Google’s Pixel Slate Available for Pre-Order

Google announced the Pixel Slate in October alongside the new Pixel phones and the Home Hub, but the Slate didn’t have a launch date. Google only said it would come out later in the year, and we’re getting close. Pre-orders for Google’s latest Chrome OS device are live at several retailers, but you’ll still be waiting a few more weeks to get it in your hands.

The Pixel Slate is the first consumer-oriented Chrome OS device that’s intended to operate as a tablet first and foremost. Google has made extensive modifications to Chrome OS to make it more tablet friendly, but you can also plug in a keyboard and use it as a traditional Chromebook. In fact, there’s an official keyboard dock for the Pixel Slate, but it’ll cost a whopping $200 on top of the tablet.

If you opt to use the Pixel Slate as a tablet, be aware it’s a bit heftier than most tablets you’ve used. It’s 1.6 pounds. By comparison, the New 12.9-inch iPad Pro is just 1.39 pounds. The Pixel Slate has a big 12.3-inch display with an ultra-high 3000 x 2000 resolution, which certainly adds to the weight.

The price will be the main issue for most consumers. Google has several tiers of Pixel Slate, starting with a $599 Celeron-based unit with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. That’s specced like an entry-level Chromebook, but it’s priced at the high-end for a non-Google Chrome device. Add $100, and you get double the RAM and storage with the same Celeron CPU. So far, the Google Store is the only place to get these low-end models.

The Pixel Slate most people will choose is the $800 Core m3 variant, which also has 8GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. The upgrade to the Core i5 adds $200 to the price, and the Core i7 version with 16GB of RAM comes in at an eye-watering $1,599. The three more expensive variants are available at the Google Store and Best Buy. Google lists a 2-3 wait for shipping, and Best Buy says orders should come in around November 22nd.

Sadly, there’s no bundle offering with the keyboard dock, which has weird round keys. Alternatively, you can plug in a keyboard of your own, but remember the Pixel Slate only has a pair of USB Type-C ports just like the Pixelbook. If your board isn’t Type-C (and most aren’t), you’ll need an adapter. The Pixelbook Pen also works with the Pixel Slate, but it’s another $99.

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