Customer Ratings & Reviews

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 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.

The Pixel Slate is a great step in the right direction when it comes to Chrome OS hybrid tablet/laptop alternatives. I found the Chrome OS interface a bit confusing and does require some time to learn the functionality of the OS... I didn't find it to be as fluid as other interface like Android and PadOS then again this is truly a hybrid OS. Be prepared for a learning curve that is very achievable. The built quality is top notch with a high quality look and feel. Display is a high res (comparable to the iPad Retina display), speakers are much better than the iPad Pro (I believe there's a dual setup on the Pixel), battery life is up to par with comparable devices (10-11 hours with my prefer settings). 128GB is enough to download plenty of movies ahead of time for long trips/getaways. WiFi speeds are very fast (would be better if it had an LTE option as well). I truly believe the Pixel Slate is a great entertainment tablet, productivity can be done but it will also require a bit of an adjustment. Sadly, the keyboard ($199) and pen ($99) are separate and third party accessories are hard to come by. Overall, if you're invested in the Google ecosystem, this is the perfect iPad Pro substitute. Thanks.

I’m a huge Google user; from the Smart Home to Gmail and even the monthly-costing GSuite for some consulting work. I also own a number of Nexus devices (N5, N6, N9), of which sadly they are now too old and no longer receive updates, so that makes me pretty familiar with “vanilla Android” and how to use the OS. When I was offered this Pixel Slate, keyboard and pen to review, I was more than excited to put all of the Google services that I use today, together on a single, modern Google hardware platform, // Experience // After about two hours to charge (it was just about totally dead when it arrived), I started to play. Right off the bat, I imported my favorite Apps from Android/ChromeOS and gave them a whirl. Having all of my favorite phone apps on a 12 in display is awesome, even if they all don’t support being on a tablet. I went right to Gmail & YouTube and snapped them to each side of the screen. I find that 12.3 isn’t quite enough to have them cleanly run on half of the Pixel Slate’s display, unless you mucked with the resolution a bit -- 80% got me there perfectly (1667x1111). From YouTube to Google Play Music, I’ve used the Slate to play music for my desk area out of the really decent speakers, as well as streaming over to Chromecast hooked up to a full home theater; great sound. When using YouTube for video, I didn't suffer any pixelation, lag, stuttering or anything that would make me want to switch to a different device. I’ve also casted Google Maps to my TV to go through a trip we were planning and did notice some blinking happening on the casted television; enough blinking to the point that it was annoying and I stopped casting to the TV. I also like the fingerprint reader, as it's solid on the first try and it fails with the wrong finger (it's fast, so I was skeptical). I have it mated to Google Messages so texts show up on screen and I can unlock the tablet by SmartLock, if needed. All very cool ways to mix the different security and messaging options. // Slate // The display is great; crisp and very easy to work with. The touch is responsive and swiping gestures provide the perfect amount of feedback. The tablet is Slim, light and very easy to hold. As with any tablet I try not to use it while walking around or anywhere that if it dropped, I'd suffer a total loss of the device; The same goes with this Slate. The dual front-facing speakers are great and I have other tablets that I’ve compared them to; I prefer these over the HP X2 and by far over any other tablet in my household (old pre-ChromeOS, Nexus devices and iPads). I also paired the Sony WF-1000XM3 earbuds to this to listen to music during the day at work, when I need to focus; no issues, hiccups or stutters. I also picked up a 3rd-party USB-C Power Distributing (PD) wall adapter and USB-C - USB-C cord and that charged without issue just as the OEM one does. I do have some difficulties with the dictation capability on the Slate. Unlike my HP, or Samsung phones I find myself having to really read what it translated to text, as it's not often what I was asking of it. When I wanted 'pen' I got 'pain' or 'pin'; it really was a ‘pin’ to write this review when that kept happening. Inconsistent capitalization was also something I ran into quite frequently and it required some manual changes. Overall, I really like this device and have been bringing it everywhere with me over the past two weeks!

