Google launched its first self-branded Android telephone in 2010, and has been releasing regular new fashions at the very least every year since then. Its historical past with tablets is extra tumultuous: After getting early hits with the inexpensive Nexus collection, Google tablets have misplaced out to Samsung and Apple at each flip, and it’s been nearly 5 full years since the ill-fated Pixel Slate. The $499 Pixel Tablet, totally revealed at Google I/O 2023 after a 12 months of ready, is taking a brand new method by taking part in on Google’s sensible dwelling prowess.

What’s totally different in regards to the Pixel Tablet?

The Pixel Tablet is each a standard, media consumption-focused slate, akin to the iPad Air, and a sensible dwelling administration station, a la Google’s personal Nest Hub or Amazon’s extra premium Echo gadgets. Pull the factor out of your bag and it’s a daily pill, excellent for browsing or streaming video. But place it on the magnetic speaker dock with POGO pin charging (included within the field, no much less!) and it turns into a type of super-powered Nest display screen in what Google calls “Hub Mode.” From there it’s able to handle all your private home’s lights, music, and different devices, or perform as a Google Cast display screen for the media in your different gadgets — a primary for an Android pill.

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What are the specs of the Pixel Tablet?

If this appears a bit acquainted, it ought to: Amazon tried something similar a few years ago, promoting charging docks that will flip its Fire-branded tablets into de facto Echo gadgets. The distinction is the scope. Google is aiming the Pixel Tablet as a extra premium machine competing straight with mid-range iPads, versus Amazon’s always-budget Fire line. The Pixel Tablet makes use of an 11-inch, 2560×1600 LCD display screen, Google’s Tensor G2 processor (the identical one discovered within the Pixel 7 telephone), 8GB of RAM, and a fingerprint unlock constructed into the facility button.

The pill’s appears to be like are a little bit on the plain facet, extra just like the unassuming Pixel 5 than newer Google telephones, with a single 8MP digital camera on the rear and an identical one on the entrance. The case makes use of aluminum with a nano-ceramic coating for a matte end, out there in “Porcelain” (white, with matching white bezel on the entrance) or “Hazel” (gray). An off-pink “Rose” colour is obtainable in some markets, and all are matched to the speaker dock included within the field.

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Speaking of that dock, it consists of a formidable 15-watt speaker with a 43.5mm driver for “four times the bass than the Pixel Tablet alone.” When you dock the pill audio will seamlessly transition to the dock, and the pill’s distinctive triple far-field microphones will begin listening in your “Okay Google” instructions, identical to any of Google’s Nest gadgets. Oddly the Pixel Tablet lacks the face-scanning powers of the Nest Hub Max, however in any other case it’ll primarily flip itself into a cheerful (and cute) little sensible display screen. You can purchase further docks to relaxation and cost the pill round the home or your workplace, and equipment just like the kickstand-packing first-party case work with the dock. Off of that 15-watt charger, Google says the pill will final for 12 hours of video streaming.

What software program does the Pixel Tablet run?

The Pixel Tablet comes with Android 13, the most recent model of Google’s cell working system, with 5 years of assured updates. And it’s positively cell — in contrast to the extra professionally-targeted Pixel Slate which ran ChromeOS and was closely marketed with keyboard add-ons. No, Google’s backing off the concept of a productiveness machine and never aspiring to compete with cheaper laptops or Microsoft Surface-style devices, leaving that house to Chrome-powered tablets like the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet. This factor is all-tablet, on a regular basis…when it’s not a sensible dwelling hub. The pill additionally consists of some first-to-Android assist for a number of consumer profiles, excellent for sharing the machine across the individuals in your house.

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How a lot will the Pixel Tablet value?

Which brings us to the value. Google is asking $499 for the Pixel Tablet (£599 within the UK). It’s up for pre-order now, transport in June. That places it between the value of the usual iPad and the upgraded iPad Air, with higher storage (128GB on the bottom mannequin versus 64GB) and the included dock within the field, however sans the choice for a 5G improve. On paper it’s a fantastic deal, even when Google’s pill is thicker and heavier than the svelte Air.

But Google has spent the final 5 years roughly ignoring the Android pill market, ceding the {hardware} house nearly solely to Samsung, Amazon, and Lenovo, and giving app builders little to no purpose to concentrate on software program experiences for larger screens. Perhaps the announcement of the Pixel Fold, Google’s first foray into folding telephones, will give Android a long-overdue purpose to concentrate on greater than five-to-six inches of display screen house. And maybe pairing the Pixel Tablet to Google’s extra stable place within the sensible dwelling house will give it a essential enhance on the competitors.

But talking as somebody who’s been with Google {hardware} since that very first telephone, varied Nexus tablets, the Pixel C and the Pixel Slate, I wouldn’t maintain my breath. Positioning this as a premium pill in the identical house because the iPad, and thus competing with Apple’s best-in-the-industry pill interface and app assist, is an aggressive transfer from an organization that hasn’t earned the belief of pill customers after a decade of makes an attempt.