With the Chromebook Tab 10, Acer delivers the first Chrome OS tablet

From laptops and convertibles to desktops and all-in-ones, Chrome OS runs on several different form factors. You can now include tablets to that list, thanks to the Acer Chromebook Tab 10.

Thanks to its Cobalt Blue exterior, the Chromebook Tab 10 is a decent-looking tablet that features a 5MP camera around back and a 2MP selfie shooter. Below the front camera is the 9.7-inch IPS display with a 2,048 x 1,536 resolution.

Under the hood is the OP1 chipset, which we also found in the Samsung Chromebook Plus. The hexa-core SoC is developed by Rockchip, but we also learned that the brand name is owned by Google. As such, Google appears to be more involved in elements of Chromebook hardware design.

Another differentiator is the Wacom-branded stylus. Unlike the Apple Pencil, which needs to be charged and cannot be stored in an iPad Pro, the Chromebook Tab 10’s stylus is built-in and does not require a battery.

Other features include 4GB of RAM, 32GB of expandable storage, a USB Type-C port, and a 34Wh battery that should be good for up to nine hours of use.

The real story is the Chromebook Tab 10 being the first tablet to run Chrome OS. Originally intended as a minimalist desktop operating system, Chrome OS slowly turned into something that our human claws can interact with.

As such, the Chromebook Tab 10 supports the Google Play Store, an on-screen keyboard, and the tablet interface with back and home buttons on the bottom left and multi-tasking and settings buttons on the bottom right.

It is not a coincidence that Acer announced the Chromebook Tab 10 today. Apple is expected to announce a low-cost iPad with Apple Pencil support during its education-focused event tomorrow. The rumored iPad will reportedly cost $259, though the $99 Apple Pencil will likely not be included.

Similarly, the Chromebook Tab 10 is meant for the education market and will sell for $329 when it goes on sale in May. Along with Google Enterprise License support for IT management, the tablet will support Expeditions AR. This allows students to use AR to map their classroom and place 3D objects for closer study.

Unlike Apple, Acer does not have an uphill battle to climb to convince schools to buy its tablet. Chrome OS currently dominates the U.S. education market, thanks to Chromebooks’ low costs and ease of administration. MacOS and iOS, meanwhile, sit behind Windows in the education market.