Officially, we haven’t gotten too many details about Google’s Pixel tablet, other than the fact that it exists and will launch in 2023. Unofficially, leaks are filling in some of the gaps in this slate when it comes to what we can expect.
According to reports 91 mobile phone (opens in new tab) and Kuba Wojciechowski (opens in new tab)the Pixel Tablet has now apparently entered the Engineering Validation Test (EVT) phase, which means it has moved beyond the prototype stage and is now being tested internally.
In terms of specs, 128GB and 256GB storage options are apparently coming soon. The tablet is also said to support Wi-Fi 6 and will feature a 10.95-inch display — definitely big for what we consider a budget tablet.
put the pieces together
Some of the features reported in the latest leak have come up before: Google, for example, is said to be making the stylus for the Pixel tablet, which we’ve previously heard will support the stylus.
Earlier rumors pointed to the tablet with 4GB of RAM. Add the first-gen Tensor chipset, which Google has confirmed will power the device, and it looks a lot like a more affordable offering.
Consumers who want advanced options may also have something to look forward to, though, as hints about the Pixel Tablet Pro were found in Android’s code. There may be more than one model on the market before 2023 ends.
Analysis: Budget tablet wars
Ignore the Pixel Tablet Pro rumors for a moment, from what we’ve heard so far, this sounds a lot like a cheap Android tablet — cheap for consuming media, checking email, and browsing social media Pleasant again.
As you may have noticed, Amazon just updated its line of 8-inch Amazon Fire HD tablets, which offer good enough tablet specs and don’t cost a lot of money at all. The standard version of the tablet with 32GB of storage will cost $99/£99.
There are many other competitors in this field. Released earlier this year, the 8-inch Nokia T10 gets you 32GB of storage for £129 in the UK (about $140/AU$215 direct conversion).
That’s the market Google is entering with its Pixel tablet, and it hopes its combination of sleek hardware, clean software and an attractive price will be enough to change a lot of these devices.