The i5 model sped through every task I threw at it. Multi-tab Chrome web ran smoothly, even with two windows open side-by-side. Android gaming apps played chug- and stutter-free, and basic photo editing in PhotoShop Express worked fine – although the rear of the tablet did become noticeably warm with prolonged use.

The Pen offers 2,048 levels of pressure sensitivity, which is half as much as you get with the Galaxy Book's S Pen and the Surface Pen (both 4,096), while Apple doesn't specify the pressure sensitivity of the Apple Pencil.

At first glance, the display is simply popping in color and contrast, but even 400 nits of brightness isn’t enough to counter the glare produced by a glossy panel under sunlight. The display’s pixel density of 293 pixels per inch (ppi) downright trounces the 12.9-inch iPad Pro’s of 264.

the biggest drain was a 1 hour 40 min video chat. i wanted to test the drain so i charge it up full then have a video chat with 4 people on google meet for web and after 100 mins, it used about 29% battery. i had full brightness on for the chat and was using bluetooth headphones. for me, i consider that pretty good. video chatting on google meet and skype were miles better than my old chromebook. video was crystal clear and absolutely zero stuttering/buffering/freezing issues. 8gb baby :) The display, beset on both sides by booming (yet still tinny) speakers, uses new technology that Google calls its ‘Molecular Display.’ This tech employs low-temperature polymer crystals that move electrons faster than standard displays, which is what allows the display to produce such a high pixel density compared to other screens of similar dimensions. The second issue is even odder: sometimes the Bluetooth setting in the options menu just disappeared. Opening the Settings app doesn't help, as Bluetooth wouldn't turn on there either. The only solution is to the reboot the Pixel Slate. I found mixed results while testing out the Pen's Google Assistant feature, where holding its button while circling an image asks the AI for help identifying the thing or person you circled. Circling multiple faces in a photo about mixed martial arts, Assistant correctly identified the athletes Anderson Silva and Ronda Rousy, but failed to get UFC honcho Dana White, instead suggesting he was John Cena (who you can't see, but that's neither here nor there). The only performance issues I encountered occurred when trying to use Android apps. Most worked fine, but a number – including popular games such as PUBG – either failed to launch properly or regularly crashed. This is likely a software, not hardware, issue.

The most perplexing Pixel yet

The Pixel Slate is available in a variety of configurations, which you can see in the table below. Spec The one sore spot is that Android app emulation on Chrome OS -- especially with a screen this huge -- makes it feel like you're using a giant phone instead of a tablet.

I found a pair of odd, annoying issues when listening to music on the Pixel Slate with Bluetooth headphones and use it with a Bluetooth keyboard. First of all, my music kept dying. Specifically, the connection to my headphones -- first with my Apple AirPods and then with the Bose QuietComfort 35 -- just dropped. Sometimes I'd have to manually re-pair the connection, and once, the connection fixed itself after a moment. I've reached out to Google to see if there's a fix and will update this review when one becomes available. USB-C™ 45 W charge adaptor (5 V/3 A, 9 V/3 A, 15 V/3 A, 20 V/2.25 A) that also works with Pixel phones Google promises up to 10 hours of continuous use from Pixel Slate – which is also what it promised on the Pixelbook– regardless of configuration, and up to two hours of use from a 15-minute charge.

Google Pixel Slate is the company's last detachable

The display is far from edge-to-edge, but in hand, the tablet’s metal chassis feels every bit as premium as the iPad Pro, and it has all the trimmings of a modern convertible. For basic office work, web browsing and media consumption the Pixel Slate’s screen is excellent. The “all new Molecular Display” is a 12.3-inch LCD panel with an impressive 3000 x 2000 resolution. The size and dimensions are large and sharp enough to make movie-watching and multiple window office work comfortable on the device. Front camera: Duo Cam optimised for video calling: 8 MP, ƒ/1.9 aperture, 1.4 um pixel size, wide field of view, 1080p video at 30fps i hooked up a usb hub and connected it to my 32 inch desk monitor via hdmi and display was fantastic.

I experienced serious Bluetooth issues that caused music to cut out on my headphones, but Google promises a fix. The bottom navigation bar has shortcuts to installed apps, plus a battery icon and shortcut to basic settings for items such as Wi-Fi and screen brightness. On the left is a handy shortcut to Google Assistant. Google Assistant remains a key selling point; it’s step above Microsoft’s Cortana and Apple’s Siri in nearly every way. So far so good? I thought so. But as before, the limitation of Chrome OS comes with its reliance on web, Chrome Store and Android applications. Unlike Windows, the OS doesn’t let you install third-party software easily. This isn’t a problem for regular folk since there are more than enough apps for web browsing, office work and basic video/music streaming. Some users have reported sluggish, stuttery performance in tablet mode, and it appears that Google will fix this issue in Chrome OS 75. Google Pixel Slate keyboardThe “great for regular people, not so hot for creatives” trend continues with the Pixel Slate’s software. There so much about the Google Pixel Slate to love, including its beautiful screen, comfortable keyboard, great sound and long battery life. Unfortunately, this machine comes with a few asterisks, including some notable bugs that Google should fix soon. It will take longer, though, for Google Play apps to feel like native tablet apps. The tablet mode tweaks the UI to look more like Android. Pop off the keyboard and the UI will change to display all the installed apps in a grid format, which makes it easier to navigate using just touch inputs. On the design front, I welcome the Pixel Slate’s two USB-C connections. These sit along the top and bottom edges of the device and mean that, unlike the iPad Pro, you can have a peripheral plugged in while the Slate is charging – a bonus if you plan to use the device for word processing or basic office work. As a result, the iPad Pro remains a better choice for creatives on the hunt for a mobile touch-up or sketch station. For desktop users who want a device that’s primarily a laptop, the Surface’s use of full-fat Windows makes it a better choice. Verdict