Google - Pixel Slate 12.3" - Tablet - 128GB - Midnight Blue

--HIGHLIGHTS— Beautiful 12.3 High Quality Display, Portable and Lightweight, Great for Watching Videos, 128 GB Flash Drive, Fingerprint Reader, Google Keyboard and Google Pen Compatible, USB-C port --SETUP-- Setup is as simple as charging it for a short time, turning it on, and then connecting to a Wi-Fi network. The next step is to create or sign on to a Google Account. Since I already have a Google account, my settings and data synced up immediately. There were some mandatory updates to the Chrome OS, the keyboard, and some of the Apps that needed to be immediately done but I was soon up and running. Included is a 45W power adapter with a USB C connector and a USB C charging cord. USB C is now the charging standard, so I appreciate the versatility that it affords by allowing one cord to charge multiple devices. The power adapter also has prongs that neatly fold into the body of the adapter which makes it great to take on the go. Using a phone power adapter will charge this device, but much slower than the included adapter but it is a nice option when travelling light is a priority. --DESIGN AND FEATURES— This tablet can be connected to the Google Keyboard which turns it into a Chrome notebook. The Keyboard uses magnets to hold it to the tablet. Another nice feature to using the Keyboard is that is doubles as a protective case for the Slate and the magnets help keep it in place. The keyboard needs a surface that is stable to stay upright. So, if you like to sit it on your lap, you will need to place it on something stable when typing or use it as a tablet. My legs do not provide enough stability to use the keyboard. When I use it in bed, and I have found that the mattress provides enough stability to use the keyboard. The battery charges fully in about 2 hours and lasts for about 10 hours. The 12.3 inch, high resolution screen looks amazing! One of the best features of this tablet is the big beautiful screen. It is exactly what I would expect at this price point and is great for watching videos. I used the following Apps and found the performance to be excellent: YouTube, Vudu, Netflix, HBO, and Hulu. The touch screen is very responsive and works well. It is also compatible with Google Pen if you want to use a powered stylus. They keyboard is functional and easy to use. The keys are nicely backlit and feature an ambient light sensor to trigger the illumination. The power button is also the fingerprint scanner. It scans prints accurately but can only be used to unlock the screen. The print scanner cannot be used to when it is off. When the device is powered on you must use your password or pin. I hope Google upgrades this feature in the future. The wireless adapter worked flawlessly and creates a strong, reliable connection. This tablet has nice sounding speakers with sound quality that is typical for a tablet. For critical listening I use headphones. --BUILD QUALITY AND APPEARANCE— The build quality of this tablet is excellent. It not only looks great, but is also light, and easy to handle despite its size. The color (called Midnight Blue) is has a shade of black/blue. --VERDICT— The Google Pixel Slate is for users heavily invested in the Google ecosystem that are willing to pay the premium price for a full-size tablet that can also be used as a compact Chrome notebook, when attached to the Google Keyboard. This hybrid notebook/tablet is expensive, but has a bright, beautiful screen that is great for watching videos and viewing pictures. M significant other takes it with her all over the house with her to watch videos.

