The tablet market is a crowded place these days. Samsung and Apple dominate their respective markets and it sometimes seems as if they are the only two options available if you don’t have the cash to spring for a Surface, or simply don’t want a windows tablet. Google, in their infinite wisdom has seen fit to offer us a high end alternative in the Pixel C. However, this tablet sits in an odd spot. Hasving recieved one for Christmas, I’ve been playing around with it for the past 24 hours. So, what do I think?

*Note: This review was written entirely on the Pixel C using the Pixel keyboard.

**Further note due to fussbudget Crimsonshade: All typos the result of the Pixel keyboard and are included for authenticity.

Specs

Operating System	Android 6.0 Marshmallow
Display	10.2-inch LTPS LCD,2560×1800 (308 ppi) 500 nit brightness sRGB color gamut
Processor	NVIDIA Tegra X1 256 core Maxwell GPU
RAM	3GB LPDDR3
Internal storage	32GB or 64GB
Cameras	2MP front 8MP rear
Battery	34.2 WHr (9243 mAh)
Charging	USB-C
Audio	Stereo speakers Quad noise-cancelling microphones 3.5 mm audio out
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 2×2 MIMO, dual-band Bluetooth 4.1 + HS
Sensors	Ambient Light, Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Compass, Hall, Proximity
Keyboard	Optional Bluetooth wireless keyboard
Dimensions	242 x 179 x 7 mm
Weight	0.517 kg / 1.139 lb

Pixel C keyboard specs

Theres no doubt that the Pixel C is a powerful piece of hardware. The screen is bright and colorful, playing back video and rendering games such as Tales From The Borderlands in crisp detail with no sign of artifacting.  Plentiful RAM means that animations on menus, switching between apps and loading high content webpages is a fast, hassle free experience.  Voice is a key part of Android 6.0 Marshmallow and the four microphones located  on the top of the Pixel C guarantee that the tablet will hear you loud and clear when you say “Ok Google”.  Of course, the cameras are nothing to write home about. The rear facing camera has no flash, meaning you’ll need good lighting if you plan on taking pictures with it. This is further complicated by the unwieldiness of taking pictures with something as large as a tablet. You’ll get better performance out of the camera  in your smartphone. Then again, if you are relying on a tablet keyboard for your photography needs, we may need to have a chat. Likewise, the front facing camera is servicable, but please don’t use it for anything but video calling.

The speakers on the Pixel C are crisp and strong. Obivously, you aren’t going to get a ton of bass out of something as small as a tablet speaker, but highs and mids sound crisp without being  tinny. Turning them up reveals a truly deafening amount of power for such a small device, and again  with little to no distortion.  Headphones  are obviously the way to go, but if you find yourself without or are sharing a video with friends, the Pixel C’s speakers are great in their own right.

The Keyboard

The Pixel C keyboard gets its own section because its such an integral part of the way Google is marketing the device. The keyboard  snaps onto the Pixel via magnets.  Very strong magnets. Picking the tablet up and shaking it won’t dislodge the keyboard. It’s rather impressive actually. The magnets allow you to use the Pixel more as a laptop, letting the tablet tilt through a wide range of motion to accomodate being used on a desk or in your lap. I’m currently sitting on my bed with the Pixel in my lap typing this review, and the experience is as comfortable as any I’ve ever had on a high end laptop. Naturally, the keys are a bit more cramped than a traditional keyboard, but thats to be expected  on a keyboard of this size. Google has done an admirable job of allowing the keys to travel, giving a good tactile feedback as you type. They’ve also eliminated some keys, opting instead to include a button directly to the right of the spacebar that opens an  on screen menu filled with common symbols. Reaching up to the screen to tap these  does feel a bit odd and takes some getting used to, but in my opinion it’s worth the extra reach if it gives me an excellent typing experience on a relatively uncluttered keyboard.

The keyboard also doubles as a cover for the Pixel C’s gorgeous screen, and sliding it up and over the tablet is a simple and satisfying  proocedure. Similarly, when you want to use the tablet as….just a tablet, simply slide the keyboard around to the back or remove it entirely. The entire process is quick and easy, and makes the Pixel feel like a versatile and robust machine.  Its also nice to know that I don’t have to worry about charging the keyboard seperately. The Pixel charges they kehboard inductively, so as long as it’s attached to the body of the tablet,  you’ll never have to worry about it’s battery level. And even if you forget, Google promises a staggeringly long  battery life for the keyboard.

User Experience

This is  one of those hard  to quantify categories, but something vital to the review of any piece of hardware. How does it FEEL to use the tablet?

In short: It feels great. The Pixel’s case is sleek and  feels high quality. The screen looks fantastic. Apps open quickly, swapping between apps is easy, and gaming is great thanks to the powerful GPU housed inside. Of course, the Pixel sits somewhere between Apple’s pure tablets and the  Windows user experience of the Surface.  It’s great for browsing the web, playing games and watching YouTube.  However, Android doesn’t  have a dedicated suite of productivity apps like the Surface does.  Of course you can use Google Docs, but thats not quite the same as the full Microsoft Office suite.  Another hinderance to getting serious work done on the Pixel C is Android’s lack of multitasking. There is an experimental dual window mode, but in my tests I found it to be extremely buggy. It’s still a work in progress, but for now it leaves the Pixel in a spot where using more than one app at once evokes the tedious experience of opening your app manager and swapping through apps.  Its  cfertainly doable, but not intuitive or efficient.

The Verdict

The Pixel C is a fantastic piece of hardware. It has some great features,  like the powerful speakers and beautiful display. It makes  gaming, browsing the web and watching cat videos on YouTube a fast and easy experience. The keyboard is a godsend for those that hate typing emailson a touchscreen. And I must say, I enjoy the ability to tap on the back of the tablet and see the lightbars illuminate  to show  me how much charge the tablet has without having  to unlock the screen. However, the Pixel C sits in an odd spot. It seems Google was thinking for the future, as they often do with products in the Pixel line.  Android in it’s current form is severely limiting  on the productivity of  any power user.

In short, the Pixel C is a great pickup if you simply have  to have the most powerful Android tablet available and have the cash to burn. If you are having a light work day, taking it with you is a viable option if you don’t want to lug a laptop around.  Still, it has room to grow if Google can only take it in the right direction.