Pixel Slate: All you need to know

The Pixel family is about to host a new member on Oct. 9: The Pixel Slate (also known as the "Nocturne" code), a new Pixel tablet that uses Chrome OS and could be an alternative viable to Chromebooks for many Google fans.

But what do we know about Pixel Slate? Here's all we can say about the specifications, design and important features of the Slate. Check it out and if you're interested, do not forget to switch to Digital Trends on October 9 to get the latest updates on Google's new products.

A slim and simple design

The Pixel Slate has two leaks, which show a very thin tablet, centered on the display, connected to a couple of third-party keyboards. Compared to contemporary tablets, it features a surprisingly robust and beveled design that seems to include a USB-C connection. The glasses seem to have been cut compared to the original Pixelbook.

Google's source code revealed that the "Nocturne" would have a screen of 3,000 x 2,000. This is a nice 3: 2 ratio and good resolution for a Pixel tablet. It seems that this will persist until the final product. In comparison, the 13.5-inch screen of Surface Book 2 has the same resolution.

Note that the Pixel Slate will also include a set of cameras and light sensors, which renders the renderings do not show. However, you can always have a good idea of ​​what to expect.

Intel 8th generation processor

PhoneArena has discovered information that the Slate Pixel will ship with an Intel Core i7-8500Y processor. This is particularly noteworthy because many Chromebooks still use an ARM chipset. Google makes a statement by switching to an Intel 8th generation processor for its tablet: it 's not quite competitive with today' s powerful laptops, but you can also expect to performance improvements for Chrome OS similar to those of the original Pixelbook (which uses) offers.

Specifically, this chip offers a base speed of 1.5 GHz with a maximum turbo option of 4.2 GHz, and should come with up to 16 GB of RAM. As we know Google's pixel ambitions, it would not be surprising, although many expect that Google offers more than one level of Slate specifications, which means that a RAM weaker and even a less powerful chip could be an option. According to a recently released benchmark, some believe that 8 GB of RAM will be included in the base model.

Another Night Code indicates that the Slate Pixel supports NVMe Solid State Drives. It is therefore likely that the tablet includes an SSD. It is also possible that Google offers several versions of Slate, some with eMMC SSDs and some with NVMe SSDs. NVMe is faster, but Google may also want a less expensive option.

Multiplatform support

Chrome OS now has Linux application support, Android Pie, and Slate can also potentially run Windows 10 with Pixelbooks. This opens up many possibilities for creative solutions and the import of applications on demand from other platforms to complete a project.

Expect to hear a lot about this at the October 9th Google conference, including long-awaited details about the ability to manage Windows 10.

Fingerprint detector

An animated image showing a leaked Pixel Slate in use indicates that the tablet will have a fingerprint sensor at the top of the screen. Tap the sensor and you'll unlock the computer – we know Google wanted to include fingerprint sensors on Chromebooks, and Slate is a great product to include fingerprint scanning. This is not a guarantee that the tablet will come with biometrics, but it is more likely than not.

In addition to the likely keyboards of Slate renderings that have been leaked, it is also likely that Google is developing its own keyboard, the tablet. Brandon Lall spotted a brief Nocturne look in a bug report that showed an interesting keyboard with oval keys. Maybe it was just a prototype or maybe even Google was offering the market a detachable keyboard with round keys. It's ambitious! It's also a little weird. Does Google really think the time has come to place round keys on an attachment, or was it just a prototype to forget?

As this is a tablet, the Google Pixelbook pen will probably work with the Slate tablet. There may be more third party accessories, but if some are waiting, we have not heard rumors about it yet.