The Google Pixel C Goes On Sale
by Brandon Chester on December 8, 2015 4:58 PM EST
Today Google has made their Pixel C tablet available on their online store. Google announced the Pixel C at an event in September, and at the time the only thing that was known about the launch date is that it would be in time for the holidays. While Google has certainly cut it close by launching it in the second week of December, they have managed to launch the tablet in time for buyers to purchase it as a gift. Below you can view all the relevant specifications of the Pixel C.
| Google Pixel C | |
| SoC | NVIDIA Tegra X1 (4x Cortex A57 + 4x Cortex A53) 2 SMM Maxwell GPU |
| RAM | 3 GB LPDDR4 |
| NAND | 32/64GB NAND |
| Display | 10.2” 2560x1800 IPS LCD 1500:1 contrast 500 nit brightness |
| Camera | 8MP Rear-facing, 2MP Front-facing |
| Diameter / Mass | 242 x 179 x 7mm, 517 grams |
| Battery | 34.2Wh |
| OS | Android 6 Marshmallow |
| Other Connectivity | 2x2 802.11a/b/g/n/ac + BT 4.1, USB Type-C |
| Accessories | Google Pixel C Keyboard: $149 |
| Price | $499/$599 |
Most of the Pixel C's core specifications were known at the time of the launch event in September, but today's launch comes with some additional info such as the battery capacity and amount of RAM. As we already knew, the Pixel C is powered by NVIDIA's Tegra X1 SoC, which is the first time that it's showing up in a mobile device. While we have seen Tegra X1 in the NVIDIA SHIELD TV, it'll be interesting to see how it performs in a more thermally and power constrained scenario.
Paired with the SoC is 3GB of LPDDR4 RAM and either 32GB or 64GB of NAND. As far as connectivity goes you get 2.4/5GHz 2x2 802.11ac WiFi, Bluetooth 4.1, and a USB Type-C connector. Based on what we've seen with the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P this is likely still using the USB2 protocol, but until we review it we can't make any definitive statements.
One of the most interesting aspects of the Pixel C is its display. It's a 2560x1800 IPS panel, which has an aspect ratio that is approximately equal to the square root of 2, which happens to be the same ratio used for the A series paper used in most countries around the world. This should make the display well suited to displaying documents that have been digitized and viewing web pages, but not as good for video playback.
Of course, the big selling point for the Pixel C is the keyboard accessory. Like the Surface Pro 4 and the iPad Pro, the Pixel C is Google's take on a tablet that targets users who want to be productive. While I didn't have much time to play with the keyboard at Google's event, the use of magnets and the ability to set the angle of incline anywhere from 100 to 130 degrees without any sort of kickstand seemed like a very novel hinge implementation, and I'm interested to see how well it works in actual use.
The Pixel C is available now on Google's online store. Both the 32GB and 64GB models are in stock and ship within a few business days. As noted above, the price for the 32GB model is $499, while the 64GB model is $599. The keyboard accessory adds an additional $149 onto the base price. In Canada it seems that there aren't any available online yet, and I'll be checking to see if that status changes in the future.
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BenSkywalker - Wednesday, December 9, 2015 - link
Multi core scores it beats either one of the K1s, single core it loses to the Denver based K1, overall it is still faster CPU wise. Vs the iPadPro the Pixel C is ~20% faster on 3DMark while the iPadPro is ~60% more expensive. On the CPU side the iPad Pro scores quite a bit higher on the single core tests, slightly higher on the multi core tests. Even if we focus solely on the CPU side, it isn't remotely close to warranting a ~60% price premium- that is an even larger disparity when you factor in that the significantly more expensive iPadPro flat out loses on the GPU side.The iPhone 6S has decent single core performance and fairly solid multi core- it gets *smashed* in GPU benches by the Pixel C- it isn't close. For the record, I didn't mention the iPadPro in my first post, I mentioned the SurfacePro 3 which was mentioned earlier.
You want to pick apart the Pixel C I can see a lot of areas that you could make a case. The SoC isn't one of them. What SoC could Google possibly have used that was better? I would like to see a link with some numbers for any SoC Google could have gotten their hands on that would have been better.
lucam - Wednesday, December 9, 2015 - link
You as many others unfortunately keep posting 3D Mark Ice storm as reference where if you can find some website with proper explanation you will see that it's a old bench using OpenGl ES 2.0 with a poor resolution of 720p. Moreover the total score is based also on physics score as well, in which the Apple's products were never fast.I would instead looking at GFX Bench at 1080p with Open Gl ES 3.0 and more to be close to reality. Go and check yourself the result and you see where the IPad Pro is. If you want to do it of corse otherwise stick with your dogma.
For the record I was only saying that if people think that the version of X1 in the tablet would have same performance of Android tv then would be very much disappointed.
If you want to compare GPU of the iPhone 6S, IPad air 2 and Pixel C thats what you get:
40fps Iphone6S, 43 fps Ipad Ipad Air 2, 53fps Pixel C - Manhattan 1080p.
Smashing, isn't ?
HideOut - Tuesday, December 8, 2015 - link
An extra $100 for just 32gb of on board memory? I dont see mention of microSD either. Maybe its just an oversight in the table. But 100? COMMON APPLE. Oh wait, its not apple. Its the company that makes fun of them doing what they do, overcharging us for $10 of hardware.Brandon Chester - Wednesday, December 9, 2015 - link
It has no MicroSD slot.Impulses - Wednesday, December 9, 2015 - link
Kinda curious that they elected not to make this part of the Nexus line, in name at least... Either a lack of confidence on it or just some short sighted view that the Pixel brand has just as much recognition at this point.Could've just called it the Nexus Pixel or something... Not that I care much either way, I actually like the AR and hardware but I'm not paying $500+ for a tablet running a mobile OS anytime soon. The functionality is just not there...
I say that as someone who uses his phone for way more than he should too, but on a device that large I expect better window management, better keyboard integration with actual key combo shortcuts, etc.
They keep building these interesting tablets with cool keyboards then they let it down in software/UI. Meh... I had an OG Transformer and I've played a lot with a N9 I gifted, FWIW, only using a N7 as a tablet right now.
kron123456789 - Wednesday, December 9, 2015 - link
The question is - does this thing support OpenGL 4.x as Nvidia Shield Android TV or it'll be like Nexus 9?lucam - Wednesday, December 9, 2015 - link
It seems so as it can run GFX Car chase bench and for doing that it must have the support of Open Gl 4.xkron123456789 - Wednesday, December 9, 2015 - link
Android version of Car Chase uses OpenGL ES 3.1 + AEP.lucam - Wednesday, December 9, 2015 - link
Sorry, you are right. I was confused by the name GFXBench 4.0lucam - Wednesday, December 9, 2015 - link
Talking about IPad Pro....when will the review? be :)