Alongside the Pixel 3, Google announced its new detachable: the Pixel Slate. The Pixel Slate builds on what made the Pixelbook great: a premium design, high-end specs and the latest features of Chrome OS. The Pixel Slate will be available later in 2018, so stay tuned for more!
Check out our hands on!
We got a few minutes with the Pixel Slate at Google’s hardware event, and we came away impressed. We’ll see later how well the device performs as an everyday device, but if you want to read a bit more about the Pixel Slate (or just lust after the gorgeous design), you’ll want to check out the hands-on!
More: Google Pixel Slate hands-on: Chrome OS built to take on the Surface
The specs
| Operating System | Chrome OS |
| Display | 12.3-inch 3000×2000 (293 ppi) Quad HD 72% NTSC color LCD Multi-touch with Google Pixelbook Pen support 400 nits brightness |
| Speakers | Front facing Stereo |
| Processor | Intel Celeron/8th Gen Core m3/8th Gen Core i5/8th Gen Core i7 |
| RAM | 4GB 8GB 16GB |
| Storage | 32GB SSD 64GB SSD 128GB SSD 256GB SSD |
| Keyboard | Detachable Infinite angle adjustment Full-size with 19 millimeter pitch 0.8 millimeter travel Fully backlit |
| Trackpad | Etched glass edge-to-edge trackpad |
| Ports | Two USB-C with charging, 4K display-out and data transfer / Connector for Pixel Slate Keyboard |
| Cameras | 8MP, wide angle front facing | 8MP rear facing |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 2×2 (MIMO), dual-band (2.4 GHz, 5.0 GHz) Bluetooth 4.2 |
| Additional features | Pixelbook Pen active stylus Google Assistant with one-touch button |
| Colors | Midnight Blue Corning Gorilla Glass detail |
| Platform updates | Years of free OS updates |
| Security | Titan Security built-in Fingerprint sensor |
| Weight | 1.6 pounds / .73 kilograms (without keyboard) |
| Dimensions | 11.45-inch x 7.95-inch x .27-inch / 290.9mm x 202mm x 7mm (without keyboard) |
| Other | 3-axis Gyroscope Accelerometer Hall Effect Sensor Ambient light sensor |
Price
The Pixel Slate starts at $599 for the model with a Celeron processor, 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. The Core m3 model with 8GB of RAM and 64GB of storage comes in at $799, the Core i5 model with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage goes for $999, and the top end with a Core i7, 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage clocks in at $1599. The keyboard costs an additional $199 and the Pixelbook Pen remains at $99.
You can choose from a couple keyboards
The Pixel Slate — just like any other Chrome OS device — will work with any Bluetooth or USB keyboard; but there are some official options as well. Google’s own keyboard connects with POGO pins, meaning you don’t have to use a USB port or worry about keeping it charged like you would a Bluetooth one. It is a bit pricey at $200, but you get a full layout, backlit keys, a smooth glass trackpad, and the keyboard doubles as a folio to keep your Pixel Slate protected. When it’s time to get down to business, the Pixel Slate keyboard unfolds to any angle you’d like, though it’s not great for lap use.
If you do want something more for lap use, Brydge has a great option for you. The Pixel Slate connects to it via Bluetooth, and Brydge says the battery should last up to six months. When it’s time to recharge, Brydge’s keyboard can charge from the same USB-C cable that your Pixel Slate can. You still get a full layout, backlit keys — though these are square keys instead of circular — and a glass trackpad. The Pixel Slate just slides in, and it looks no different than a standard laptop. It’s also $40 cheaper than Google’s own keyboard, which is always nice.
Bonus features
Customers who pick up the Pixel Slate or the Pixelbook will get three months of YouTube TV included.