Pixel C review: Android OS doesn't work well for hybrid devices

The 100% Google-made Android tablet "Pixel C" has been released in the United States. Currently, the release in Japan is undecided, but you may be wondering what the new line of products that Google has launched. Darren Orf of US Gizmodo will deliver a long review after actually using the Pixcel C for about a week.

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Google probably wanted to create something more than a portable "board" with the Internet. Perhaps in search of a way to further advance tablets, Google (like its competitors) has developed a tablet that can be used with a separately sold keyboard. After sticking with the Pixel C this time around, I found it hard to justify the bullish price just because it's "a bit more convenient." Endless Candy Crush, endless Netflix seems just right.

Pixel C is a 10.2-inch tablet with Android 6.0 Marshmallow. It is Google's first product that is 100% 100% from hardware to OS without the help of hardware manufacturers such as HTC and Samsung. $500 for the 32GB model and $150 for the optional Bluetooth keyboard.

Where should the next-generation tablet go for the Pixel C? This represents Google's vision. The Pixel C is like a portable Internet screen (which also motivates people to buy tablets) rolled into one that can be used for work and other productive activities. The design inherits the lineage of the Chromebook Pixel, which is simple and beautiful, but inside is an Android tablet such as Nexus. And it comes with a keyboard that connects with a magnet. There are already Apple's iPad Pro and Microsoft's Surface series as products that combine a tablet + keyboard, but it is undeniable that they are not very strong as rivals.

Even from the Chromebook Pixel lineup, I think many people will like the simple, solid, and luxurious aluminum housing. It's also nice that unlike other gadgets out there, there are almost no branding elements such as product logos on the exterior. The visual hint that this is a Google product is the glowing bar in the color of the Google logo on the back of the tablet. When the tablet is closed, tap this bar and it will glow according to the remaining battery level.

The Pixel C is big and heavy compared to competing tablets like the iPad Air 2 and Samsung's Galaxy Tab S2. At around 900 grams, it weighs about the same as a laptop that claims to be lightweight. (Keyboard aside) The Pixel C is a great device for watching videos. The dual speakers on the left and right (up and down when placed vertically) provide a well-balanced sound environment that you'll appreciate while watching Netflix or listening to music. Personally, I like the iPad Pro's four-speaker setup a little better, but the Pixel C's magnetic keyboard stand allows it to stand on its own.

The 2560 x 1800 pixel organic display is the highest resolution ever on a tablet to date, and it's absolutely beautiful. However, the Pixel C's display reflects a lot of light, so even a little light hitting the display can be annoying. (By the way, Apple has been using anti-reflective coatings on iPads since 2014 to fix this problem.) Plus, the Pixel C has 3GB of RAM and an Nvidia Tegra X1 processor, meaning heavy Android games run smoothly. You can play as much as you want. I've tried it with games like Asphalt 8 and Godfire and had no problems at all.

Now let's talk about the keyboard. The design differs from a typical Bluetooth keyboard in that the bottom of the Pixel body is firmly fixed with a magnetic hinge and stands completely upright at a 90-degree angle. The keyboard housing is made of aluminum like the main body, so the design matches very well. It can also be used as a removable keyboard cover.

When the keyboard is closed, the magnet's adhesion is weak and it moves when pressure is applied. When the keyboard and main unit are snapped together, they are fixed with a strong magnet and automatically paired with Bluetooth, so even if you hold the main unit upside down, it will not fall due to gravity. Grab the keyboard and carry the Pixel C around your home or office, and it feels like a work machine. However, when you actually use it, the impression changes.

The Pixel C isn't a run-of-the-mill machine for everyone. There's a lot to like about it, but many people struggle to find a use for the $650 keyboard-mounted Android tablet. The biggest obstacle is that Android wasn't designed to do anything productive on a big screen in the first place. For example, two applications cannot be split left and right at the same time. (I'm sure we'll get that feature in 2016 in the future, too.) Apple, and even Samsung, have standard tools for turning tablets into work, but Android is a laggard. I have a feeling There's a lot of wasted space when using Android apps on a 10-inch full screen. It's impossible to have Google Hangout running on 1/3 of the screen and Gmail running on the rest.

