Google has unveiled a new tablet to add to its Chromebook Pixel device line-up. Meet the Pixel C.
With a display of 10.2 inches and a resolution of 2560 x 1800 pixels, the Pixel C is a little powerhouse. The portable tablet is smaller than rivals iPad Pro and the Surface tablets and has an aspect ratio of 3:4 - even though Google has not admitted to the same.
The aspect ratio makes the device seem like a piece of paper in shape and will supposedly aid users in running two apps simultaneously. The tablet has a pixel density of 308ppi and has a pretty efficient backlight.
The tablet's display is not only sharp, but also quite sensitive to touch. While the Pixel C is sleek and portable, the screen size may seem small for those who are eyeing the tablet as a replacement for their laptops. If you're one of them then be prepared to squint your way through! The 10.2-inch screen offers a comfortable viewing experience.
The Android Marshmallow 6.0-powered Pixel C houses a powerful Nvidia Tegra X1 quad-core processor, as well as 3GB of Ram, which is quite impressive for a tablet. However, when you compare that with the power a laptop can offer, the Pixel C pales in comparison.
The Google-made tablet has also tried to take a leaf out of Microsoft's book - and we're not just talking about the tablet's strong resemblance to Surface Pro 3 - and packs in a keyboard, which doubles up as a case.
The keyboard can connect to the tablet through Bluetooth and a neat feature is that the tablet charges the keyboard when the case is closed. Some may notice that the keyboard is missing a few keys compared to traditional options. This is intentional as Google removed the less-used keys on the physical keyboard and instead shifted them to the on-screen display.
The keyboard's magnets are strong and at the same time easy to remove. Therefore, even if you hold the Pixel C attached to the keyboard upside down, it will not fall. When you want to remove the keyboard, you need not struggle with it either.
However a deal breaker could be the fact that the keys on the tablet's keyboard are compact and do not sit properly on the surface and, therefore, could take getting used to.
The device's pricing could also be a deterrent for many people as the 32GB and 64GB models will cost $499 and $599, respectively. By comparison, the 64GB Surface Pro 3 from Microsoft costs $500. Additionally, one will have to shell out $149 for the keyboard.
The Pixel C also feels a little clunky during use and the absence of a trackpad is also disappointing. Google's shift to Android also seems to be a questionable decision as the Chrome OS' browser is way better than the Chrome browser for Android.
To answer the question whether the Pixel C is worth buying - there are better tablets and laptops available at the price range. The Pixel C is an overpriced Android tablet, especially given the features it commands.
