Google discontinuing a product or service isn\u2019t much of a surprise, I mean, there are websites solely dedicated to keeping track of all the things the company has prematurely shuttered<\/a>.<\/p>\n But the Pixel Slate is a big loss, both to Google and the public at large.<\/p>\n [Read: <\/span>How Netflix shapes mainstream culture, explained by data<\/span><\/a>]<\/em><\/p>\n Before we go on, a short disclaimer.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve reached out to Google for a comment and more clarification, but we\u2019re working under the assumption that the company has shifted completely out of selling tablets, rather than readying for a next model. Not only has it half-announced this<\/a>, the decision is also backed by logic: why would Google remove all traces of the hardware from its site if it was planning to launch something else?<\/p>\n In other words, Google\u2019s tablet aspirations are dead.<\/p>\n Simply put, it\u2019s because Google had the potential to make a fantastic, competitive, and affordable machine.<\/p>\n Over the past year, I got bang into tablets again<\/a> \u2014 something I attribute to my time with iPad Pro. Long story short, I now get<\/em> what tablets are for<\/a>. I understand their value. And, alongside that, I recognize the importance of competition.<\/p>\n The iPad has long been the dominant tablet across the world<\/a> and there\u2019s little that\u2019s truly challenging it. Yes, the Samsung Galaxy Tab<\/a> and Amazon Fire HD<\/a> are popular and solid devices, but they can\u2019t really match Apple when it comes to quality, usability, and interoperability<\/p>\n But I believe Google could.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s take its Pixel phones as an example. I\u2019ve written before that the company found its sweet spot with the budget-focused \u201ca\u201d series of handsets<\/a>. These thrive by eschewing the idea of competing as a premium brand \u2014 instead making affordable devices that use the cleanest version of Android and perform seamlessly as part of the overall Google ecosystem. In fact, the company seems to have taken this onboard, as with the Pixel 5 it actually removed some features the previous model had,<\/a> as well as dropping the price.<\/p>\n And you know what? It was one of the best phones of 2020<\/a>.<\/p>\n This is the approach I would\u2019ve loved Google to take with the Pixel Slate. The original tablet wasn\u2019t perfect \u2014 far from it, in fact. Although it was a gorgeous machine, it was overpriced compared to its competitors<\/a> and it wasn\u2019t entirely clear who it was aimed at.<\/p>\n But these are easy issues to solve in today\u2019s world.<\/p>\n Considering the past year has seen tablet sales soar<\/a> and Google shift millions of Chromebooks<\/a>, now should be the ideal time for the company to release a new and cheaper Pixel Slate.<\/p>\n Imagine it: an affordable machine that can be used for work and leisure. Something that could be combined the Pixelbook Pen making for easy note taking. All your work and details seamlessly synced across your Google accounts. Mmm, I\u2019m getting fuzzy just thinking about it.<\/p>\n Honestly, there\u2019s probably a good reason why Google has discontinued the Pixel Slate. Maybe it\u2019s putting all its focus on the Pixelbook Go<\/a>? Maybe sales were bad? But it was early days for the Pixel Slate, it had only just started racing against its competitors.<\/p>\n I struggle to see a world in which a more affordable Pixel Slate wouldn\u2019t kill it \u2014 and this leads me to one conclusion: by totally discontinuing the tablet, Google has punched itself in the face.<\/p>\n Did you know we have a newsletter all about consumer tech? It\u2019s called Plugged In \u2013 and you can subscribe to it right here<\/a>. <\/i><\/p>\n Published February 1, 2021 \u2014 10:35 UTC <\/p>\n![\"Google](\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2018\/11\/Google-Pixel-Slate-1-of-1-796x417.jpg\"){kind=tracking}
But why are you a sadboy about the Pixel Slate?<\/h2>\n
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