Google’s Pixel Slate Chrome OS tablets now have much more solid shipping dates, with consumers expected to start seeing the devices in early December, although exact expected arrival dates will depend on which model of the device is ordered. That’s based on recent changes to the Google Store listings, which still show a ‘weeks’ timeframe when looking over each model but show expected arrival dates upon moving to the checkout page. The first models to arrive for buyers are currently shown as being the midrange $799 and top-end $1588 models, set to arrive first on either December 4 and December 5. The vast majority of features of each model is the same. However, those are the variants that feature an 8th Gen Intel Core m3 processor backed by 8GB RAM and 64 GB storage and an 8th Gen Intel Core i7 with 16GB RAM and 256GB storage, respectively.
Shipping next and arriving on December 11 or December 12 is the $599 entry-level model with 4GB RAM and 32GB storage backing up an Intel Celeron Kaby Lake processor. The $999 model featuring an 8th Gen Intel Core i5 processor with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage is scheduled to arrive on the same dates. Last but not least, the secondary entry option, starting at $699 and bumping the memory and capacity up by double, is set to begin arriving on December 18 or December 19.
Background: Google’s Pixel slate was initially announced back at the company’s Made by Google hardware event at the beginning of October. Aside from the differentiating factors listed above, each of these tablets is identical. For those prices, buyers get a 7mm-thin tablet that measures 290.85 x 202.04 x 7.0mm overall and weight comes in at right around the same as the original Pixelbook Chromebook at 1.6lbs. The display panel on that is a 12.3-inch 2.5D multitouch panel set at an aspect ratio of 3:2 and a resolution of 3,000 x 2,000 pixels with 293 pixels-per-inch. A new crystal display technology enables that panel to have a much higher refresh rate than other Chrome OS gadgets. The front of the matte midnight blue tablet is adorned with a wide-angle 8-megapixel selfie snapper which is offset at the back by a similarly-specced primary camera. Dual custom-tuned forward-facing stereo speakers and two noise-canceling microphones are part of the mix as well as a fingerprint scanner embedded directly into the power button. Expandable storage is also available on any of the variations Google is selling via microSD card and a 48Wh 12-hour battery powers everything, with fast charging via either of the two USB Type-C ports. Video output and data transfers take place through those ports too.
Meanwhile, Google has opted to make its newly recolored matte midnight blue Pixelbook Pen active stylus an optional accessory, in addition to the new Pixel Slate Keyboard. The latter of those is a $199 add-on item designed like a folio-style case that can be repositioned to any angle and features rounded ‘hush’ keys for quiet backlit typing. The stylus is the same as that seen with the original Pixelbook but in a color to match the hues of the new Pixel Slate itself. That costs buyers an additional $99.
Impact: Shipping rates and times will, of course, vary depending on the method of delivery chosen and all of the above-mentioned dates are with the most pricey ‘Expedited’ shipping option, shaving off several days. So the dates and pricing shown in the images below and drawn out above should not necessarily be taken as having been set in stone. Moreover, there is always the chance that stock will run low and orders delayed as the holiday shopping season heats up. In any case, this is good new irrespective of that since it wasn’t immediately clear whether or not the company could meet its 2018 shipping goals. That primarily originated from the fact that it had not yet, at the time, even pushed its Pixel-branded Chrome OS tablet through the FCC for certification. Since devices are often registered there in the months leading up to a launch, it still wasn’t certain even after it finally achieved that in early November and subsequently began to be seen available for pre-order.
