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Officially, we haven’t gotten too many details about the Google Pixel Tablet, other than the fact that it exists and is coming in 2023. Unofficially, leaks are filling in some of the blanks when it comes to what to expect from this slate.
As reported by 91mobiles (opens in new tab) and Kuba Wojciechowski (opens in new tab)the Pixel Tablet has apparently now entered the engineering validation test (EVT) stage, meaning it has moved beyond the prototype stage and is now undergoing internal testing.
When it comes to specs, there are apparently 128GB and 256GB storage options on the way. The tablet is also said to support Wi-Fi 6 and come with a 10.95-inch screen – which is certainly on the large side for what we think a budget tablet will be.
Putting the pieces together
Some of the features reported in the latest leak have come up before: A Google-made stylus is said to be made for the Pixel Tablet, for example, and we’ve heard before that the slate would come with stylus support.
Earlier rumors pointed to the release of the tablet with 4 GB of RAM. Add in the first-generation Tensor chipset, which Google has confirmed will power the device, and this is very similar to something on the more affordable end of the scale.
Consumers who want a premium option may also have something to look forward to, as hints about a Pixel Tablet Pro have been spotted in the Android code. It is possible that more than one model will be on the market before the end of 2023.
Analysis: budget tablet wars
Ignoring the Pixel Tablet Pro rumor, from what we’ve heard so far, this sounds very much like a budget Android tablet – something cheap and cheerful for consuming media, checking email and browsing on social media.
You may have noticed that Amazon has just updated its 8-inch Amazon Fire HD tablet series, which offers good enough tablet specs for not a lot of money at all. The standard edition of the tablet with 32GB of storage costs $99 / £99.
There are plenty of other contenders in the field as well. Announced earlier this year, the 8-inch Nokia T10 will give you 32GB of storage for £129 in the UK (that’s about $140 / AU$215 with a direct conversion).
That’s the market Google is entering with its Pixel tablet, and it will hope that the combination of slick hardware, clean software and an attractive price point will be enough to move a serious number of these devices.