I was initially very excited to get my hands on the Google Pixel Slate. I'm a bit of a google fanboy and love the hardware design of google products. I got a chance to use the Slate that comes with the Intel I5 processor, 8 GB of ram and 128 GB of storage. These are powerful laptop specs.. in a tablet / chromebook hybrid. This setup should have almost no problem running most android apps on the google play store. But half the apps I downloaded from the Google play store had lag or just look awful on the gorgeous Pixel Slate screen. Most apps on the play store are designed for Android phones and they don't play well with the Pixel Slate screen. I love that google has given us the option to download android apps onto chromebooks but the play store is a mess and let's be honest. Tablet support for Android by software developers is almost non existent. Many of the apps are windowed and do not support the keyboard, which for me makes for an awkward experience when using this tablet in keyboard / laptop mode. You can argue that you can use it as a tablet and remove the keyboard but the pixel slate is HUGE, and trying to play games or type on the screen in tablet mode is cumbersome. The pixel slate is frankly just too big to hold in one hand and free up your other hand for swiping. That being said.. I don't quite understand why Google decided to make this years Pixel"book" into a "Slate". I find myself only using it with the Google Slate Keyboard attached. Google should have included the keyboard with the slate from the get go. Now as far as chromebooks.. this powerful setup can't really do anything that a lower end Chromebook can. I tried connecting an sd card to transfer my photos and videos i took with a mirrorless camera and the whole process was really laggy and buggy. There is absolutely no reason an app from the google play store or a video I recorded onto an sd card should lag during playback on this device. It has an Intel i5!! and 8 GB of ram! Perhaps google can fix many of the issues over time with software updates, and maybe just maybe software developers will polish apps and software for chromebooks and the google play store for tablet use. But do you really need to spend this much on hardware when the software does not take advantage of all the power under the hood of the pixel slate? The screen is gorgeous, and movies, photos, art all look great on the screen. Audio is crisp, and full. Not as loud as I was expecting but it sounds great. I find myself only using the Pixel Slate to browse the web or watch a movie on netflix. This is a product for Google Fanyboys such as myself. It's hard to recommend this product to a student or working professional who wants to edit photos and videos or paint a gallery worthy piece of art on this even though it is beautiful to look at. Pros: Large Beautiful Display Dual Front Firing Speakers that sound good Dual USB C ports for charging or accesories Powerful, fast and long battery life Cons: Software needs alot of work still. App devolopers neglect this platform.

I'll start off by saying I've owned Google products for many years from their phones, tablets, wifi routers, etc. and, being a tech geek, appreciate most things they design and develop. That being said, I was excited to see what they had in store for the update to the Pixelbook which I thought was a great design. The immediate difference I noticed out of the box was the Pixel Slate's sleekness; it's not as square as the Pixelbook and definitely much lighter without the keyboard attached, almost a full pound less. It still feels durable and comfortable to hold. The bezel is also not as prominent in the Slate and the edges are rounded instead of square. Another change from the Pixelbook to the Slate I really like is the front firing speakers built into the bezel. I'm pleased they added the fingerprint unlock/power option on the top of the Slate as I would get frustrated having to have my phone around to unlock the Pixelbook or entering my PIN/password. The fingerprint reader is not only convenient but it is also very responsive. Speaking of responsiveness, after charging and booting up, the Slate handled tasks with ease and the browsing and finger scrolling felt very smooth. You will also notice in the pictures how much more compact the Slate is compared to the Pixelbook. You'll notice the bezel and keyboard aren't as bulky but the Slate provides the same screen size with slightly better quality. The Slate does NOT have a headphone jack so you'll need to rely on either wireless headphones or use the included USB-C adapter which will take up one of the two USB-C ports. On the bottom of the tablet is the connector for the wireless keyboard which is not provided. After I synced my Google account, it automatically started downloading my apps and setting up my device with how I had my other Google devices set up. Perhaps the best upgrade to the Slate is simply the option to remove the keyboard; that, to me, is the game changer, especially for the weight difference if you don't have much need to type. My opinion is the mid-range Slate specs with the i5 processor, 8 GB RAM and 128 GB of storage is a happy medium for everyday users. I also recommend considering the optional keyboard not only to type much easier but also for the protection it provides. The pen is also a great option for drafting, drawing and writing. The Pixel Slate is just another reminder why I continue to remain a fan of all things Google.

