Google has launched its latest attempt at an Android tablet, the Google Pixel Tablet, which is priced at $499/£599/AU$899 and is available for pre-order from the Google Store and other retailers. Shipping is scheduled to begin in June. The device comes with a dock equipped with built-in speakers, making it a hub-like device for smart home gadgets. It is available in Porcelain, Hazel, and Rose colours and has an 11-inch Full HD display, four speakers, and an 8MP camera.
Powered by the Tensor G2 processor, the Pixel Tablet has 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, and the battery life lasts up to 12 hours of video streaming. Google has optimized Android for larger displays, which has resulted in a split-pane notification center and lock screen, and other improvements to entertainment and productivity apps. Google says that “tablets are homebodies” and that the device targets home users rather than business customers.
The Pixel Tablet is Google’s first Pixel-branded tablet in years and is an entirely new attempt at the form factor. The Pixel C and the Pixel Slate were the previous two devices, and neither did particularly well. The Pixel Tablet runs a tablet-optimized version of Android, which is different from ChromeOS. Google is hoping for a more positive critical and commercial reception for the device this time around.
