The Pixel Tablet is finally getting an official keyboard and, while that’s potentially exciting, Google set a high bar for tablet keyboards nearly a decade ago, and one that Pixel Tablet likely won’t reach.
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Google is about to start shipping its first Android tablet in years, the Pixel Tablet. But, all the way back in 2015, Google launched the Pixel C, an Android tablet that was way ahead of its time. Let’s take a look back on it.
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It may come as a surprise to hear that not every Android device with a good enough screen can play Netflix in HD. Two of Google’s older tablets, the Nexus 9 and the Pixel C, are no longer supported by Netflix, meaning movies and shows may no longer play in HD.
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After three years of releases, the Pixel C launched in December 2015 received its last expected update in June 2019. Google confirmed at the time, with the lack of July and August patches driving the point home. However, the Pixel C today did receive one more OTA update.
Before the Pixel Slate, the last first-party Android tablet released was the Google Pixel C. Judging by the lack of a July security patch appearing for the Pixel C, it may have been cut from the update program.
When Google Assistant first launched, it was exclusive to Pixel devices, except for one, the Pixel C tablet. Now, it’s been a few months since Assistant expanded to Android tablets, and far longer since it debuted on all Android devices, and today it’s finally available on the good ol’ Pixel C…
It feels like it was just yesterday that I dropped my Nexus 6P on the concrete getting out of my car. On that day in 2016, I put my Nexus 6P to rest — thankfully only for a few weeks before I got my Pixel. But after many deaths it has already endured, Nexus is dying yet again today. The latest major release of Android, Android P, will never be released on the platform.
Tablets aren’t exactly a thriving breed; people who want a high-performance tablet for whatever reason are pretty much stuck at this point with choosing between one of Apple’s iPad models (and there are many) or a Samsung Galaxy Tab. But now that it’s discontinued, I think it’s time to a take a look once again at Google’s Pixel C tablet, which was announced way back in 2015… a time long, long ago… before Google (seemingly) gave up on the idea of a tablet running Android.
Launched as a premium tablet in late 2015, the Pixel C is no more following its removal from the Google Store. For several months now, the large screen Android device was already not available for purchase in the U.S. and now the product page has been removed, while the Google Store also drops its tablet category.
With Android 8.1 bringing features found on the Pixel 2 to older devices, the Pixel C has also gained some updates in the form of a revamped launcher. However, the OTA did not go smoothly for early users, with some finding their tablets wiped following installation.
Android just keeps getting better and better on phones, but Android tablets are very much neglected. There haven’t been any meaningful improvements to Android on tablets in years, but Google hasn’t totally forgotten them. In the latest Android 8.1 preview, the Pixel C tablet has gotten just a bit of attention.
Android 7.1.2 is a surprisingly big update for the Pixel C. The Pixel Launcher makes its way to tablets, while the multitasking menu is now optimized for larger screen sizes. Several owners of the device are now reporting that the latest version of Android is beginning to widely rollout…
