If it feels like the Google Pixel Tablet was unveiled ages ago, that’s because it was. The tablet was first revealed at Google IO 2022, but since then we’ve been patiently awaiting further details about the device, with little to go on.
That could all change today – because the tablet is expected to be revealed in full at Google I/O 2023. The event takes place at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST today (Wednesday, May 10), which works out as 3am AEST on May 11 for those in Australia. What’s more, our Google I/O 2023 live blog is already up and running, bringing you all the last-minute rumors ahead of the event, and all the big news once it kicks off.
Before that, scroll down for everything we’ve heard so far about the Google Pixel Tablet, including information shared by Google directly, as well as various rumors and leaks. As usual, we’ll be updating this article whenever we hear something new.
Cut to the chase
- What is it? An upcoming tablet from Google
- When is it out? Rumored to be June 2023
- How much will it cost? Possibly around 600 euros (roughly $660 / £530 / AU$980)
Google Pixel Tablet: release date and price
Google has confirmed that the Pixel Tablet will be made available for purchase in 2023.
The company didn’t get any more specific than that, but we can take an educated guess at when we might see it, as there are two points in the year when Google tends to release new hardware. First, there’s Google I/O 2023, which starts today, May 10.
Then there’s the launch of new numbered Pixel models, which happens towards the end of the year, usually – but not always – in October. So, one of those events would be an obvious time for Google to launch the Pixel Tablet, but it’s entirely possible the tablet could be unveiled at another point in 2023 instead.
Of the two options, Google IO looks by far the most likely, as multiple sources have pointed in that direction.
As for how much it will cost, the one price leak so far suggests around 600-650 euros (roughly $660 / £530 / AU$980 – $715 / £575 / AU$1,060). But for that money you might also get the Charging Speaker Dock thrown in, which reportedly retails for $129 (around £105 / AU$190) on its own.
Google Pixel Tablet: news
Google has shared some images of the Pixel Tablet, two of which you can see above, and two more of which you can see below.
The slate is shown here in white with a curvy rear, a “premium nanoceramic finish”, fairly large bezels around the screen, and a single-lens camera on both the front and the back.
From the design – which is a bit like a Google Home Hub without the stand – we’re thinking this will probably be a mid-range slate rather than a high-end one, so it could be more of a competitor to the basic iPad 10.2 or iPad Air (2022) than to the iPad Pro 11 or Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra.
That said, Google has confirmed that it will use the same Tensor G2 chipset as the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, so it should have a reasonable amount of power.
We also know, of course, that the Pixel Tablet will run Android – specifically Android 13, which is designed to work better for large screen devices after building up Android 12L. Being a Google device, it’s also sure to get a lot of software updates – and promptly, too.
The Pixel Tablet is also designed to work with a Charging Speaker Dock, which you can see in the image below. This turns the slate into a smart home device akin to the Google Home Hub or the Nest Hub Max. As the name suggests, it can both keep the Pixel Tablet charged, and offers better speakers than the tablet itself.
The Pixel Tablet is apparently easy to both dock and undock using magnets, and this Charging Speaker Dock is being built so that the Pixel Tablet remains useful at all times when at home, serving both as a slate and a smart home display.
As for the tablet’s design, we’ve seen two colours teased so far: green and beige. Google says it’s using premium materials for the tablet’s construction, which could drive up its price.
Google Pixel Tablet: leaks and rumors
Moving into the realm of leaks and rumors, we’ve seen that a Google tablet – possibly the Google Pixel Tablet – has been certified to support a stylus.
Beyond that, we can speculate that the device might have the same 50MP rear camera as the Pixel 6 and Pixel 7, since Google doesn’t tend to change up the camera hardware it uses too often, and that was a new sensor for the range.
The Google Pixel Tablet might not offer the smartphone camera experience, though, as camera app code (opens in new tab) points to missing features. Apparently, there might not be 4K video recording, or certain features like slow-mo or audio zoom for videos. Tablets rarely aim to be camera champs anyway, so that’s to be expected.
Storage options of 128GB and 256GB and a screen size of 10.95 inches have been mentioned in a leak – a leak that also says the tablet was in its internal testing phase in September 2022. We’ve heard those storage capacities mentioned more than once now.
That said, another leak points to slightly better specs, including 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, a 1600 x 2560 LCD display and a side-mounted fingerprint sensor.
The source of this leak also claims that there will be a second dock available for the Pixel Tablet – this time coming without a speaker. Plus, they say that while a Pixel Tablet and Pixel Tablet Pro had both previously been rumored, only the Pro version will launch (though probably without Pro in the name). This might explain why the specs leaked here are better than those mentioned above.
I have also been provided with a few photos of the device. pic.twitter.com/ctKWQoVDCTJanuary 26, 2023
The same source also shared new images of the slate and one of its docks, which you can see in the tweet above.
We’ve also heard that the Pixel Tablet may enter something called ‘Hub Mode’ when it’s docked, allowing it to receive content beamed over the Google Cast standard, much like a Chromecast.
The tablet could also have a privacy switch, allowing you to disable the camera and microphone, and it might offer ultra-wideband (UWB) support, potentially allowing for digital handoff for audio (in other words the ability to transfer audio from your phone to the tablet by tapping them against each other or even just moving your phone next to the Pixel Tablet).
What’s more, Google may have inadvertently revealed more about the software running on board the Pixel Tablet: it’s not much of a look, but we’ll take it.
A final leak of Google Pixel Tablet (via Amazon Japan) reveals all the Pixel Tablet specs. It shared many specs including the Tensor G2 processor, 8GB of RAM, up to 256GB of storage, and up to 12 hours of video watching for a full charge for the internals. The display was pegged as a 2,560 x 1,600 10.95-inch one. There was no hint of a high refresh rate as you’d find in tablets like the iPad Pro or the new OnePlus Pad, sadly.
For more on the latest slate hardware, check out our guide to the best Android tablets of 2023.