The Pixel Slate is an extremely premium device, but a couple big flaws really hold it back. First, the tablet is very thin. I was very impressed with just how sleek it looks and feels. I’m not certain what it’s made out of (some kind of coated metal?), but it feels very sturdy. The screen is beautiful and resist fingerprints surprisingly well. After a couple days of use, I’d normally be reaching for my screen cleaner at this point, but I see barely any fingerprints at all on this screen. The screen is vibrant and sharp, and consuming media on this device is a joy. The tablet comes with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. My personal opinion is that 8GB of RAM is total overkill for a Chromebook. Unless you simultaneously have 100+ browser tabs open or are running some seriously intense Linux application, there really isn’t any call for this much RAM. This may change in the future though. It has two USB type-C ports, and either one can be used for charging. There are NO traditional USB type-A ports or mini/micro USB ports. There are also no headphone ports, but the computer does come with a USB type-C to AUX cable. My BIGGEST complaint about this tablet is the lack of an SD or micro-SD port to expand the onboard storage. Chrome OS has progressed beautifully over the past three years and is now ready to serve as a full-time operating system for many users (not Gamers though). That being said, so many Chromebooks are hamstrung by paltry internal storage. 128GB is extremely generous compared to most Chromebooks, but without a micro-SD card to store offline media (i.e. documents, pictures, music, and videos) this will still fill up quickly. Sure, Chrome OS and Google encourage you to use Google’s cloud storage, but what happens when you find yourself without a decent internet connection? It’s not convenient, but you’ll probably want to have a USB type-C flash drive on hand to store most of your offline content. Yes, it will jut out uncomfortably, but it will at least allow you to function when you find yourself without an internet connection. I had only one real concern about the built quality, and it wasn't about the tablet itself. The charging cable that came with my tablet had a little "kink" in it, and the charger itself gets uncomfortably hot when charging. I'll probably swap this out for a 3rd party charger down the road. Setting up the device took longer than anticipated. Maybe it’s because Google just released a major update, or maybe it’s because I was setting it up on a coffee shop’s WiFi, but the “5 Minutes” it cited to get updated and running was actually closer to 15. I was pleasantly surprised when my apps from my old Chromebook started auto-installing on this new device. Not having to hunt around the Play Store to find things is appreciated. I would absolutely recommend this device for general media consumption, entertainment, and light productivity on the go; but I would not recommend this device as your primary computer. Chrome OS has come a long way, but the storage issue holds this tablet back too much.

Appearance and Build Quality: The Pixel Slate is a sleek and beautiful device. The front is a nice 23.3” 3,000 x 2,000 resolution eye popping display. The bezels around the edge are fairly thin and really only there as a place to hold. The top of the screen you can see the 8mp “DUO Cam” as Google calls it. The rear is a midnight blue aluminum back with the Google “G” in the top left corner is an 8MP camera. It weight in at 1.6 lbs and is 0.3” thick. There is a power bottom on the top left speakers on the left and right side for stereo audio, volume controls and USB-C port are on the left, magnetic keyboard connector is on the bottom, another USB-C port on the right. Performance: I am not going to give a review of ChromeOS which is the operating system this tablet runs, as there are tons of other devices that run this OS as well. This is specifically about the Pixel Slate’s performance running ChromeOS. My unit is an i5/8GB/128SSD model. This is the middle spec for the tablet. At this spec, ChromeOS operated absolutely smooth and fluid. Webpages scroll without jitter, the UI navigates exceptionally well. I can have multiple apps and tabs open without the machine slowing down one bit. If you can live and operating in a “Google world” then you could absolutely use this tablet as your only computer. On average I can get about 8 hours of use on this thing. Charging it via the supplied USB-C which can plug into either the left or the right side of the tablet gets you back to 100% charge rather quickly though I didn’t not measure the actual time it took. The screen response from fingers pressing and scrolling is very accurate and responsive. I noticed extremely minimal lag. The current build of ChromeOS has offered drastic performance reviews from when previously released. I have not tested or used the Slate prior to the most recent builds, so my experience has been all around very good. The front facing web cam is optimized for using Google DUO. Video calls are very clear, fluid, and crisp. Audio was always good and the mic picked up my vocals and the dual left and right stereo speakers produced great sound for hearing the person on the other side of the call. Using the tablet without a keyboard puts it into “tablet mode” which changes the home page to a more touch friendly environment. Buttons get moved to the left or right and app icons present on the screen in a scrolling fashion. When using accessories like the keyboard, apps go away and it becomes more “desktop” like. I had different mileage when plugging the USB-C into a monitor that supports USB-C vs one that doesn’t using a dongle. For the ones I used a dongle, I could not get it to display, while on a USB-C specific monitor I could get a full desktop effect. The screen itself is gorgeous. ChromeOS however does not offer a ton of scalability, so task bars remain rather large while keeping text readable, Making task bard small enough also makes text too small to read. Colors are vibrant and movies or videos looks incredible. 12.3” is small enough to easily carry around but large enough to use for a full days work without feeling like you NEED more space. If you’re all in the Goole ecosystem, this is an excellent choice as it encompasses all things Google, offers a great user experience, and integrates with other Google tech as well. If your a Apple or Windows user, this tablet may not offer much for you and you should likely look elsewhere. This feels like a device made for Google user’s specifically who understand the world of Google and are deep in all of their product line.

