Last year, Google had launched the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL smartphones along with Chrome OS powered Pixel Slate tablet that came with a detachable keyboard. Fresh information reveals that Google is giving up on tablets completely. Hence, the company will not be launching a successor for the Pixel Slate. The company will focus on laptops driven by Chrome OS.
According to Computer World, Google was working on two small-sized tablets. However, it decided to stop their development earlier this week. Google’s Senior VP for Devices & Services also confirmed that the hardware team of Google will solely focus on laptops. He added the company will continue to support the Pixel Slate for the long-term. Google is committed to support it until June 2024. While the company won’t be making first-party tablets, the form factor will be supported by the Chrome OS.
The report from Computer World further states that a Google spokesperson has said that the employees that were working on abandoned tablets will be assigned other projects. These employees could be working on the Google laptops. He also revealed that the company may release a new notebook-type Pixelbook hardware before the end of 2019.
Perhaps, the Google may announce the new Pixelbook alongside the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL smartphones in October this year. Google’s decision of axing its Pixel line of tablets will have no impact on the Pixel smartphones. While the Nexus series of Android tablets that were launched in the past competed well with Apple iPads, the newer Pixel tablets could not rival with Apple iPad and Microsoft Surface products.