This has to be my new go to laptop/tablet. I have one other chrome book laptop and I still say chrome OS is just more user friendly and overall smoother plus it’s super safe. I had to start with the OS because there are many tablets and small-ish laptops out there. And I, like many people are moving towards more portable options. So this google slate takes my time vs my old traditional laptops. The slate is simply beautiful if not simple. Very light weight and sleek. Well built and pretty. But I would have preferred a red option. As far as performance mine has the i5 processor paired with a 128gb super fast ssd. Which is plenty and the lowest option I would recommend. Fingerprint scanner works great. No issues. This feature is standard but not on all new tablets.The screen is probably the best part. It’s resolution is beautiful and I’m not over exaggerating either. So nice to look at. Plus great viewing angles. I find myself using this in place of my tv even. Sometimes* It even plays 4K video through YouTube. I spend a lot of time on YouTube so that’s great for me. 2 usb C connections. Although I don’t think as of right now I will use the ports for external components just yet. But the support is there. Another Huge strong point to this tablet is the speakers. WOWWW. Literally the best I’ve heard so far. Plenty loud and very clear. Front facing should be a standard on all tablets and laptops. It’s night and day. Great job on google for that. I highly recommend getting the OEM google slate keyboard. They work perfectly together. I always have the pen. That’s something to consider as well. I have no complaints on this unit. And I’m very picky. Great product. The price is warranted but at the same time. If you can get a deal on this I would jump on it for sure.

I purchased this on sale during the holiday season, and I will say it was worth the price of roughly half off. However I am dumbfounded by the amount of bugs the Slate has. Many Android apps crash, or cause a system crash. I have had bluetooth pairing issues. The touch screen can get laggy and unresponsive. The onscreen keyboard is atrocious. You'd think the company that created the fantastic Gboard keyboard, would migrate over the features to ChromeOS. That is NOT the case. When I turn the tablet on, and it asks for my PIN, sometimes there is a popup that blocks some numbers. You can't get around it! Periodic flickering issues. More unexplained reboots/crashes. Font sizes in Android or Linux are not carried over from ChromeOS, so they default to super tiny. The list goes on and on. And yet I'm keeping it. Here's why. I can work through these issues and I feel more will get resolved with time. I also didn't spend that much, so it's a "toy" for me. Not a necessity. Using Chrome browser is phenomenal! You get the full desktop experience in a tablet. Unmatched and far superior to an Android browser. Access to Android apps, when they work, is truly a bonus. Access to Linux (beta) has great potential, and another techy tool to play around with. The screen is stunning! Watching any media is fantastic. And speakers sound full and all around really good. Bottom line, I'm using this for viewing content. I won't be using it for productive tasks at this time. I am disappointed Google has so many bugs on this device, but if it wasn't for them supporting ChromeOS on this device for another 6 years, I wouldn't have bought it. Second Bottom Line. Only buy this if you get a great deal. Not a good deal. A great deal. And know what you're getting into.

the pixel slate is the first Chromebook i ever owned and second tablet. As a 2 in 1 it works great for me as i can use it for schooling checking emails,typing and reading documents in any orientation. i tend to use it during my off times for entertainment watching videos, searching the web or sometimes drawing. The slate as a bright big screen and great speakers. I want to say i was like a lot of you who took the reviews serious and seen this a total flop, but after using it can say that this is a pretty neat device that should have been great from the start. i only held off cause of the price and i rather stay within the google ecosystem than get an ipad (im not an apple fan) or even a surface book since they are both good choices depending on your preference. Maybe it was the software or the price range the held it back but now i think we should give it a shot.

