Google Takes On Surface Pro 3, iPad Pro With 10.2-inch Android-Powered Pixel C

Perhaps Microsoft was onto something with the Surface and Surface Pro family of tablets. We’ve seen a number of manufacturers embrace the tablet + keyboard accessory, most recently with Lenovo ideapad MIIX 700 and the Apple iPad Pro. Now Google is officially throwing its hat into the ring with the Pixel C.

The Pixel C is a 10.2-inch (308 pixels-per-inch) tablet that runs the Android operating system (Android 6.0 Marshmallow, of course).  Powering the device is an NVIDIA Tegra X1 processor that is paired with 3GB of RAM (for comparison, the Surface Pro 3 tops out at 8GB, while the iPad Pro comes with 4GB of RAM). The device also features a USB-C port, which brings it in line with the newly announced Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P.

Of course, everyone is going to be talking about the Pixel C’s keyboard, and it’s quite an interesting contraption. They keyboard attaches to the back of your tablet and can be adjusted from 100 degrees to 135 degrees. It communications with the Pixel C via Bluetooth, which means that there are no actual physical power or data ports connecting the two devices.

So how does the keyboard get power? We’re glad you asked! It has its own internal battery which is inductively changed by the tablet itself — nifty!

The Pixel C starts at $499, and that will get you 32GB of storage. If you prefer to double your onboard storage, you’ll have to tack on an additional $100. The keyboard accessory will set you back another $149. Unfortunately, Google is being rather mum on release details, only stating that it will be available in time for the holiday season.