Hands On With the Google Pixel Slate

With all the excitement about convertible computers and the popularity of Apple’s iPad Pro, it’s natural for Google to introduce one for its Chrome OS lineup. In some ways, the new Pixel Slate is a successor to the highly rated but expensive Pixelbook. But Google has moved from a traditional Chromebook clamshell design to one with a removable keyboard cover more reminiscent of a Surface Pro or an iPad Pro — except it runs Chrome OS (and most Android apps) instead of iOS or Windows. I’ve been using one for a few days, and for the most part, it’s very impressive, albeit with a few wrinkles.

Pixel Slate By the Numbers

By any measure, the Pixel Slate is an impressive piece of hardware. It comes in an attractive midnight blue, with an anodized aluminum body and Corning Gorilla Glass 5 on the display. While the entry-level unit starts with a relatively low-power Celeron CPU and 4GB of RAM for $599, you can get one loaded with up to an 8th gen i7, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB SSD for $1,599. The review unit I’m testing is in the middle, with an 8th gen Core i5, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB SSD, and retails for $999. The 12.3-inch Wacom-touch-enabled display is gorgeous, featuring what Google calls its Molecular Display technology and packing a 3,000 x 2,000 resolution. Better yet, for those thinking of making this their primary machine, it supports 4K output through either of its USB-C ports.

Google claims 12 hours of battery life for the Pixel Slate. Using its fast charger, a quick recharge of 15 minutes gives you two hours of charge. Without the keyboard case, the Pixel Slate weighs in at 1.6 pounds. That means it’s really light for anything that does the work of a laptop, but quite heavy if you expect to hold it in your hand like a tablet for long. The Slate doesn’t have an integrated kickstand, so if you plan to use it for taking notes and such, you’ll likely want some kind of case at a minimum, and might want to invest in Google’s keyboard case (although it has some issues we’ll discuss later).

One clever innovation is that the power button doubles as a fingerprint sensor. In practical terms, it took a while to take full advantage because depending on how I was holding the tablet or how it was positioned on a table, I’d use different fingers to power it on, so I had to add several. But once I had it set up, it was incredibly quick and convenient to have a single button press turn the Slate on and unlock it. Like all Chrome OS devices, it comes to life nearly instantly — something none of my Windows devices ever seem to be able to do consistently. You can also connect it to your Android phone (if it’s a supported model) and have it unlock if your phone is unlocked and nearby.

In terms of media support, there are dual front-facing speakers and dual mics for improved noise cancellation. Front and back cameras are both 8MP, but both are limited to 1080p video (probably not a big deal since their major use will likely be video conferencing). Google has added Portrait mode, like the one on the Pixel phone, to the Camera app on the Slate. As part of the size reduction, Google had dropped the standard headphone jack that it offered on the Pixelbook, although you do get a USB-C to audio adapter in the box. That said, I paired the Slate with an Audeara A-01 over Bluetooth and got great sound. Since headphones like these are now offering battery life measured in days, the lack of a standard audio jack isn’t as big an issue as it used to be.

The Slate (right) is larger and heavier than a 10-inch Android tablet like the Galaxy S3, but smaller and lighter than the clamshell-design Pixelbook.

Most Versatile Chrome OS Yet

Chrome OS has come a long way since the early days when it was basically a souped-up browser. Tabs tear off nicely and can be littered around the screen, just like on Windows or Mac. Personally, I also use Alt-Tab a lot to move between applications. It’s especially handy if you don’t have a mouse connected. Mapping a network drive, like from a Windows server or a NAS, is now a simple process.

Plugging in an external SSD using a USB-C cable worked seamlessly, just like it would on Windows or Mac. That’ll be useful for anyone needing more than the built-in storage since, like other Google products, there isn’t a microSD slot. You can connect the Slate with an Android phone, with the capabilities varying by the model of phone and version of Android. With newer Pixel phones, you get instant tethering as well as Smart Unlock.

