Google's Not Going to Make Tablets Anymore

[MacRumors]

Google has no future plans to release additional tablet devices and has even canceled two models that were in development, the company confirmed to Computerworld today.

Google has not released a tablet in 2019, but did come out with the Pixel Slate in 2018. Google was working on two smaller tablets, but ultimately decided to stop focusing on the tablet form factor in favor of laptops.

The Pixel Slate was Google's first Pixel-branded tablet offering, and as Computerworld clarifies, Google considers a tablet to be a device that detaches completely from a keyboard base or has no physical keyboard at all. Google considers its two-in-one convertible devices like the Pixelbook to be laptops, not tablets.

Google announced its plans to discontinue work on tablets to employees yesterday, and those working on tablet-related projects will be reassigned.

A Google spokesperson directly confirmed all of these details to me. The news was revealed at an internal company meeting on Wednesday, and Google is currently working to reassign employees who were focused on the abandoned projects onto other areas. Many of them, I'm told, have already shifted over to the laptop side of that same self-made hardware division.

It's not clear why Google has ultimately decided not to pursue the tablet form factor, but the company may be finding it difficult to compete with Apple and Samsung, the top two tablet vendors worldwide.

Apple's iPad is responsible for the most worldwide shipments, and over the course of the last few years, Apple has been aiming to hit all price points with the 6th-generation iPad, iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro models.

Google plans to continue offering support and updates for the Pixel Slate until June 2024, and the Chrome OS team will continue to focus on tablets and laptops in its software development. Though Google is discontinuing its own tablets, there are other manufacturers who produce Chrome-based tablets.

Google will be shifting focus to laptops, with a laptop-oriented Pixelbook product planned before the end of the year, and will also continue focusing on its Pixel line of phones.

Article Link: Google's Not Going to Make Tablets Anymore

 

[thadoggfather]

not that surprised, it was never really a different experience than a blown up version of android phones. and certainly not a gateway drug into the G platform.

Lots of android diehards swear by their iPads as their preferred tablet, even if it's begrudgingly.

 

[bigboyz12000]

I work in IT and don't know anyone that has one. Well, i am lying i know people that have the first gen tablet and their kids use it. Just a big phone without native calling features. Not really needed at all IMO. (iPad is the same to me)

 

[linxy33]

poor google

*the way this title sounds*

 

[sracer]

This makes no sense to me given Google's emphasis on improving the tablet experience in Chrome OS. So they're probably just going to focus on clamshell chromebooks and 2-in-1s.

Looks like it's back to the iPad Pro when the time comes to move on from the Pixelbook.

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

 

[benshive]

They got their hands on the latest iPad Pro and realized there was no way they could compete

 

[apolloa]

Bit of a shame as they sold the legendary Nexus 7. But it’s last Pixel attempt is said to be a disaster so it’s probably for the best. Mind you the first Nexus 7 was a joint project already being worked on by ASUS and Nvidia and google essentially just bought it I believe.

Still it seems you have Amazon or Apple or Microsoft these days and that’s it. Samsung make a token effort it seems and the rest don’t seem to bother anymore..

The result of phablets?

 

[ThisBougieLife]

The iPad is essentially the only tablet worth using (I’ve tried a few Android ones and was unimpressed). I find that odd. It seems like it should be a more competitive market, but it really isn’t at all. The iPad is practically its own market.

Apple has done well at making the iPad a computer alternative. The Android tablets could never get past the "giant phone" stage (which is how many viewed the iPad when it was first introduced. It's moved far beyond that).

 

[4jasontv]

What do they mean by laptop? Are they going to focus on putting Android on a laptop shaped device, expanding chromium, or supporting an actual computer?

 

[fermat-au]

Has Google finally realised that phone OSs on a large tablet is just a big phone?
Long term Microsoft got it right with the Surface, an OS with desktop power and a touchscreen?

