Murena Unveils De-Googled Pixel Tablet – Privacy Comes at a Price

Murena, known for its privacy-focused devices, has launched its first tablet, the Murena Pixel Tablet, offering an alternative to Google’s Pixel Tablet with a more secure, de-Googled version of Android.

The company’s /e/OS removes Google’s services and apps, providing users more privacy by preventing data tracking.

The Murena Pixel Tablet is based on the Google Pixel Tablet released in 2023 but comes with a higher price tag of $549. This is a steep jump from the original Pixel Tablet, which Google sells for $399, or $479 when bundled with the charging speaker dock (which Murena does not include).

Key changes in the Murena Pixel Tablet include the absence of the Google Play Store. Instead, users can download apps from /e/OS’ App Lounge, which connects to the Play Store but allows for anonymous browsing and downloading of free apps. However, paid apps still require a Google account login.

The Murena Pixel Tablet also removes Google’s productivity apps like Gmail, Calendar, and Maps, replacing them with privacy-conscious alternatives.

For productivity, Murena offers Murena Workspace, which includes apps for documents, spreadsheets, and cloud storage. Users get 1GB of free storage, with options to expand it for a fee.

The Murena Pixel Tablet provides a strong privacy guarantee, but it comes at a price, both in terms of the higher cost and the absence of familiar Google services. Whether it’s worth the premium depends on how much you value privacy over convenience.