Google Pixel C (3GB + 64GB) Review | 168 Data compared

The Verge's 2015 review describes the Google Pixel C as a premium, all-metal tablet with a high-quality display and an innovative magnetic keyboard. While praising the hardware design, the review highlights significant drawbacks, including a lack of split-screen multitasking in Android Marshmallow and poorly optimized apps that diminish productivity. Ultimately, the review concludes the device is a, "half-baked" product that fails to justify its high price compared to competitors.

The Google Pixel C is a premium, high-performance Android tablet featuring a durable anodized aluminum build and a highly praised magnetic Bluetooth keyboard, according to CNET. It is powered by an Nvidia Tegra X1 processor, offering excellent gaming graphics, and boasts a 10.2-inch display that is brighter and sharper than competitors. With a battery life of 12.7 hours, the device serves as a durable, productivity-focused tool, though its high-end specs come with a premium price tag. CNETDespite the excellent hardware, the Pixel C falls short due to the lack of a trackpad on the optional keyboard and a limited selection of tablet-optimized Android apps. Some users may encounter a bug causing keys to stick or lag, and the device becomes heavy when attached to the keyboard. While it excels in performance, the software experience remains inferior to the iPad, making it more suited for users heavily embedded in the Google ecosystem. CNETFor the full, detailed review, visit CNET.

The Google Pixel C is praised in this 2015 Time review for its premium brushed-metal design, sharp 10.2-inch display, and a unique magnetic light bar that displays battery life, making it a high-end Android hardware offering. Performance is a major pro, with the Nvidia Tegra X1 processor providing a fluid experience, while the $149 optional magnetic keyboard is highlighted as a sturdy and comfortable accessory that improves lap-ability. However, the device suffers from a high total cost and software limitations, as it cannot run full desktop programs and its mobile app ecosystem fails to offer a true laptop replacement experience.

The Guardian's 2016 review positions the Google Pixel C as a premium Android tablet, featuring a robust "monolithic" aluminum design and a productive 10.2-inch Quad HD display with a unique 1:√2 aspect ratio. Powered by the Nvidia Tegra X1, the device delivers high-end performance with excellent battery life, lasting a full workday alongside features like a fast-charging USB-C port and a magnetic keyboard (sold separately). Despite the strong hardware, the review notes drawbacks, including the lack of native split-screen multitasking, high cost, mediocre cameras, and absence of expandable storage.

The Google Pixel C is praised for its premium, all-metal design, bright 10.2-inch display, and strong Nvidia Tegra X1 performance. While featuring a unique magnetic keyboard and solid battery life, the tablet is held back by a high price tag and software that lacked multi-window multitasking at launch. Despite the high-end hardware, issues with Android 6.0.1 stability and a lack of optimized apps make it hard to recommend over competitors like the iPad Air 2.

The Tech Advisor review highlights the Google Pixel C as a premium, high-performance Android tablet, praising its "monolithic" aluminum design, bright 10.2-inch display, and fast NVIDIA Tegra X1 processor. While lauded for media consumption, the device faces limitations as a productivity tool due to a high-priced optional keyboard and Android's, at-the-time, lack of native split-screen functionality. Ultimately deemed an excellent tablet rather than a laptop replacement, the Pixel C’s main drawbacks include its high total cost and lack of expandable storage.

The Google Pixel C boasts a sturdy metal design, an exceptionally bright 10.2-inch display, and top-tier performance driven by the Nvidia Tegra X1 chip. Its standout feature is the optional magnetic keyboard dock, which uses inductive charging for seamless, cable-free functionality. However, the keyboard lacks a backlight and is costly, while the tablet itself carries a premium price tag. Despite excellent hardware, the Pixel C is limited by Android's lack of native split-screen multitasking, making it inefficient for productivity compared to competitors. Furthermore, many apps remain poorly optimized for tablet, and the cameras are described as mediocre in low light.

