Google has launched the Pixel Slate 2-in-1 as a device that satisfies your needs for work and play. By its name you will guess that it sits comfortably between the high-end Pixelbook laptop and Pixel C tablet. It comes packing the Chrome OS, of course, and there is a choice of Intel processor, RAM and storage configurations varying from Intel Celeron with 4GB/32GB all the way up to 8th gen Intel Core i7 with 16GB RAM and 256GB of storage (prices ranging from US$599/GB£549 to $1,599/£1,549).
The Pixel Slate is built around a 12.3-inch display that Google dubs the ‘all-new Molecular Display’. It uses polycrystalline silicon instead of LCD, claimed to produce great image quality with thrifty battery consumption. At the edges of this 2,000 x 3,000-pixel rounded edged 2.5D screen is a pair of stereo speakers, said to be great for media consumption.
Continuing on our hardware exploration, the Pixel Slate boasts the following key specs:
- Choice of Intel processor: Intel Celeron, 8th gen Core m3, 8th gen Core i5, or 8th gen Core i7
- RAM: from 4GB to 16GB
- Storage: from 32GB to 256GB
- Physical: 290.85 x 202.04 x 7.0mm, 721g, midnight blue finish with Corning Gorilla Glass 5
- Cameras: 8MP wide view on front, 8MP with autofocus on rear
- Battery: 48Wh for 10 hours use, fast charge of 15 minutes gets 2hrs, USB-C 45W adaptor supplied
- Wireless: Wi-Fi: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 2x2 (MIMO), dual-band (2.4 GHz, 5.0 GHz), BT 4.2
- Ports, sensors: 2x USB-C connectors for charging, data transfer and up to 4K display output, Pixel Slate keyboard connector, 3-axis Gyroscope/Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor, Hall effect sensor, Fingerprint reader built-into power button
ChromeOS is said to have been reimagined for touch screen and it is built for convenience with a new launcher, machine learning-generated suggestions for the apps you use most, Google Assistant built in, and multitasking tools like split screen. The full version of the Chrome browser is here so you can use all your favourite extensions.
Unfortunately the Pixel Slate keyboard and Pixelbook Pen are extras at $199/£150 and $99/£75 respectively. The companion keyboard offers full-size (rounded) backlit ‘hush keys’ with dedicated Google Assistant key and extra large trackpad. The folio is adjustable to ‘any angle’ says Google. Meanwhile the Pixelbook Pen should feel good in use as it has “the lowest latency of any digital pen out there”.
The Google Pixel Slate and its accessories will all be available “later this year”.