 

[sinsin07]

It's not clear why Google has ultimately decided not to pursue the tablet form factor, but the company may be finding it difficult to compete with Apple and Samsung, the top two tablet vendors worldwide.

Really?
It’s really not clear?

 

[onespeedvelo]

iPad is already on a class of its own. Now with the new OS will take off even more!

 

[JetTester]

They made tablets? Who knew!

 

[TSE]

They're going to release smart toilets instead, collecting user data to sell to various adult sites.

 

[macduke]

They are probably focusing on laptops because they see an opportunity to challenge Apple and all the problems they've been having with their laptops lately. Also enterprise is huge.

 

[Simplifier]

What if Google would focus on what they do best, such as search engine? When you think about all the energy spent for products that are then discontinued soon after, they would be better off giving off dividends to their shareholders.

 

[Apple_Robert]

This is good news. We don’t need anymore Google tentacles in the internet world, especially when we are trying to stop the spread of what is there already.

Google can’t compete with the quality of integration and security Apple offers.

 

[NickCostides]

With the iPad currently on Amazon at $249 it makes it almost impossible to compete with at that price point.

 

[69Mustang]

not that surprised, it was never really a different experience than a blown up version of android phones. and certainly not a gateway drug into the G platform.

Lots of android diehards even swear by their iPads as their preferred tablet, even if it's begrudgingly.

Yeah, I'm kinda like that. I prefer Android phones but iPad tablets. 'Cept it's not begrudgingly. Right tool for right job. Most Android tablets apps were basically blown up phone apps. To be fair though, 'til recently the iPad was sort of in the same boat... not from an app standpoint, but an experience standpoint. I hadn't been excited about iPads in a long time until the last WWDC.

 

[Baymowe335]

The next headline should be Google no longer making any hardware. They suck at it.

I’m long GOOGL but even I think it’s a waste of time.

 

[thadoggfather]

Yeah, I'm kinda like that. I prefer Android phones but iPad tablets. 'Cept it's not begrudgingly. Right tool for right job. Most Android tablets apps were basically blown up phone apps. To be fair though, 'til recently the iPad was sort of in the same boat... not from an app standpoint, but an experience standpoint. I hadn't been excited about iPads in a long time until the last WWDC.

well you are on MacRumors though

on Slickdeals, I see lots of people posting on iPad deals that are android 'fanboys' begrudgingly admit theyre hooked haha

 

[now i see it]

giggle is the world's leader in abandonware. No other tech company throws as much crap to the wall and none of it sticks. The Pixel phones are next - you'll see.

 

[realtuner]

not that surprised, it was never really a different experience than a blown up version of android phones.

The irony of this comment is that was the exact complaint people leveled at the iPad when it came out - it’s just a big iPhone.

Didn’t take long for developers to start cranking out tablet optimized iPad Apps to take advantage of the large screen. Something that never happened on the Android side so they were permanently stuck in the “blown up phone Apps” world.

 

[thadoggfather]

The irony of this comment is that was the exact complaint people leveled at the iPad when it came out - it’s just a big iPhone.

Didn’t take long for developers to start cranking out tablet optimized iPad Apps to take advantage of the large screen. Something that never happened on the Android side so they were permanently stuck in the “blown up phone Apps” world.

There's still an argument to be made there with mobile version of Safari (i'm talking pre-iOS 13 beta) and other elements in my honest opinion and that stigma will never really fully go away, but compared to blown up Android, it definitely starts to feel like a different experience or at minimum a more polished one.

I've also never really understood the 'iPad or mac' or 'Ipad or PC' debate. Or Cook's sentiment that iPad can replace the Mac. A phone can replace the Mac too, for lots of people their phone is their personal computer and they dont have a computer or a tablet... What's wrong with using the tool you want or need at the time, but having both if thats what you want? Whats the problem , from narratieve perspective either from Apple? That's sales of two products.

We're all tech gluttons. Forcing yourself to simplify your gear roster with locked down devices can lead to unneeded complexity to get the job done.