For the most part tablet’s have not been too successful on being productivity machines. Most of the usage has either been media consumption, gaming or ebook reading. The hardware has been there to support the productivity side but the software has always been the Achilles heel. So does the Pixel Slate finally accomplished this in a way yes but no. Hardware & Performance: When it comes to the Pixel line Google does not disappoint. Just as nice looking and premium feeling the Pixel Book was the Pixel Slate is just as well. It’s a huge device that as a tablet can sometimes be a burden to be held due to being on the heavier side. The screen comes in at 12.3 with some slightly bigger bezels compared to the competition. It’s a gorgeous 3:2 aspect ratio LCD display that it’s a joy to use when getting some work done to just sitting back and enjoying some Netflix. It’s a very sharp crisp display with colors that pop. To me, the display reminds me of the Samsung Chromebook Pro which at that time was the best display on a Chromebook device. The screen is also pressure sensitive to support the new Pixel Slate Pen. When it comes to drawing even with the latest update I still experience some lag. I will say it’s much better now compared to the previous update. Besides drawing the pen can also be used to capture the screen, laser pointer, create a note and bring up the Google Assistant or magnifying glass. Those bezels are slightly bigger due to the front-firing stereo speakers and so far I must say the best so far on a tablet device. They’re loud with some bass that the missing 3.5mm jack will sting less. It is a disappointment for a tablet not to include a 3.5mm jack but Google does include a USB C dongle to use with your favorite pair of headphones. For I/O the Pixel Slate does have x2 USB C ports one on each side that both are capable of charging your device. Since it’s running Chrome OS 99.9% of the stuff you plugged in from portable drives, keyboards or game controllers the Pixel Slate will recognize them. Unfortunately, there’s no expandable storage via micro SD slot. I was more disappointed about the missing SD slot than I was about the 3.5mm jack. Even though you can plug in a portable drive I prefer to save a port for something else and not having a dongle sticking out especially if you’re traveling. It’s one less item to pack or lose. The hardware is top-notch that is driven by an 8th gen dual-core Intel i5-8200Y processor with Intel UHD Graphics 615, 8gb of Ram (16gb for the i7 model) and 128gb of storage (256gb for i7 model). It’s fanless CPU so you will not hear any fans at all. If you’re doing some heavy tasks like gaming, moving huge files or have a lot of open tabs in Chrome the bottom back of the Slate will get warm. On paper, this specs should translate to fast smooth hardware which is it does for 75% of the time. 25% of the time that it doesn’t shows that Google still has a lot of work to do to iron out the kinks. The battery is strong but still not at the iPad level. With the latest update, I have noticed my battery life has improved so there is room for improvement through optimization. Software: If I would have started my review before the Chrome 76 update it wouldn’t have been pretty. A lot of the problems lies in the tablet interface. Some of the issues, for example, the login page there was a long delay for the on-screen keyboard to show up. The animations from switching apps to the overview of the open apps were choppy. File transfer is another area that performance would take a hit. When I would transfer files from my phone to the Pixel Slate what I normally do while the files are being transferred I would browse the web or watch some YouTube. Things would start to stutter especially the audio. This has been an ongoing issue with the file manager since the Pixel Slate was released. It’s much better now compared to it just crashing before. Now, most of this stuff has been resolved on the Chrome 76 update. Before the update, I would hardly use the Pixel Slate has a tablet because of the performance issues. The only time I did use it as a tablet is when I was consuming media. With the new update, I do find myself using it more as a tablet now. But I still mainly prefer to use it with the Pixel Slate keyboard from Google due to the size. Productivity: When it comes to office work like working on documents it’s a very capable machine especially when you pair it with the Pixel Slate keyboard case. One of the things that I like about Chrome OS is how centers around your Google account. The file manager not only shows your local files but it shows your Google Drive files as well. It’s so easy to drag and drop files between your Google Drive and your internal storage or external storage devices. For the past year, I have been using the Google Docs suite. It’s so seamless to be able to work on a document have it saved on the cloud and pick it up from another device like your PC or mobile device and continue working on it. It’s not just limited to word documents you also have access to Google Sheets and Google Slides. If the Google suite is not your thing you have a full desktop-class browser available to you. Office 365 will run fine just as it would on a Windows device. You also have access to the app through the Google Play Store. Having a full desktop web browser is what differentiates the Pixel Slate from the competition. Websites that normally don’t work on mobile browsers you no longer have to switch over to your PC. When it comes to video editing is a different story. If you’re looking for a tablet to be able to edit videos this will not be it. There’s no good video editing software available on Chrome OS or the Play Store to take advantage of the hardware. This is one of the cons of the Chrome OS and Android is the lack of killer productivity apps for media creation. For office work and crunching numbers on workbooks, the Pixel Slate can handle it like a champ. Having support for a mouse at a system level is what helps the Pixel Slate be a productivity machine. Since it’s running Chrome OS it’s an excellent option for students going off to college. Media Consumption: Using it as a tablet it’s ok but given its size, you might want to invest in a case so you can prop it. Coming in at 12.3 it’s a huge tablet with some heft to it. Trust me, you don’t want to be holding this tablet when watching a movie or some YouTube for too long. When it comes to cases you have a couple of options available like I previously mentioned the Pixel Slate Keyboard Case or the G Type Bridge Keyboard. Now for just strictly case without the keyboard, the only option you have is the Incipio Carnaby Folio Case. I actually have this case and the only one available that provides much better protection than the Keyboard case and it gives you the ability to prop the device horizontal or vertical. Now the Pixel Keyboard case also allows you to prop the device. Having the Pixel Slate prop to watch some Netflix or YouTube to relax at the end of a long day is the way to go. This is when you start to appreciate the big display with the loud dual firing stereo speakers. Having a resolution of 3000x2000 pictures, movies come in crisp, lot’s of detail with vibrant colors. It has become my favorite media device for excellent sound and picture. Conclusion: The best way to describe the Pixel Slate is a 2in1 device with a detachable screen. With the Chrome 76 update, Google is getting closer to bridging that gap of a laptop and tablet hybrid system. The hardware is there it’s the software that needs to catch up. Chrome OS still not polish enough to be used strictly on tablet mode 100% of the time. Buying the Pixel to be used strictly as an Android tablet I wouldn’t recommend it. Even though you have access to the Play Store the majority of the Android Apps are not optimized for the tablet size screen. Games do play well but they still run better on a dedicated Android Tablet. The Pixel Slate is for the type of person that wants a productivity machine that can also provide some media consumption. If you used the Pixel Slate this way you won’t be disappointed. At the end of the day it boils down to what are your needs and if the Pixel Slate can meet most of those needs. For me, I knew it wasn't going to be perfect but it meets my needs as in office work and media consumption. Google has done an excellent job with the hardware but it still needs to provide the polish software that can advantage of it. If you take a look back at the early reviews to now the software has come a long way. At this current state, I can comfortably recommend it if you’re primary usage will be productivity. If what you want is an Android Tablet with the biggest screen you’re better off with a dedicated Android Tablet. Just as Google has proven on its Pixel phones that Android can provide a polish experience. I'm confident they can do the same with Chrome OS on a tablet device.

