The Pixel tablet has a charging dock with optional speaker. (Image source: Google)
Google appears to be back in the tablet business for the long haul, as details of a Pixel Tablet 3 have surfaced. The tablet, which is expected to arrive in 2027 will have two USB-C ports and a less powerful version of the Tensor G6 chipset.
After a hiatus, Google returned to the tablet scene in 2023 with the launch of the Tableta Pixel. Although it has yet to announce a successor, details of a Pixel Tablet 3 have surfaced. This leak not only reveals details of the Pixel Tablet 3, but also reveals that Google has long-term plans for its tablets.
The Pixel Tablet(currently available on Amazon for $319) is not like most tablets, as it has a speaker charging dock that allows it to transform into a smart screen like the Google Nest Hub Max. It connects to this dock via a set of pogo pins on the back which is actually a USB 2.0 connection.
A new leak reported by Android Authority has revealed that the Pixel Tablet 3 will keep the pogo pins which means it should have a dock. It remains to be seen if it is the same dock as the Pixel Tablet or a new one. However, pogo pins are not the main focus of the report.
According to the source, a document has revealed that the tablet, which is scheduled to launch in 2027, will have a second USB-C port. The document specifically mentions that the Tensor G6 chip will have a second USB-C controller for tablet-only use cases.
This additional port is said to meet USB 3.2 specifications and support DisplayPort output, allowing users to connect up to two displays (daisy-chained). The number of connected displays can go up to four if a user connects two displays to the other USB-C port. The port connections are said to be physically on the opposite side of the chip to facilitate signal routing on tablets.
The addition of a second USB-C port may point to the Pixel Tablet 3 being a more productive device than its predecessor. However, that will mean that Android will also have to gain some serious productivity features to make it worth using as a desktop operating system.
In addition to information about the Pixel Tablet 3’s additional USB-C port, Android Authority It has also revealed details about the Tensor chipset that will power it. The info also comes from leaked materials from Google’s gChips team.
The documents reveal that the Tensor G6 will power several Pixel devices described as the Premium 26, Base 26, Fold 26, and Entry Phone 27. These devices are likely the Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro Fold, and the Pixel 11a respectively.
There is also a Pixel 27 Tablet that is believed to be the Pixel Tablet 3. This means that the Pixel Tablet 2 should arrive next year and that there will be a 2-year gap between Pixel tablets. It can also be deduced that the Pixel Tablet 3 will probably be launched before the Pixel 12, in 2027. The most interesting thing is that the Tensor G6 inside the Pixel Tablet 3 and Pixel 11a will not be as powerful as the one in the Pixel 11 series .
The Pixel Tablet is powered by the same Tensor G2 inside the Pixel 7, but the Pixel 3 may get an inferior Tensor chipset. (Image source: Google)
Although that shouldn’t be a big surprise since Google already uses a less powerful version of its Tensor processors On the Pixel A series, this case is a little different. Google’s Tensor chipsets have been manufactured by Samsung’s foundry, which uses two different packages: iPoP and FOPLP. Tensor chips with iPoP package are cheaper to manufacture but are not as efficient as those with FOPLP.
However, Google is changing TSMC to manufacture its Tensor chips, and there will not be the option of two different packages. So how will you differentiate the chips in terms of performance? According to the source, Google is considering fusing the defective TPU parts of the chips that need to be scrapped. Therefore, these chips will have reduced AI performance that will distinguish them from the best chips.
The effect of this lower AI performance is presumed to be that some AI features will not be available on devices powered by the lower chips or AI features may operate slowly. In addition to a lower version of the Tensor G6, there are also expected to be differences in RAM between the flagship Pixel phones, the Pixel A series, and the Pixel tablet, which should also impact performance.
Translator: Ninh Ngoc Duy – Editorial Assistant – 451873 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2008
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