prices despite being outdated. Here are six Google devices you should think twice about purchasing right now.
The Pixel Tablet stands out as a particularly difficult recommendation. Even though Google prominently features it as the sole tablet option, its 2023 origins are glaringly apparent today. The device struggles with a sluggish 60Hz display, an aging Tensor G2 processor, and minimal 8GB RAM. Most concerning is its pricing, the bundle with the speaker dock still costs $499, the same as its launch price over two years ago. Buying the tablet alone for $399 removes its most compelling feature, and limited 128GB stock often forces buyers toward the pricier 256GB model. It fails to excel as either a smart display or a capable Android tablet, making it hard to justify at any discount.
Another gadget to skip is the Pixel 9, which remains listed at $799, identical to the newer Pixel 10. At the same price, choosing the older model makes little sense. The Pixel 10 benefits from the more efficient Tensor G5 chip, which operates noticeably cooler, along with a superior 5x telephoto lens that expands photographic possibilities. Additionally, the Pixel 10 includes integrated magnets for attaching chargers and accessories, a convenience that quickly becomes indispensable. Only a deep discount on the Pixel 9 could make it worth considering, but at parity, the Pixel 10 is the clear winner.
The same logic applies to the Pixel 9 Pro, still offered at its original $999 price, matching the Pixel 10 Pro. While the Pixel 9 Pro isn’t a bad phone, its successor brings meaningful upgrades. Beyond the Tensor G5 and magnetic backing, the Pixel 10 Pro’s display is brighter, and its camera processing produces significantly better images despite using similar hardware. Reviews have highlighted the Pixel 9 Pro’s inconsistent color science, an issue the Pixel 10 Pro resolves. For photography enthusiasts, the older model isn’t advisable even at a discount, unless Google releases a corrective update.
Among wearables, the Fitbit Sense 2 and Fitbit Versa 4 are no longer wise purchases. Launched in 2022, these models have been effectively sidelined as Google shifts focus to the Pixel Watch line. Initial reviews noted their shortcomings, and today, both are eclipsed by the Pixel Watch 4 and the more affordable Pixel Watch 3 at $250. The Fitbit Charge 6 also provides a comparable fitness experience for less money. Frequent discounts on the Sense 2 and Versa 4 might seem tempting, but they don’t justify investing in abandoned products.
Finally, the Nest Hub Max is difficult to recommend in 2025. Despite its capable 10-inch screen, built-in camera, and decent audio, its $229 price tag is excessive for a device released in 2019. The standard Nest Hub at $100 delivers better value for Google ecosystem users, while Amazon’s Echo Show series offers more current and cost-effective alternatives. With Google hinting at a new smart display in development, spending heavily on the Nest Hub Max now seems unwise, as a replacement could arrive shortly.
(Source: Android Authority)