I had my reservations at first but later learn to love the Pixel Slate after days of usage. Battery life is spectacular! Speakers are loud and crisp. I'll admit, tablet mode is not the greatest experience. It works good, just not well. I haven't experienced any over heating only a few hiccups with the notifications. With every Chrome OS update the device feels polished and refine. Android apps are not really that good. Chrome web apps look nice and clean and are a HUGE part of the OS experience.

This is my first chrome OS device but I am not new to the Google echo system. This Slate is an impressive tablet it is light, thin, fells sturdy and very well made. Setting this baby up is simple sign in with your Gmail and follow the few other steps. The power button is an actual fingerprint reader which is pretty cool and works very well. This Slate comes with the Intel i5 processor, 8 GB of ram and 128 GB of storage, which is not something you will find in a regular tablet, this specs looks closer to the laptop realm. There is a USBC connector on each side of the table in which can be used for charging and the other you can connect the included headphone jack adapter. My impression with the Chrome OS felt very familiar from Android OS, it was easy to use no rocket since needed. Apps ran exceptionally well with no crashes to report. Most of the daily google apps that I currently use “Gmail, Calendar, Chrome, Docs” were on point. Now I used this device to play one of my favorite games on a larger screen, it makes a big difference. The display is very bright and clear, the colors were vivid and it was very responsive to the touch. Watching videos on it was very pleasing. With a great display you also get front firing speakers which sound exceptionally well. Finally, a tablet with sound that comes from the front and not the side. You are not only limited to watch your favorited videos on the device but you can also cast them to either GoogleTV, or Chromcast that are connected on the same network. There are two 8mp cameras one on the front the other one in the back, I don’t see myself taking lots of picture with it as the device is too big for that in my opinion but, the quality of the picture is pretty good. The front facing camera is perfect for video calling, if you use Google Duo you will see yourself using it a lot on this device as you get quality video, and clear sound due to those front firing speakers. What makes this tablet shine is when you attached the not included Google keyboard ($199) the tablet transforms into a laptop like device. The keyboard with rounded keys feels great to type and it can be lit in the dark, and it also has a mouse pad. The keyboard not only protect your device but you can actually sit it on your lap and use it like a laptop, not the best position to use it but it can be done. This review was typed using the Slate and Google Keyboard. There also a pixel pen ($99) you can use with this device, I did try it and it works well and is very accurate, but I am not the type of artist person who will definitely use this. Now, if you need to sign documents digitally is much better signing with this pen than with your fingers. Two things I didn’t like about the pen is there’s not place to store it but on the magnetic back of the keyboard cover which make it a very awkward, and it does not have rechargeable battery. Over all this is a great device competing in the laptop realm, it has great battery life, is portable, compatible with millions of apps, great for entertainment, and can also get the work done when paired with the not included keyboard. Some may not like the price ($999) and adding the keyboard ($199) will make it even higher, but in the other hand this is not an average tablet. If you’re in the Google echo system you don’t need to look any further you will love this device. All your Google apps running on a Google Os with Google hardware with no blot ware or third party add on, it can’t get better than that.