The google pixel slate is hot. I like the sleek round corners, speaker placement and clear picture. If you are a fan of google, this is the ultimate tablet. For simple and complex assignments. You can turn this into a desktop and be stationed for anything. The pixel imprint lets you use your finger to sign in. Tons of apps and great storage. cameras decent but don't use it specifically for that or you might be disappointed.

The Pixel Slate has received a lot of slack since it's release and after some time using it I feel like it is not justified. Updates have made this device so much more stable and reliable compared to when it first launched. ( and yes, Google intends on supporting this product for software purposes ) The screen on this device.. wow.. I can't express how absolutely stunning this screen is. The colors and visuals just pop. This tablet is ideal for video streaming, games, photo editing and video editing. The colors are just amazing and I feel like this, along with the sharp, clear images it portrays, makes it ideal for all the above. The speakers are probably the best speakers I've ever heard on a tablet or even a laptop for that matter. You will have no issues watching movies, YouTube, streaming any content or music. These are high quality speakers. I'm amazed at how they are able to pack so much boom and power in them. I really enjoy the Google Ecosystem and how simplistic and streamlined this software is, especially if you are someone that utilizes all that Google offers like Play Music, Drive, Sheets, Keep, Photos and Messages. I think the best thing about the Google Ecosystem is how it can be a pick up and go with any phone. I own an Android, but I know if I had an iPhone Id be able to utilize all those apps and have them sync fine as well ( except messages for obvious reasons . ) The essential add-ons. The keyboard and pen.. First off.. This keyboard... the buttons, the tactical, the response, the comfort... It's going to be an absolute struggle trying to use any other keyboard due to the fact at how amazingly comfortable these circle keys are on the keyboard. The flexibility of the keyboard is great too. Whether you want to use it in tablet form, laptop form or even as a canvas to best utilize the Google pen, it offers an option for everything. The google pen is fluid and accurate to the touch on the screen. The overall hardware and performance of this product is premium and feels solid. The fingerprint sensor works great, the two USB C ports are convenient. I really cant pin point and specific flaws about this entire package. If you want the best of Android and Chrome OS together, than this is the product for you. If you work daily in the Google Ecosystem, frequent video calls using Duo for business or personal use, then this is really the total package for you.

I am really enjoying using this Pixel Slate. From the start I have been impressed. When unboxing the tablet, it was reminiscent of a competitor; very sleek but simple. The packaging was definitely something that was well thought out for this device. Out of the box, my only small complaint was that the Pixel Slate had 0 charge on the battery and it took about 30 minutes to come to life. Once it started charging, I completed the setup and it was fully charged after about two hours. I have used it now for about an hour or so a night for close to a week and I’m still at 20% which is very good. I did watch one movie on it as well and it didn’t do much to drain the battery. Unlocking the tablet with a fingerprint is great and works just about every attempt. I will remove and re-add my print to see if it improves but this has not caused any angst at all. It is very responsive to touch with your finger or the Pen accessory. I have the keyboard as well and it completes the experience. The google store has plenty of apps for the device, most of which are generally available on a multitude of platforms. The 12 inch screen is very crisp and is great for movie watching or goofing around with some games. I am also very impressed by the sound from the tablet. Before putting headphones on, just sitting there playing music was very enjoyable. The sound was crisp and clear, I believe this could be a laptop replacement if you don’t need to crunch video software or feel you must use other office products. Getting used to storing your data on the cloud is not difficult once you have it setup properly and have enough storage so that you are not concerned with having everything on a local hard drive. All in all, the Pixel Slate from Google is an excellent device with a screen large enough to watch movies, build spreadsheets but also light enough to take anywhere.