For the first time in nine years since the Nexus 9, Google is returning to the tablet space with the launch of its Pixel Tablet. The tech giant announced the Pixel Tablet’s release a year ago, and it is now set to hit the market on June.
The Pixel Tablet has a 16:10 10.95-inch LCD (2560×1600, 500nits brightness, 276PPI) with slightly larger black or white bezels. The 8MP front-facing camera (1.12μm, α2.0, 84°) should be good enough for video calls. The screen uses Gorilla Glass 3 and has an antifouling coating. Supports USI 2.0 stylus pens.
The Pixel Tablet includes 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, and the latest Tensor G2 processor powers it — just like the Pixel 7a and Pixel Fold. According to Google, the tablet can play videos for up to 12 hours before recharging. It supports USI 2.0 stylus pens, and the volume rocker and fingerprint sensor incorporated into the power button are on the top edge.
A distinctive feature of the Pixel Tablet is that by using a charging dock with a speaker, it becomes a smart display and can be used like a Nest Hub Max. The software switches to hub mode, giving easy access to controls for all your smart home devices. Like the Nest Hub, it doubles as a digital photo frame and can play songs and videos with audio through its built-in speaker. The performance of the speaker is also high, and according to Google, it will deliver “room-filling music”. The tablet itself also has four built-in speakers.
Google also sells a speaker dock (which it also sells separately for those who want to place it around the house), as well as a basic case with a built-in metal ring stand that allows the tablet to sit at different angles. The case is quite clever and allows you to dock the tablet without removing the case. Partner Speck also makes a few other cases.
Google says it has over 50 optimized apps for the Pixel Tablet, with the ability to run split-screen multitasking. The company is working with developers to optimize more apps for the device, with Spotify, Minecraft, and Disney+ among the first.
The Pixel Tablet is available for pre-order starting today, with prices starting at $499. The tablet comes in two colours, grey “Hazel” and white “Porcelain,” and shipments will begin on June 20th.