I went all in on this device, bought the tablet and both the Google Folio case and the Brydge Bluetooth keyboard. I wanted to use this as ny meeting and travel computer, both portable and powerful. So to the review, hardware is amazing, great screen, fingerprint reader, slim, great speakers etc, oh but for the software it would be a slam dunk. The software is simply not ready and the best example of this is Hangouts meeting a Google developed product, that if used on this device will literally use all the resources of the tablet until it’s unusable and you need to reboot. This is one of many examples and for the price this should not be the case

All things considered; I do not recommend this. Maybe I am showing my age a bit but I just don’t see the value for the price of this item, especially when keyboard and pen aren’t included. Use; Easily setup It is fast – it boots and opens apps very quickly, has a very nice screen resolution, excellent battery life – about 12 hours – depending on what you are doing, good speakers with nice stereo sound separation, seems to be sturdily built. Comes with 45W USB-C charger, 6-foot USB-C cable and USB-C to 3.5mm audio adapter if you want to use wired headphones. Has Bluetooth. Fingerprint reader built into on/off button To save battery it dis-connects from Wi-fi when “sleeping”. I was able to attach external USB drives that have NTFS format (same as Windows) with no problem (I tried several different sizes up to 2TB). But since Slate only has 2 USB-C connections you will probably need to buy a USB-C to USB 3.0 adapter. I happened to have a couple lying around for use on my laptop. USB-C connection are “universal” connectors and as such can be used for multiple purposes. You can use to attach a 4K monitor if you have correct connector cable. Issues; Chrome OS is just different enough from Android to be irritating. Keyboard and pen not included for the price. Only 128GB of storage and no easy way to add more internally. Specifically, no Micro-SD slot. This may be due to operator error but swipe up Apps list is not in alphabetical order. 25% of the apps I use on my phone and my old Acer tablet - were unavailable, did not load properly or installed but did not work properly. Maybe future Chrome OS or Store/App updates might resolve the issues but for now this is a deal breaker for me. I am not sure how long Slate will be around/supported. It seems Google has already dropped the cheaper versions - https://app.getpocket.com/read/2617567270. Given its 128GB space limitation, that keyboard and pen are not included and that it does not run all apps installed on my regular Android devices - it is really hard for me to recommend it.

