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The desktop mode has a similar application window system to regular desktop operating systems, and will be intuitive to anyone coming from MacOS or Windows 10. The Slate's gaming limitations revealed themselves when I tried out PUBG Mobile, which defaulted to the lowest graphics setting. Even then, I saw stutter and clipping, and the game ran in a pixelated mode that didn't look that great. More casual games, though, such as the futuristic pinball title PinOut, ran super smooth. Google Pixel Slate battery life 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.
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 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 “great for regular people, not so hot for creatives” trend continues with the Pixel Slate’s software. 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. The Pixel Slate's 12.3-inch screen offered accurate touch recognition as I navigated the web and smooth scrolling as I skimmed through the Google Doc for this review. It also responds to swipe-up gestures from the bottom and top, with the former opening the app shelf and the latter showing all open apps and enabling split-screen apps (but only when you're in tablet mode).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. What we’re more excited about are the Chrome OS optimizations that Google has made exclusively for Pixel Slate. Features like a night light for blue light reduction, split screening apps and a ‘do not disturb’ feature help bring Chrome OS to parity with Windows 10 and macOS computers.
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. This layout can be vastly upgraded from here. There are Intel Core m3 and Y-series and even Core i5 processors available as well. Storage tops out at 256GB and memory can go as high as up 16GB on some configurations.
The most perplexing Pixel yet
Battery performance is based on a mix of standby, web browsing and other use. Charging time requires the battery to be at least 5% charged, the device to be inactive and use of included charger. Actual results may vary. battery life has been excellent. i can't tell you exactly how many hours i've used it since it's off and on for multiple days but it can probalby go at least 2 days for me before charges. i made sure to set all the sleep modes on and to not use wifi when in sleep. i lose about 2-3% battery overnight in sleep mode (about 9-10 hours from when i turn it off at night to when i grab it the next day - i also let it sleep naturally, i don't turn it off via the button or power down). The Pixel Slate ran the 5,000 fish round of the WebGL Aquarium simulation -- which renders hundreds to thousands of animated fish -- at about 28 frames per second. The Pixelbook ran at the same rate. In many ways the Pixel Slate delivers on this promise, including top-notch hardware and intelligently presented software. If you mainly use Google’s suite of apps then the i5, or even M, configuration of the Pixel Slate makes for an excellent tablet and basic laptop replacement.
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 The dual speakers are noticeably meatier than the iPad (regular) and Samsung Galaxy Book against which I tested it. Bass extension was deeper and audio in films was significantly clearer. Tonal balance is better than expected for a tablet, making it easy to hear voices even during heated action scenes with rumbling engines and rattling gunfire. The only tablet I’ve tested with better audio is the Huawei MediaPad. 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. 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. 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.I experienced serious Bluetooth issues that caused music to cut out on my headphones, but Google promises a fix. The Slate also dealt with video streaming and gaming surprisingly well. Streaming video on Netflix, with the screen at 150 nits (indoors), the Slate lost an average of 11-13% of its charge per hour. This is excellent by laptop standards, and competitive with most tablets. 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’m also a big fan of the optional folio keyboard, which is better than that of the iPad Pro’s in nearly every way.
As a final nail in the coffin, if you want to take advantage of freeware such as Blender and GIMP, you’ll have to manually install the Linux versions using the beta mode in Chrome OS. This isn’t as easy as it sounds and will be a feat beyond most average buyers. Even if you do manage the install, the apps are buggy. The speaker setup is another key inclusion that differentiates the Pixel Slate from other Chrome OS and Windows tablets. On its front, you’ll see twin dual-speakers that Google claims are “custom-tuned to deliver industry-leading audio”. Using the tablet to watch Netflix in bed, I can confirm that there’s truth to this claim.
Google Pixel Slate Specs
Front camera: Duo Cam optimized for video calling: 8MP, ƒ/1.9 aperture, 1.4um pixel size, wide field of view, 1080p video at 30fps The Pixel Slate is available in a variety of configurations, which you can see in the table below. Spec Battery life is one area Chrome OS devices usually excel compared to laptops. In the convertible space things are a little more competitive, however, since iOS remains one of the most power-efficient operation systems ever made.
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