The Pixel C is Google's most recent tablet, having seen daylight in 2015
In addition to a couple of phones that might as well be official already, a third-gen Chromecast that was prematurely put up for sale at Best Buy, and a thoroughly leaked smart speaker with a display, Google is also reportedly planning to unveil a new tablet next week.
Curiously enough, we don’t know a great deal about the device, purportedly codenamed Nocturne, although a number of reliable insiders have recently claimed the final, official branding is Google Pixel Slate.
That pretty much rules out the possibility of this being a direct sequel for last year’s versatile but non-detachable Pixelbook laptop. Unlike 2015’s Pixel C, however, the Pixel Slate is expected to follow the Pixelbook’s suit and run Chrome OS instead of Android.
Believe it or not, fresh speculation calls for a dual-boot system in place here, and no, we’re not talking about how Chromebooks are capable of installing Android apps nowadays. What newly discovered Chromium source code suggests is Google at the very least considered loading up Windows on the “Nocturne” as a Chrome OS alternative.
Granted, the search giant is known for its bold, unconventional, and sometimes outright bizarre internal software experiments, many of which never actually end up seeing the light of day.
But a (not so) secret project dubbed “Campfire” has long been rumored as testing the waters for an unlikely Chrome OS/Windows alliance on the Pixelbook and then a number of other high-end Chromebooks.
If this particular experiment does pan out, the Pixelbook is still expected to receive Windows 10 support first, perhaps followed by the mysterious Pixel Slate tablet at some point over the next few months. Then again, Microsoft obviously has to give Google the green light... to go after the Surface Pro family. Why would that even be an option? View Full Bio
Adrian, a mobile technology enthusiast since the Nokia 3310 era, has been a dynamic presence in the tech journalism field, contributing to Android Authority, Digital Trends, and Pocketnow before joining PhoneArena in 2018. His expertise spans across various platforms, with a particular fondness for the diversity of the Android ecosystem. Despite the challenges of balancing full-time parenthood with his work, Adrian's passion for tech trends, running, and movies keeps him energized. His commitment to mid-range smartphones has led to an eclectic collection of devices, saved from personal bankruptcy by his preference for 'adequate' over 'overpriced'.
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