I have had iPads for years and have a Windows tablet, and I’ve found that it’s the form that I now prefer most. The Google Pixel Slate tablet is my first Chrome-based tablet and it’s fabulous. Sign in with your Google account and if you have other Chrome devices, it downloads updates and replicates your settings from the other device, if you have it set to sync properly. This one area of the Google ecosystem with Chromebooks that has traditionally been far better than Windows. In about 10 minutes, due to the updates downloading, my Pixel Slate was up and running just like my other Chromebook. You have some minimal logging in to do with the non-Google apps, but anything in Google’s ecosystem is available already. As far as the hardware, it’s premium. It’s very nice to hold and feels great, but be careful because it is very slick and you can drop it easily. The screen is super nice and extremely clear. The speakers sound great. I’ve done some streaming and everything loaded quickly and looked and sounded great. There was no log or buffering, so the hardware is up to par. The biggest way that the Pixel Slate excels over the traditional laptop computer Chromebooks is that it’s not nearly as heavy. My other Chromebook’s keyboard flips around so that you can go tablet mode with it. But it’s extremely heavy when trying to use that way and the added bulk of the keyboard is obvious. I end up using it in the traditional laptop mode all the time. With the Pixel Slate, I take it off the keyboard about 1/3 of the time. Speaking of the keyboard, I consider it a must have. It connects very securely at the connection point and the magnet on the back holds tight. You slide the cover on the back that has the magnet up and down to change the angle of the tablet. It’s simple, and I like it far better than the hinge type stands on some computers. I understand the hinge’s usefulness. If you don’t have the keyboard, it’s a built in stand. But without the hinge, the tablet looks much sleeker and it’s one less thing to break. The keyboard also acts as a protective cover. When closed, the magnet cover on the back covers the entire back and keyboard connect magnetically to the front of the Pixel Slate. Typing on it is also great and saves the entire screen for what you’re doing rather than blocking part for the on screen keyboard. I do have a few complaints. Even though it holds magnetically to the front of the slate, those magnets are not as strong as the one on the back. So the keyboard side slides when it’s closed. It’s also has a lot of give if you’re not typing on a solid surface, like a table. If you have it on your lap, it bends just a little as you type, especially in the middle. Neither of those things would make me say it’s not worth it. I still consider it a must have. But I worry about the wear over time, especially from the give while typing. But still a must have. The pen I’m not the biggest fan of for one reason. I was excited that I would be able to write words and numbers in some cases. I have found the recognition to be very bad. One example, I was writing “forever” and it came up with “f fuvvr” for whatever reason. I’ve tried make sure that I’m writing clearly and that the letters are close enough that it does not think I’m starting a new word, but it doesn’t matter. On the up side, I do like the integrated Google Assistant on the pen. It’s the reason to get the pen. You circle something on the screen and hold the button and a Google Assistant window pops up and gives suggestions and search results. I use that mostly in tablet mode. My biggest problem with the pen is that it has nowhere to attach on the tablet or even keyboard. So if you’re taking the Pixel Slate somewhere, you have to put it in a pocket or somewhere. Not the biggest deal, but I like the minimalism of the tablet in the keyboard and don’t want another case to carry it in. It would be great if it held magnetically to the tablet (which I actually tried touching it around everywhere hoping that someone thought of that). I even hoped it would stick to the keyboard cover since that has magnet, but it did not. Not a deal killer, but just an annoyance. Since I’m not an artist to draw with the pen, the poor handwriting recognition makes me not recommend the pen. I’d rate it 4 stars on its own. It’s nice to have and if it were included, that would be great. But I would not recommend it as a separate purchase unless you’re going to be drawing. So all around, I would recommend the Pixel Slate. I automatically go for it now and my other Chromebook is collecting dust and will probably end up being the kids’. As a set, I think that the tablet, keyboard and pen are great. They work well together and I like them all. But as a separate purchase, the keyboard is a must and the pen is not.

Pros: Build quality is fantastic, made out of a single slab of aluminum. The buttons are clicky and the FO sensor is fast. Screen is awesome. It's one of the best screens you'll see on a device like this. It's fast, oh so fast! With it running on chrome everything is smooth and has no hiccups. Nothing really comes close to the speed of this. Android apps can be used on this. Speakers, these are fantastic and rival others and best them In a lot of ways. 2 USB C ports, when other companies think just one is enough when it's not, Google come up with the goods. Cons: Price, it is very expensive for what it is It's a Chromebook but more mobile and while it can use Android apps it can still be a little limiting. Android apps, you get some odd behavior with some and some just flat out don't work and force close like Facebook. Expensive accessories. For the keyboard and stylus that will set you back another $300. Overall it's a nice unit, it's a Chromebook and if that's what you are wanting then this will not disappoint

