Google finally gave the Pixel Tablet the much-needed airtime at I/O 2023, revealing price, specs and other details.
Pixel Tablet Gets Thoroughly Detailed Officially by Google at I/O 2023 - Ships with Tons of Features at a Remarkable $499 Price
Right off the bat, you'd mistake the Pixel Tablet for a Nest Hub from which you can remove the screen. It does look like that, which makes it way better as it's powered by Android as well.
But, since everything is now official and we don't have to deal with leaks, so let's dive into all the features it packs.
11-inch Display
The display is the center-point of the Pixel Tablet. It's 11-inch in size, and yes that's the only display option you get - no 12 or 13 inch options at all. With a resolution of 2560x1600, it's plenty sharp, too. Don't expect high refresh rates either, but you do get rounded corners for a more modern feel. Maybe that's a win?
Tensor-Powered All Around
Since Google is making its own chip for phones, it's fitting to shove one inside the Pixel Tablet as well. It's the Tensor G2 with Titan M2 for security - the same chip that focuses more on AI and lesser on performance. But, it would be interesting to see if Google was able to push more out of this chip due to the larger form-factor of a tablet versus a phone.
Storage Options
Google is going to sell the tablet with two storage options - 128GB and 256GB. Both will ship with 8GB of RAM. This is rather disappointing as there's no mention of microSD expansion at all. If you're planning to use this tablet as a full-on work 'laptop,' even the 256GB storage space might not be enough. An extra 512GB option would have been nicer here.
Battery Aplenty
Google claims that this tablet will last for up to 12 hours if you're streaming video which is a number that really doesn't spark too much confidence. If it translates to at least 9 hours of battery life in real-world use, that should be more than enough for most users. And thanks to Google's software trickery, that number will indeed be higher.
If you want to charge up, there's a USB-C port at the bottom. That same port is USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 1 which is very fast. You can use the Charging Speaker Dock to juice up, too.
Google's official tech specs page for the tablet states that this is a 27 watt-hour battery.
Fingerprint Your Way in
Google is shipping the Pixel Tablet with a fingerprint sensor inside the power button and thanks to that Titan M2 part of the Tensor G2 chip, you can rest assured your biometrics will stay safe and secure.
8-Megapixel Cameras for Everything
At the front, you get am 8-megapixel camera that keeps you in focus much like how Center Stage does on an iPad, if you've ever used one - pretty sure you have. And on the back, you get an 8-megapixel camera for everything else.
Whether it's scanning documents, hanging out with friends or occasionally taking pet photos, this tablet will handle it well.
4 Speakers for Immersive Sound and Enhanced Microphones
Packed with a 4-speaker system, this tablet is built to consume content. And even better are those microphones which Google is using for an enhanced typing experience. You obviously do get an on-screen keyboard, but Google believes you can be a lot faster with voice.
The Charging Speaker Dock Ships with the Tablet for FREE
We're not making this up, nor this is a limited time deal from Google to lure you in. The Pixel Tablet ships with the Charging Speaker Dock for free. Google says this speaker dock sounds amazing and provides power to the tablet instantly when attached. But seriously, free?!
Other Features
It won't be a Google tablet if it didn't ship with weird and wonderful features, right? For example, you can use the Pixel Tablet as a display to cast your content as it has Chromecast built right in - no other tablet has this feature. It's like having a mini TV screen on your desk with a great set of speakers. Furthermore, features like Hub Mode transforms your tablet into a digital photo frame, smart home controller, voice-activated assistant and more.
Multiple Profiles
We saved the best for last. Pixel Tablet can be shared between users with multiple profiles with each having their own customizations and apps. No need to buy a second tablet for your kid as you can simply hand them yours with a personal profile just for them.
Price and Pre-Order
So many great features, but how much does it cost? Just $499 for the base model and you can pre-order it today in two colors - Porcelain and Hazel.
The tablet is available for pre-order in the following countries:
- United States
- Canada
- United Kingdom
- Germany
- France
- Sweden
- Denmark
- Norway
- Netherlands
- Japan
- Australia
This is insanely great value when you realize that the Speaker Dock we talked about costs a lot of money on its own - $129 of it, if Google's quick slip of tongue on stage is to be believe.
