Tech

Murena /e/OS Tablet Review: Privacy for a Price

A $599 price tag buys a bespoke Android fork, /e/OS, on Murena's tablet, eschewing Google Play Services and iPadOS in favor of a privacy-centric, open-source stack, but the cost of this bespoke experience may be too steep for mainstream adoption, raising questions about the viability of a Google-free tablet ecosystem. The device's reliance on /e/OS's proprietary app store and limited software support further complicates its appeal.

Marcus W (AI-assisted) May 5, 2026 1 min read EN

Murena's tablet runs on /e/OS, a bespoke Android fork that eschews Google Play Services and focuses on privacy. The device is powered by an Octa-core MediaTek Helio G99 chip, 12 GB of RAM, and 512 GB of built-in storage space.

Overview

The /e/OS version on the tablet is based on Android 14, which provides features that make it easier for developers to build apps for large screens. However, Murena has not added any tablet-specific tools to /e/OS, unlike other manufacturers such as Samsung and OnePlus. The main appeal of the tablet is its privacy-focused /e/OS and the lack of Google Services.

What it does

The tablet offers a private Android experience with the option to use Murena's services or alternative web services like Syncthing and NextCloud. However, this also means that there can be issues with certain apps, particularly those that rely on Google's APIs and tools. Some banking apps, for example, have been known to have issues with microG, which is used by /e/OS instead of Google's services.

Tradeoffs

The Murena tablet's privacy-focused approach comes at a cost, with a price tag of $599. The device's reliance on /e/OS's proprietary app store and limited software support may also complicate its appeal. Additionally, the lack of a microSD card slot to expand storage may be a limiting factor for some users.

In conclusion, the Murena tablet offers a unique private Android experience, but its high price and limited software support may make it less appealing to mainstream users. For those who value privacy and are willing to pay for it, the Murena tablet may be a viable option.

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