This review is based on using the tablet to surf, check email, stream, work inside the GSuite tools, video chat and play Andriod games. Overall this tablet does everything well, but really excels in both streaming and working in the Google ecosystem. In the box is the tablet, usb-c charger, 3.5 headphone adapter. To set up, remove from packaging, turn on. It does come partially charged, but to charge it fully took approximately an hour. When the battery is low, it takes just over 1.5 hrs to fully charge. The auto setup prompts will walk you through the system, starting with wifi, then moving on to logging into your Google account, done. There is also the option at boot up to setup the fingerprint sensor. You can then chose to go to the playstore to find your favorite Andriod apps to install. So far the only app I've found that doesn't play well on the Pixel Slate is Facebook. Out of the box you will notice that the display has impressive resolution, low reflection, and highly responsive. The Pixel Slate has a front and back camera, which integrate seamlessly into the Google Duo video calling app. The speakers are crisp and clear, with a wider range than most tablets this size. During voice calls, audio is clear and the people I called said my audio was clear and easy to understand. To use the tablet with Google Docs, Gmail, or anything else that required typing, I added in the external keyboard (not included) this made the tablet feel more like a chromebook. You can use the onscreen keyboard but it takes up some of the screen and found it cumbersome if having to type more than a few sentences (such as this review). The keyboard locks in with magnets, and also doubles as a cover / stand. When using the keyboard I found it to be lightweight, responsive, and was small yet had enough space so I wasn't hitting multiple keys. There is also the option to purchase a battery powered Pixel stylus pen to draw, sketch, write. It pairs seamlessly with the tablet and the response was 100% accurate, it doesn't have the lag, jitter, or slight bias that some pens give. Overall this tablet is wonderful for working with Google tools or streaming. I found that the GSuite of tools offered everything I needed to do basic daily tasks, and even some working from home needs such as spreadsheets. The experience is superb to Windows laptops since you don't have to deal with the bloatware or Microsoft office tools. Highly recommended!

Having switched back to Android last year and using more of Google's ecosystem (e.g. Maps, Drive, Docs, etc.), I've debated buying an Android tablet. However, I wasn't impressed by the options out there. When Google announced its Slate, based on ChromeOS, I made the dive. I purchased the i5 Slate with Google's keyboard. My experience overall has been alright. I use the Slate primarily for watching media, doing work within Google docs, sheets, and slides, and general surfing. My Bose wireless headphones connect without problem. That's something I've had trouble with on Chromebooks. The front facing speakers are amazing! They've got a good umph to them. The screen is high quality and the small bezels make for a great viewing experience. I also like that this is built on ChromeOS. It means I can have multiple logins (e.g. personal and work) and switch between them. I don't like that the iPad doesn't let you have multiple users on a single device. A single charge lasts me all day, too. As I type this review, I'm at 79% battery with 9h51m remaining on the battery. Even though the Slate has been working well, it's definitely not without its problems. There are times where the Slate doesn't recognize they keyboard and stays in tablet mode. The touchscreen isn't always responsive. I can tap an icon or type on the keyboard, and it won't register. Sometimes it will register but fail to carry out its action. For example, if I type the letter "A" it will recognize it by highlighting the key, but the letter A won't show up in the textbox. The screen flickers from time to time. Scrolling on the device's screen shows the lag it has. When I scroll with my finger, there is a delay in the page moving. This is not apparent on my iPad. You can use Android apps in ChromeOS, but they often don't work. There are times where I will close an app but it stays on the screen. If I resize an app to be smaller, it will leave a ghost image of itself where it used to be. Some apps, when closed, will keep running processes in the background. So I found that I primarily use the web versions of apps. For example, I just watch Netflix on its website rather than using its app. I know the Slate exists for a different purpose than the Pixelbook. I find that I'm using the Slate more as a Chromebook than as a tablet. The two USB-C ports make it easy to charge, attach devices, and connect to a large monitor. The Slate easily works with my 27" HD monitor at home. It's replaced my setup with my Macbook. Honestly, for me it makes sense to just buy a Pixelbook. I tried the current Pixelbook but didn't like the bezels. I know, that's pretty petty of me. Part of the reason I got the Slate is because of its screen. Depending if/when Google releases a Pixelbook 2, I will probably return the Slate for it. I've been finding the Slate being my go-to at home and work. I constantly carry it with me in my work bag, which is not something I've done with my iPad or Macbook before. The Slate does everything I need it to do, but my needs are pretty low. For my friends who are tech-forward and always on the leading edge: yes, I would recommend it for them! I think they'd love playing with it, using it as a developer tool, coding with it, etc. But for the everyday user, I feel the issues its had would make them question why they bought it. For the same price, they could have a smoother experience with an iPad. It feels like Google sent out a beta version of the device. Most of the issues, though, seem software related and I look forward to Google making improvements. Overall, I'm happy with what I got but I'm eager to see what else Google releases in the future.

