Google out-leaked leakers and gave us a good look at the Pixel Tablet

Google held its Pixel hardware event this morning and it went pretty much as expected. We got a full look at the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. The company also launched the Pixel Watch alongside these phones, going into full detail regarding this wearable. But something that was somewhat unexpected was a deep dive into the Pixel Tablet.

Google officially revealed the Pixel Tablet back in May during its Google I/O event. Although it showed off the device’s design, it didn’t really reveal any other details, save for a vague statement that it was aiming for a 2023 launch. After today’s event, we now know a lot more about the tablet that will complete Google’s Pixel ecosystem.

Pixel Tablet: Hardware and design

Google describes the Pixel Tablet as being made with premium materials and finishes. However, with the large bezels taking a chunk out of the screen real estate, the design comes off as a little dated. The tablet also comes with a single camera, power button, and volume rocker.

Pixel Tablet features at a glance

Rumors suggested that the Pixel Tablet would use the first-generation Tensor chip present in the Pixel 6 series. However, Google has now confirmed that its upcoming tablet will actually run on the new Tensor G2 chipset. It will also use Material You, a design feature Pixel phone users have become familiar with.

The company states that it has worked with developers to make sure that Pixel Tablet apps can take advantage of large-screen features like split-screen and stylus support.

In addition, Google has made a charging speaker dock capable of pairing with the Pixel Tablet. When docked, the Pixel Tablet turns into something much like Google’s own Nest Hub or Amazon’s Echo Show 10.

Pixel Tablet vs the competition

Much like its other products, Google is trying to enter a competitive tablet space dominated by industry giants. We’re going to need more details than Google provided at its event to tell exactly how well the Pixel Tablet stands up to the likes of Apple, Samsung, Microsoft, and Amazon. However, here is what Google’s competition offers.

iPad Air 2022 ($599) — Apple’s iPad Air features the company’s M1 processor and is highly portable thanks to its thin and light design. It also comes with a 12MP camera and offers a 10.9-inch liquid retina display with a resolution of 2,360 x 1,640 pixels.

Galaxy Tab S8 ($699) — Considered one of the best Android-powered tablets on the market, the Galaxy Tab is a premium device that offers a speedy all-purpose experience. It includes an 11-inch display with a resolution of 2,560 x 1,600 pixels.

Surface Go 2 ($399) — Weighing in at 1.22 pounds, the Surface Go 2 offers over 11 hours of battery life and a front-facing 5MP 1080p camera. Its 10.5-inch display delivers bright and vivid colors, perfect for watching shows.

Pricing and availability

While Google offered more details about the Pixel Tablet, it stopped short of giving us a price or telling us where it will be available. The only information we currently have to go on is that it is scheduled to release sometime in 2023. Going by the company’s approach to its phones, one could guess that Google may try to offer a competitive price point compared to its competitors.