The Pixel Tablet marks Google’s big comeback to the tablet market. To stand out from its competitors, the American giant is betting on a hybrid device that will act both as a standard tablet and as a screen connected to the Nest Hub. Design, technical specifications, dock, stylus, here is everything you need to know about the Pixel Tablet.
Google continues to diversify its Pixel lineup. After Pixel smartphones, Pixelbook laptops, Pixel Buds wireless headphones, and more recently a Pixel Watch connected watch, the Mountain View company is now attacking the tablet market with the Pixel Tablet. In reality, this product is not the first attempt of Google in the matter, but its previous efforts had not frankly been a success. In 2015, we were treated to the Google Pixel C, a high-end Android tablet, the brand’s first if we exclude the Nexus, whose development was in fact entrusted to third-party manufacturers. Then in 2018, the Pixel Slate followed, this time based on Chrome OS, and oriented more towards a desktop experience. Another failure for Google, which announced in 2019 to withdraw from the tablet industry, dominated by Apple’s iPad, to focus on its computers and smartphones. Four years later, the American group is once again trying its luck with a new tablet, the Pixel Tablet, in an attempt to complete its increasingly vast ecosystem.
When is the Pixel Tablet coming out?
Google formalized its Pixel Tablet at the I/O conference in May 2022, indicating at the time that it was aiming for availability in the course of 2023. The launch window for 2023 was then confirmed during the presentation of the Pixel 7, but no more precise indication is given. We should have more information about the marketing of the device at Google I / O 2023, whose opening conference is scheduled for May 10. The Pixel Tablet could be made available soon after the announcement.
How much does the Pixel Tablet cost?
If Google has not yet communicated a price for its Pixel Tablet, the German leaker Roland Quandt, reputed to be very reliable, advances a price of between 600 and 650 euros for the product, depending on the storage configuration chosen: 128 or 256 Go. This amount would include a dock to put the tablet on. This is an interesting positioning, because it targets the top of the mid-range or the entry to the top of the range, where the competition is not too present. We do not achieve benefits equivalent to an iPad Pro or a Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra, but the Pixel Tablet offers better than a standard iPad or a Samsung tablet from the Tab A family. On the other hand, it should be confronted with the Xiaomi Pad 5, cheaper and very interesting.
Google Pixel Tablet: 128 or 256GB, “Porcelain” or “Haze”, pricing looks like 600-650 Euros.
—Roland Whent (@rwhent) April 19, 2023
Design, screen, size and colors of the Pixel Tablet
Google has taken design risks with its latest generations of smartphones, but should remain very wise for its first tablet model since its return to this market. The visuals shared by the manufacturer suggest that it has favored a very classic, even old-fashioned aesthetic for its Pixel Tablet. The slab is surrounded by thick borders, as one can have on entry-level Android tablets, while the materials do not seem of first quality. The tablet actually seems inspired by older generations of Pixel smartphones, including the 4 and 5 series, whose design was already not very innovative when they were released.
The screen size is very close to that of the iPad 2022: 10.95 inches. As for the display, it is a 2560 x 1600 pixel definition that awaits us on this product. According to the publication 9to5Google, expect the tablet to come in four colors. We already know two of them, seen on various renderings: an off-white pulling towards beige and a gray with slight tints of green. The other two options are still unknown, knowing that not all colors will necessarily be available in France. In addition to this, Google could leave the choice between black or white borders around the screen.
A front photo sensor operating in horizontal format is integrated, as well as a single rear camera. A button at the upper right edge could be used to block the optics and the microphone, thus ensuring better confidentiality and more secure use for children.
A dock with built-in speaker
With this tablet, Google not only wants a device for multimedia or productivity use, but also a connected screen that can control home automation. To fulfill this role, the American company would rely on a charging dock to keep the tablet powered and to handle it more easily, as with a Nest Hub. This station, which could be called Google Pixel Tablet Stand, has a magnet system to guarantee stability and facilitate the installation of the tablet.
Speakers also equip the dock, to produce more powerful and better sound than the audio of the Pixel Tablet. More than a tablet, Google aims to offer a real control screen with this device. Once on the dock, the tablet can also act as a digital photo frame.
Pixel 7’s Tensor G2 chip
The Pixel Tablet embeds the SoC Tensor G2 developed in partnership with Samsung. This chip launched last year powers the Pixel 7 series smartphones. The Tensor G3 planned for the Pixel 8 would have been a nice surprise, but its predecessor should deliver the performance necessary to offer a good experience of navigation, multimedia, games and home automation, which is what is most often expected of a tablet of this type. The chip could however show some difficulties for heavier tasks, such as advanced video editing or photo editing.
On the memory side, Google has provided 8 GB of RAM for the terminal, enough to perform multitasking and keep many applications open in the background without affecting system performance. As the Pixel Tablet is intended to stay at home due to its hybrid tablet – connected screen use, it is likely that it does not offer mobile connectivity or GPS, and is content with Wi-Fi support.
What autonomy for the Pixel Tablet?
We currently have no information on the Pixel Tablet’s battery capacity, battery life, or charging power. A priori, it should not offer incredible benefits on this point, because the device is designed to be regularly rested on its charging dock, so it does not need to be particularly enduring or to recharge very quickly.
Is the Pixel Tablet compatible with a stylus?
This has not been confirmed by Google, but the Pixel Tablet is said to support the use of styluses. The tablet is part of a list of Universal Stylus Initiative (USI) compatible devices, a standard that helps ensure that a supported stylus works with any certified device. This standard is integrated into some Chromebook models and is also expected for the Pixel Tablet. Other evidence of this USI stylus support exists. Lines of code indicate that the Fast Pair feature is going to be able to show battery alerts when the pen starts to run out of power. You can therefore use a stylus with your Pixel Tablet for note taking, editing, drawing, games…
A minimalist camera
If on a smartphone, the camera is one of the main selling points, this element is much less important on a tablet, and even more so on the Pixel Tablet, which is designed not to leave the home. The front camera is often the most used, for facial recognition or video calls. Google would bet on a 8 MP IMX355 photo sensorthe same one that equips the front of the Pixel 6. This same optics would also be used for the camera on the back of the terminal.
Android 13 and updates
Android 14 will only be launched in the fall with the Pixel 8 series, so the Pixel Tablet will be powered by Android 13. If Google gives its tablet the same care as its smartphones when it comes to software tracking, this one ci should get three years of Android updates and five years of security patches.
Google has released a demo of the Google Keep app running on the Pixel Tablet. We see the possibility of using the same keyboard shortcuts as on the desktop experience, confirming that it will be possible to connect a keyboard to the tablet. An overview of the Android interface of the Pixel Tablet is offered to you in the visual below, with Material You want some here.
Google says it has optimized around 20 of its proprietary apps to take better advantage of the Pixel Tablet’s large screen format. Third-party publishers also plan to refine the UI of their apps for tablets. The Play Store will offer an option to more easily find applications optimized for the tablet format. The general interface of Android has also been retouched to adapt to a larger display size. Features such as drag and drop from one app to another on a separate screen are also provided to make the most of the potential of the big screen.