The SlashGear review highlights the Google Pixel C as a premium, solidly built 10.2-inch tablet powered by an Nvidia Tegra X1 processor, featuring a sharp 2560 x 1800 display, USB Type-C, and a unique battery-level lightbar. While praised for its design, the tablet is criticized for being heavy and lacking features like SD card support, while the screen's 1:√2 aspect ratio causes black bars during video playback. Furthermore, the $149 magnetic keyboard accessory is considered high-quality but lacks a trackpad, and the device's high total cost limits its appeal. The core issue identified is the lack of optimized software, as the device lacks native split-screen multitasking and many apps fail to utilize the large screen properly. Ultimately, while the hardware is top-tier, the current software limitation and premium price point (starting at $499, plus $149 for the keyboard) make it difficult to recommend as a true productivity-focused laptop replacement.

Walt Mossberg’s review of the Google Pixel C praises its premium hardware, highlighting the sturdy aluminum design, a brilliant 10.2-inch display, and a highly innovative, magnetic Bluetooth keyboard that offers an exceptional typing experience. However, the device is criticized for running Android 6.0 Marshmallow, which lacks essential productivity features like split-screen multitasking and suffers from a lack of optimized tablet apps that look stretched on the high-resolution screen. Concluding that the software feels like a "beta" product and citing Wi-Fi connectivity issues, the review finds the hardware excellent but ultimately impossible to recommend over competitors due to its unpolished, limited user experience.

The TechWalls review highlights the Google Pixel C as a premium, all-aluminium Android tablet featuring a high-density 10.2-inch display and strong performance driven by the Nvidia Tegra X1 processor. While praising the exceptional battery life and innovative magnetic keyboard, the review notes drawbacks including a manufacturing clicking noise, a speaker-related audio bug, average cameras, and muffled audio output. Ultimately, it is described as a top-tier Android device, though deemed too expensive to fully replace a laptop. For more details, visit TechWalls. TechWalls

The Google Pixel C features a premium, industrial anodized aluminum body, a high-resolution 10.2-inch display (2560 x 1800), and a unique magnetic "lightbar" for battery monitoring. Powered by the Nvidia Tegra X1 processor, it offers top-tier performance for gaming and media, coupled with a highly regarded magnetic keyboard that enables a stable laptop-like experience and roughly 10 hours of battery life. However, the experience is hindered by Android's lack of native split-screen multitasking and poor app optimization for large screens at launch, alongside a high price point that makes it a costly investment compared to competitors. For a detailed analysis, visit Computerworld's Pixel C Review.

Stefan Etienne of Chip-Monks praises the Google Pixel C for its stellar industrial design, featuring a premium, rigid aluminum build and a vibrant 10.2-inch 2560x1800 display. The tablet is lauded for its performance, driven by the Nvidia Tegra X1 processor, and unique features like a battery-indicator light bar and USB Type-C port. The optional magnetic keyboard is highlighted as a superior accessory, offering a secure, adjustable hinge and inductive charging directly from the tablet. However, the experience is severely hindered by the immaturity of Android as a tablet OS, lacking essential native split-screen functionality at launch. Significant drawbacks include poor app optimization for the larger screen, mediocre cameras, and a cramped keyboard lacking backlighting. Furthermore, the high price point of the tablet and keyboard combo makes it difficult to recommend over alternatives.

The Google Pixel C retains a premium feel in 2023, boasting a high-quality anodized aluminum chassis, a 10.2-inch display, and an innovative, robust magnetic keyboard attachment that still feels modern. While the 2015 hardware remains physically impressive, it is severely limited by outdated software, stuck on Android 8.1 Oreo, which lacks modern tablet optimizations. Despite the once-powerful Nvidia Tegra X1 processor, the device struggles with modern apps, showing performance lag and thermal throttling, while the battery on existing units is significantly degraded. Ultimately, the Pixel C is a "beautiful relic" and a collector's item, with its superior build quality serving as a high-water mark for design, even if its software and performance make it impractical for daily use.