Google’s Pixel Slate is a compelling convertible that runs Chrome OS. Its keyboard accessory, the Pixel Slate Keyboard, delivers a great typing experience.<\/b>
\nGoogle kicked off its hardware event this morning with a slew of smartphone and smart display announcements, but it didn\u2019t leave the tablet enthusiasts in the room hanging. The Mountain View company today debuted the Pixel Slate, a tablet running Chrome OS. And we took it for a brief test drive.
So, first impressions: It has quite a footprint. The Slate\u2019s 3:2 aspect ratio screen measures 12.3 inches across, and the whole thing \u2014 screen, enclosure, and all \u2014 clocks in at 1.6 pounds. You\u2019ll be able to just about fit it in a backpack or briefcase, but anything smaller would definitely be a stretch.
That screen looks pretty darn good, though. It\u2019s what Google calls a \u201cMolecular Display,\u201d a low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) 3,000 by 2,000 resolution LCD with faster response times and brighter colors than conventional panels. It seemed vibrant to my eyes, but the demo area\u2019s tall windows didn\u2019t do it any favors. We\u2019ll have to save in-depth testing for more neutral lighting.
As a sometime Microsoft Surface Pro user, it didn\u2019t take long for the Pixel Slate\u2019s form factor to grow on me. It\u2019s got bezels thick enough to grip in portrait or landscape orientation, and a fingerprint sensor on the top-left that supports Chrome OS\u2019 biometric authentication features.
There are two cameras on tap: an 8-megapixel sensor with a f\/1.9 aperture and 1.4\u03bcm pixel size, with a wide field of view and 1080p\/30fps recording; and an 8-megapixel Sony Exmor RS-class IMX355 sensor with a f\/1.8 aperture and larger 1.12\u03bcm pixel size. Both can take advantage of the Google Camera, Google\u2019s AI-embued photography app that enables features like portrait mode, which blurs the background in photos while keeping the foreground in focus
Other hardware of note is dual front-firing speakers and a Titan Security chip \u2014 the same chip inside the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL \u2014 that enables things verified boot and storage of \u201cencrypted approximations\u201d of fingerprints in an offline, discrete processing unit.
The exact processor, memory, and storage mix will depend on the model. At launch, you\u2019ve got four flavors to choose from:
The Pixel is peas in a pod with the Pixel Slate Keyboard, a detachable case with circular backlit keys (including dedicated Assistant and control panel keys in the top row). It doesn\u2019t draw power from the tablet\u2019s battery \u2014 Google pegs the Slate\u2019s battery life at about 12 hours of mixed use \u2014 and it feels fantastic to type on. Compared to my handy Microsoft Surface Touch Cover, the key travel is noticeably less shallow, and there\u2019s less resistance. I\u2019m a mechanical keyboard devotee, but I wouldn\u2019t mind swapping it from the Pixel Slate Keyboard now and again.
Among the Pixel Slate Keyboard\u2019s other cool tricks are an adjustable hinge (Google calls it \u201cthe folio\u201d) that can lock it in the angle of your choosing, and a \u201chushed key\u201d design that dampens typing noises.
What about the Pixel Slate\u2019s software? It\u2019s Chrome OS through-and-through, right down to the ability to install Linux distros and Android apps from the Play Store, the latter of which make great use of the Pixel Slate\u2019s touchscreen. But it\u2019s been spruced up to improve the touch experience.
The launcher bears the most obvious changes. When the Pixel Slate is detached from the Pixel Slate Keyboard, installed apps surface in a large, scrollable, list of shortcuts. There\u2019s a search bar on top, and beneath it\u2019s a list of app recommendations informed by the same contextual AI built into Android Pie.
In the bottom-right corner of the screen is the redesigned settings menu, which has larger buttons that are easier to tap with a finger (and more forgiving if you miss the touch targets). The Google Assistant \u2014 Google\u2019s omniscient voice intelligence \u2014 is present and accounted for, and made easily reachable from a small tab near the bottom-center of the taskbar. Finally, there\u2019s a Pixel Slate-optimized version of Adobe Acrobat onboard, which I didn\u2019t get a chance to test.
There\u2019s a lot to unpack with the Pixel Slate, needless to say. It\u2019s a compelling foray into the world of convertibles, but it\u2019s going up against a juggernaut \u2014 Microsoft\u2019s Surface series. It remains to be seen whether Google can convince would-be Surface buyers of the merits of Chrome OS, especially considering the Slate starts at $599 without the $199 Pixel Slate Keyboard and $99 Pixelbook Pen stylus.
The Pixel Slate is available for preorder starting today, and comes bundled with a USB-C adapter and three free months of YouTube Premium.<\/p>\n

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Similarity rank: 1.1<\/div>\n

Sentiment rank: 1.2<\/div>\n

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