Google wants to launch a new Pixel Tablet in 2023 and open a new chapter. There were already a few tablets from Google, just never a clear line.
There had even been two tablets under the Pixel flag. Google recently held back from offering Pixel series tablets and Chromebooks internationally. So there are likely to be very few people outside of the US who have owned the Pixel C, or even maybe still do.
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Pixel C still came with Android
In 2015, Google introduced the 10.2-inch Pixel C. It was therefore even launched a year before the first Pixel smartphones. At that time, it had integrated the powerful Tegra X1 chip from Nvidia and was also supposed to appeal to mobile workers with the keyboard case. The Pixel C was not particularly successful and was therefore only inherited for four years.
Pixel Slate wanted to take off with ChromeOS
Google once again wanted to offer a tablet that can also be used as a mobile notebook. The Pixel Slate was born with ChromeOS – this time with 12.3 inches. This was Microsoft’s first real response to Surface, giving customers a choice of multiple configurations of Intel processors and up to 16GB of RAM. But again the operating system wasn’t far enough.
ChromeOS really wasn’t much more than a browser operating system at the time, and Android app support was too fresh. Many frequently used applications did not yet exist in good and usable web apps. Google failed again, primarily because of the not-so-good software.
The third Pixel Tablet comes again 4 years later. This time probably again with the Android operating system, but with the idea of being able to use the device for the smart home at the same time.
Nexus tablets came in a variety of sizes
In the days of the Nexus series, Google’s plan was simpler. They simply wanted to offer cheap tablets with Android. First there were two 7-inch devices in 2012 and 2013. Both were from ASUS and quite popular due to the low price point. But Android was Android and at that time it was extremely far away from iOS for iPads.
The slightly more powerful and larger Nexus 10 (Samsung, 2012) and Nexus 9 (HTC, 2014) devices couldn’t change that. The bottom line is that Google never really had a clear plan. First there were five different tablets within three years, only to then completely fall asleep on this topic.
You took your time. No matter which OS you choose, the software is at a completely different level today. That’s why you can see a lot of potential in the new Pixel Tablet.
Here’s what we know today about the Google Pixel Tablet:
- Display probably over 10″ in size
- four speakers
- two cameras, fewer features than smartphones
- USB-C port
- PIN connector for docking station
- Docking station with speaker
- USI stylus support
- Android 13 out of the box
- will not appear until 2023
