It’s been a while since Google delved into the world of tablets, choosing instead to focus more of its efforts into its Chrome OS powered convertible styled laptops. That all changed today, as the Mountain View based company took the wraps off its brand-new Google Pixel Slate tablet, which is also running Chrome OS. With this latest venture, it’s looking more like a response to Apple’s popular iPad Pro line with its slick looks, killer specs, and similar pricing. We’ve seen how Android tablets as a whole have declined, so it’s interesting to see if the Pixel Slate marks the beginning of a new entry!

Design

The Pixel Slate definitely doesn’t disappoint with its design! The renders shots of the tablet do justice in what we actually see and get in real-life, seeing that its thin and light aluminum-based frame comes off as slick looking. It’s a minimalist design that’s not too understated, but still comes off solidly constructed. While we really appreciate that its design manages to incorporate dual front-firing speakers, a power button that doubles as a fingerprint sensor, and two USB Type-C ports, we’re just a little disappointed that it omits a headphone jack. We get that it’s been a trend with smartphones, but we’d imagine that it could’ve been offered given the extra confines of a tablet.

For those looking to get serious work done on the road, you’re going to need to invest in a few accessories in order to achieve that. We spent a little bit of time trying out the new $199 Pixel Slate Keyboard, which is notable for its circular sized keys. Interestingly, we really like how it essentially doubles as a folio as well – acting as a protective case for the Pixel Slate. At first, we were skeptical about its circular keys, but we found them decently tactile and responsive. Additionally, the trackpad helps to achieve more of that laptop form-factor. Better yet, the magnetic connection is firm and does allow for some articulation to better view the screen.