Google punches itself in the face by discontinuing the Pixel Slate
Someone grab the frozen peas
But why are you a sadboy about the Pixel Slate?
Simply put, it’s because Google had the potential to make a fantastic, competitive, and affordable machine.
Over the past year,I got bang into tablets again— something I attribute to my time with iPad Pro. Long story short,I nowgetwhat tablets are for. I understand their value. And, alongside that, I recognize the importance of competition.
The iPad haslong been the dominant tablet across the worldand there’s little that’s truly challenging it. Yes,the Samsung Galaxy TabandAmazon Fire HDare popular and solid devices, but they can’t really match Apple when it comes to quality, usability, and interoperability
But I believe Google could.
Let’s take its Pixel phones as an example. I’ve written before thatthe company found its sweet spot with the budget-focused “a” series of handsets. These thrive by eschewing the idea of competing as a premium brand — instead making affordable devices that use the cleanest version of Android and perform seamlessly as part of the overall Google ecosystem. In fact, the company seems to have taken this onboard, as with the Pixel 5 it actuallyremoved some features the previous model had,as well as dropping the price.
And you know what?It was one of the best phones of 2020.
This is the approach I would’ve loved Google to take with the Pixel Slate. The original tablet wasn’t perfect — far from it, in fact. Although it was a gorgeous machine,it was overpriced compared to its competitorsand it wasn’t entirely clear who it was aimed at.
But these are easy issues to solve in today’s world.
Considering the past year has seentablet sales soarandGoogle shift millions of Chromebooks, now should be the ideal time for the company to release a new and cheaper Pixel Slate.
Imagine it: an affordable machine that can be used for work and leisure. Something that could be combined with the Pixelbook Pen making for easy note taking. All your work and details seamlessly synced across your Google accounts. Mmm, I’m getting fuzzy just thinking about it.
Honestly, there’s probably a good reason why Google has discontinued the Pixel Slate.Maybe it’s putting all its focus on the Pixelbook Go? Maybe sales were bad? But it was early days for the Pixel Slate, it had only just started racing against its competitors.
I struggle to see a world in which a more affordable Pixel Slate wouldn’t kill it — and this leads me to one conclusion: by totally discontinuing the tablet, Google has punched itself in the face.
Story byCallum Booth
Callum Booth is a freelance journalist with over a decade of experience. Previously, he was the Managing Editor of TNW, where his reporting(show all)Callum Booth is a freelance journalist with over a decade of experience. Previously, he was the Managing Editor of TNW, where his reporting was cited widely, including in VICE, the FT, and the BBC.
Callum’s writing has appeared in The Verge, The Daily Telegraph, Time Out, and many more. He covers the full spectrum of technology, with a particular focus on how it shapes our daily lives. And a lot of regulation stuff too.
Outside of work, Callum’s an avid bookworm, a Fisherman’s Friends addict, and resolutely unshaven. Follow him on Twitter @CallumBooth or visit www.callumbooth.net.
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