There are definitely still some quirks in the UI, where some elements show up partially off-screen. But our review unit has a pre-release build of Chrome OS for the Slate, so it is likely the version shipped to customers will have additional updates.

Chrome OS for Android Users

If you’re looking to the Slate as an upgrade from an Android tablet, then aside from the obvious difference in size and weight, you’ll also be moving from native Android to Chrome OS running Android apps. This gets easier by the month, as more and more Android applications make good use of the larger screen size and windowing capabilities. But not everything works yet. DJI’s drone apps won’t load, for example. Neither does Adobe’s Premiere Clip video editor. And UI gestures are different, which takes some getting used to.

In exchange you get a powerful, multi-window UI, that fully supports mice, keyboards, and external monitors nicely. Personally, I miss Android’s widgets as much as anything and would love to see Google finally add support for them to Chrome OS. (Of course, I still use Gadgets on my Windows machines, even though Microsoft dumped them years ago.)

If you’re planning to use the machine with other than Google’s native apps like Docs, Sheet, and such, you’ll likely be relying on Android apps from the Play Store. Microsoft has a very competent set of Office apps that for the most part run quite well, although OneNote was a bit quirky on the large display. The story on the Adobe side is a bit more spotty, although I know both companies are working to change that. Lightroom Mobile runs very nicely, but you can’t run either of the desktop versions or Photoshop. Premiere Rush also isn’t available yet, and for some reason, Premiere Clip says it isn’t compatible (but I’m guessing that might change). In theory, you can run some of these apps using CrossOver (beta) from Codeweavers, but I didn’t have much luck getting even older versions of Photoshop running.

Keyboard Cover Needs Re-Thinking

Google is clearly trying to make something of a statement with the keyboard cover. It features round keys that echo the round icons and other elements featured in Google’s current design language. Some reviewers have found that bothersome, but I actually found the keys themselves just fine. I also like that the backside becomes an infinitely adjustable kickstand (although the fact that the Slate doesn’t have its own kickstand the way the Surface Pro does ensures you’ll want to spring for some type of cover).

The integrated trackpad also works well, although I found myself triggering it accidentally with my palm while typing from time to time (this is a common problem with small keyboards that wedge in a full-size trackpad). If you use the Slate as your primary computer, I think it’s likely you’ll find yourself attaching an external monitor and keyboard for when you’re using it at your desk, though.

My main gripe with the cover is about the way it feels flimsy when you carry the Slate with the cover attached. The extended flexible “cloth” hinge lets it shift around. It’s also annoying that neither the Slate or the cover provide any means of storing or even attaching Google’s Pen. Google doesn’t even seem to be selling the little fabric loops that it gave Pixelbook owners (although there are plenty of inexpensive alternatives available from online retailers). Google sells a $29 Bellroy pen clip for the Pixelbook, but I don’t know if it will work on the Slate. Speaking of the Pen, it is a top-of-the-line Wacom-enabled stylus that has both pressure and tilt sensitivity, which explains its high $99 price.

Is a Pixel Slate the Right Convertible for You?

The Surface Pro, iPad Pro, and Pixel Slate are all excellent products. In the end, I think it comes down to your application ecosystem priorities. For those of us who already use and rely on either Chrome or Android, the Slate is pretty compelling. You get a low (zero?) maintenance device that’s cloud-integrated and will make even a lot of power users happy. But, if you’re really hooked on running your Windows desktop applications in their full glory, and don’t mind dealing with Windows’ Updates and other housekeeping, then the Surface Pro (or one of the other Windows convertibles) makes sense. Likewise, if you’re hooked on Apple’s ecosystem, then you’re probably not going to “change sides” just because of the Slate.

Now Read: Google May Be Planning to Run Windows 10 on Pixelbook, Mobile Photography Workflow: Pushing the Envelope With Lightroom and Pixel, and Google’s Pixel Slate Available for Pre-Order.