Google returns to the tablet market with the new Pixel Tablet
In the wee hours of today’s annual 2023 I/O Conference, Google officially launched its first foldable screen phone, the Pixel Fold. In addition to this, Google also unveiled a long-awaited product: the new tablet computer dubbed Pixel Tablet.
After Google’s declaration of exiting the tablet business in 2019 to focus on laptops, the Android tablet market took a precipitous plunge. However, a shift occurred when Rich Miner, one of the co-founders of Android, rejoined Google’s Android tablet development team early last year. Google showcased the product at the 2022 I/O Conference, but it was only officially launched today.
This is not just a tablet in the purest sense but also a smart home control center equipped with speakers, hence the official name, Pixel Tablet, is referred to as a smart screen. When the Pixel Tablet is in Hub mode, tapping the Google Home icon provides access to all compatible smart home devices such as viewing the video doorbell, turning on the living room lights, or adjusting the thermostat.
The Pixel Tablet adheres to the design language of Google’s Pixel series products, exuding an overall minimalist aesthetic with understated tones. It features a 10.95-inch LCD touchscreen with equidistant borders, a resolution of 2560 x 1600, a brightness of 500 nits, and a smudge-resistant coating, supporting stylus input. The device is powered by the Tensor G2 chip and the Titan M2 security chip. It has 8GB of LPDDR5 memory and offers a choice between 128GB or 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. It is equipped with two 8-megapixel cameras, one at the rear and the other in the top right corner of the front. The built-in 27Wh battery provides a 12-hour battery life when fully charged. The power button incorporates a fingerprint recognition feature and the device is equipped with four speakers and three microphones.
The Pixel Tablet comes with a speaker base that can also be used as a charger, albeit with a modest power of 15W. Furthermore, this is the first tablet with a built-in Chromecast. The Pixel Tablet is now available for pre-order in three colors, starting at $499. A protective case with a stand is also available for $79, and the new product will be released on June 20.
