The most striking feature of this $499 tablet is its physical keyboard accessory, which will be sold separately for $149. To use the device in Laptop mode, just snap the tablet onto the hinged magnetic plate, which folds up from the back of the keyboard.
The design is decidedly more lap-friendly than Microsoft's kickstand-based Surface devices, since a
portion of the Pixel C's keyboard dock sticks out behind the tablet, providing a sturdy base. The magnetic attachment is also really, really strong, so you won't have to worry about the pieces becoming detached while you're moving it around. In addition to Laptop mode, you can snap the keyboard onto the front of the slate so it serves as a screen cover, or snap it onto the back of the tablet to stow it while you use the touch screen alone.
And you'd better get used to tapping that touch screen if you want to use the Pixel C for work, since it lacks a touchpad. Like the iPad Pro, Google's hybrid will require users to reach across the keyboard for precise taps while editing a document or browsing their email inbox. It's a serviceable solution for a travel-friendly device like the Pixel C, but I wonder how many people will be satisfied working without a mouse. Of course, like all Android devices, this one can always be paired with a Bluetooth mouse.
The tablet itself features a nice 10.1-inch IPS display with a sharp resolution of 2,560 x 1,800 pixels, and a quad-core Tegra X1 processor that should provide really zippy performance for everyday work tasks.
The Pixel C is set to launch before the end of the year, starting at $499, with the keyboard accessory sold separately for $149. That will put it in direct competition with Microsoft's $499 Surface 3 and $129 Type Cover keyboard.
Check back for a full review of the Pixel C as soon as we get our hands on it, or check out our picks for the best work laptops and tablets currently on the market.
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