If you like Chrome OS the Pixel Slate is your kind of tablet. As someone already invested in the Chrome OS, I found the Slate to be an absolute pleasure to use. When the Slate arrived in the mail I was immediately impressed by the packaging. The last time I actually stopped to admire the box my electronics arrived in, the box was all white. But I digress…… Having freed myself from the clutches of the evil empire, I joyously admired the lovely, sleek boxes the Slate, and its accessories arrived in. ,Unlike other thin, fragile, tablets, the Slate feels solid in hand but not heavy. The aluminum body has smooth rounded edges and USB C ports on 2 sides. It was super easy to set up and after logging in to my Google account, I was prompted to set up the fingerprint sensor which was an easy, pain-free process. A quick sync of my devices and all my apps were available to use. I was up and running.In under 5 minutes. The first thing I did was check out the screen, streaming a few movies and TV shows. The screen is excellent with a crisp clear picture and the sound from the forward-facing stereo speakers is nice and loud. I took it to work and used it to watch the Premier League. I was a happy camper. The Slate smoothly accomplishes any task you can perform on a Chromebook, and the battery life is impressive. My one complaint is I can’t play Steam games on it. But I rarely have time to play games when I’m out of the house, so I can live with it.

Ever wish you could remove the keyboard from your Pixelbook rather than just fold it under? Well, I guess you can with some non-Google Chromebooks out there, but now you can do it with the Google Pixel Slate. The viewable area of the screen is the same size as my Pixelbook, but with less of a "chin" in the bezel area under the screen, so a bit more portable. The display capabilities are very similar, but the speakers on the Slate are much better (and embedded on either side of the screen for a better stereo effect). The product photos make it look like more of a traditional desktop environment, but that's only the Android app launcher, same as the Pixelbook. I don't know how they made the desktop show through the launcher like that (maybe transparency settings?), but it's the exact same OS that you're running on a Chromebook. Android apps have been working well with only one crash. The Slate integrated seamlessly with my Chrome extensions and Android library when I set it up with my Google login (and setup is extremely quick and easy). I definitely recommend getting the pen and keyboard if you want to have the full functionality of the Slate. Yes, it's a tablet, but it's running the Chromebook OS. Using the onscreen keyboard for text input is cumbersome and at times, obscures some important areas of the display. So to sum up, this is very much like a Pixelbook but more flexible and a little more portable.

The Pixel Slate is foremost a tablet, but its innards make all the difference. The cheapest entry level will get you a celeron, but honestly, that chip is so old it might as well be a dinosaur in tech years. The m3 isn't much better, and my suspicions seem to be correct based on other reviews I've read. The i5 is usually the sweetspot for buying computers, as the i7 will get you the most horsepower but commands the price when purchasing stock systems. Screen: one word - beautiful. Just like with cameras and the inane MP war, pixel resolution doesn't really mean nearly as much as the actual physical view. This screen is crisp. Viewing angles are good enough for my family to watch videos together. Brightness: depends sharply on the setting, unfortunately. Indoors it's fantastic. Outdoors, there's a pretty harsh glare and the brightness of the screen isn't high enough to be used clearly in bright sunlight. Sound: thank god. I get that placing speakers rearward or even laterally helps save mm of width in the device, but for tablets, razor-thin doesn't even make sense from an ergonomic perspective. The speakers on the Pixel Slate are front facing and sound excellent. No tinny treble, and strong enough to play stuff on Netflix without making me reach for my headphones reflexively. Bezels: might not matter to some, but I often use tablets in handheld mode, rather than sitting up in a stand. Same as with the device thickness mentioned above, but I don't want super thin bezels because then my fingers will touch the viewing area. The bezels here are just thick enough to feel comfortable holding the tablet without being so chunky they look outdated Chrome: the real deal desktop Chrome, not lite or mobile. Which means multiple tabs. Rearrangeable tabs. Bookmarks. And the slew of Chrome apps. Makes qualify of life nice by not sacrificing productivity. Aesthetics: covered most aspects, but the color hue is "midnight blue" which sets it apart from the all black traditional getups. Nice subtle sheen which looks elegant, for lack of a better descriptor. Looks professional enough for me to carry around the office, but not harsh and overly industrialized. Soft, rounded corners. Well thought out.