From this week onwards, I've been using Pxel C on a daily basis, trying to find uses for my work style. To be honest, at first I couldn't imagine how to use the Pixel C on a regular basis. But after a day or so, I realize the Pixel C is a great sub-device. First, the Pixel C is not a laptop replacement. Because you simply can't do what you want to do. Viewing Tweetdeck and Slack, reading articles on GIZMODO, posting blog articles to CMS, talking with colleagues on Hangouts, replying to emails... I tried various applications on the Pixel C, but needless to say, Android OS The Pixel C can't do what you want.

I found a way to use it like this. With your Pixel C on your desk and Gmail open, your inbox is always at your fingertips. For someone like me, who prefers the physical action of swiping through emails on my Android device to clicking on a bunch of email titles (usually working on my main PC), this was great. . Thanks to the keyboard, I can write a reply instantly if I need to.

That's all you can do with Pixek C. Google hasn't come up with an offer to replace the Pixel C with a laptop. But that doesn't mean I can't work on a tablet, and I could at least use it conveniently at my desk next to my laptop.

Let's talk a little bit more about the Pixel C's keyboard. Surprisingly, it's easier than you think. Judging by the pictures, and reading the first impressions of the Pixel C that people have written, there are literally a lot of elements that make the Pixel C's keyboard painful. With a 10.2-inch screen, that means the key layout is crammed into that 10.2-inch space as well. While typing, I have to shrink my hands so much that I wonder what comfortable typing is. While typing long emails and reviews on my Pixel C (like this one), my wrists hurt quite a bit.

However, despite this size limitation, the key layout is reasonably practical. In an attempt to fit everything in, the Enter and Shift buttons are subtly positioned, and some extra keys are digitized. But don't worry, these work pretty well. And the big problem is that there is no such thing as a trackpad. It was a pain at first, but once you see the whole screen as a trackpad, you get used to tapping the screen quickly. If you want to copy and paste text, you really need a trackpad.

This is my favorite Android tablet on the market today! There is no problem if it seems like... Unlike other Android tablets made for work purposes, I think Google has designed the Pixel C simply, and while it's a little confusing at first, with continued use, the strong magnetic attachment and contactless I am very satisfied with the type charging and USB Type-C port. Battery life is also very good for a tablet of this size. If you use it as a secondary device, you can have a full day on one charge. Even if you keep watching Netflix, it will last for nearly 9 hours.

I think we've highlighted the negative side of Android with this gadget. Android OS is not fully functioning. It will take some time even if there is some modification. If the rumors of Chrome OS and Android OS working together are true, I think it would be a huge improvement.

Some reviews said the Pixel C's keyboard input lag was unbearable. But I don't really feel that way about myself. Just take the screen off and put it back on and it works. This review you are reading now was written without any time lag.

There are some notable features, but maybe no. Personally, I found the Pixel C useful for my workstyle as a machine for swiping emails and taking quick notes during meetings. $ 650 (about 80,000 yen) will be expensive. You can buy a Surface 3 at this price. You can work hard with Surface. Or you can buy a nice looking Chromebook. If you just want a good-looking Android tablet and don't mind the weird magnet design (weird), the Pixel C is for you. Most people would be happier looking at other products.

Pixel C specs

OS: Android 6.0 Marshmallow

Display: 10.2" LCD 2560x1800 (308 PPI)

CPU: Nvidia Tegra X1

RAM: 3GB

Storage: 32GB, 64GB (no extra capacity option)

Weight: 517 grams (916 grams with keyboard)

Camera: Rear camera: 8 megapixels, Front camera: 2 megapixels

Battery: 34.2Whr

Others: USB Type-C

Darren Orf - Gizmodo US [original]

(mayumine)