Google re-entered the tablet category in 2023 with the release of thePixel Tablet. Recently, rumors have been swirling about its possible successors, thePixel Tablet 2and thePixel Tablet 3. Now, it seems Google has had a change of heart about the future of its Pixel Tablet lineup.
A recent report byAndroid Headlinesstates that Google had canceled its development plans for the Pixel Tablet 3. The news left many wondering, including myself, what that means for the Pixel Tablet 2. Now,Android Authorityis reporting that the Pixel Tablet 2 has been canceled, effectively killing the Pixel Tablet lineup. If true, this would be the second time in five and a half years that Google has tossed developing tablets out the window.
What convinced Google to make this decision? It could be sales of the Pixel Tablet not meeting expectations, or it could be that it’s delegating any tablet or large-screen aspirations to its Nest division to focus on new iterations of theNest HubandHub Max(viaThe Verge).
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The news that Google could cancel the Pixel Tablet 2 is disappointing. As someone who enjoys the tech giant’s Pixel smartphone lineup, I was looking forward to seeing more of that design philosophy brought to the Pixel Tablet 2, especially the addition of a stronger Tensor CPU and Gemini AI features. However, Google’s potential exit from the tablet category might only be temporary.
Recently, there have been reports that Google is planning to migrate ChromeOS to Android. This would create a unified operating system where Google could focus all its development resources. ChromeOS is currently used on Chromebooks and tablets, and Android is used mainly on phones and tablets. The clear overlap? Tablets.
A re-imagined AndroidOS with features from ChromeOS would make it more attuned to productivity tasks, while also being great for entertainment purposes. In theory, this would make Android on tablets as capable as Apple’s iPadOS, its biggest competitor. The Google source that spoke toAndroid Authorityabout this merger said this was a “multi-year” project. So, perhaps Google is waiting until this merger is fleshed out before jumping back into the tablet market. Whatever happens, I really hope we see a Pixel Tablet 2 at one point or another.
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