Google's New Pixel C Tablet Is Built With Nvidia's Tegra X1

Google unveiled its latest tablet built with the Tegra X1 SoC: the Pixel C. Unlike previous tablets made by Google, which were co-developed and manufactured by other companies such as Asus and Samsung, the Pixel C will be the first tablet designed and built exclusively by Google in house.

In the heart of the Pixel C is Nvidia's Tegra X1, a powerful SoC currently used inside of the Shield Android TV. The SoC has eight 64-bit ARM CPU cores in a big.LITTLE configuration, with four Cortex-A57 cores and four Cortex-A53 cores. For the GPU side of the chip, Nvidia packed in 256 CUDA cores based on the Maxwell architecture, and the entire SoC is built on a 20 nm TSMC process.

It is fortunate that the Tegra X1 contains such a relatively powerful GPU, because the Pixel C will need it. The tablet's 10.2-inch display features a high 2560 x 1800 (308 PPI) resolution. The tablet is also one of the earliest devices of its kind to feature a USB Type-C port. On the software side it's running Android 6.0 Marshmallow.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
The Pixel C
Storage Capacity32 GB64 GB
SoCNvidia Tegra X1Nvidia Tegra X1
CPU4 x Cortex-A57 + 4 x Cortex-A534 x Cortex-A57 + 4 x Cortex-A53
GPU256 Nvidia Maxwell CUDA Cores256 Nvidia Maxwell CUDA Cores
Display10.2-inch 2560 x 1800 (308 PPI)10.2-inch 2560 x 1800 (308 PPI)
OSAndroid 6.0 MarshmallowAndroid 6.0 Marshmallow
MSRP$499$599

The tablet will be available in two different capacities: a 32 GB version for $499 and a 64 GB version for $599. An optional attachable keyboard will be available for an additional $149. The Pixel C is expected to be out in time for the holiday season this year.

Follow Michael Justin Allen Sexton @EmperorSunLao. Follow us @tomshardware, on Facebook and on Google+.

Michael Justin Allen Sexton is a Contributing Writer for Tom's Hardware US. He covers hardware component news, specializing in CPUs and motherboards.
  • JQB45
    Why is the keyboard an extra $150.00?
    Reply
  • hoofhearted
    MicroSD?
    Reply
  • DocBones
    That is a very expensive tablet. Would really expect 4G support at that price.
    Reply
  • clonazepam
    Why is the keyboard an extra $150.00?

    For that price, the keyboard probably has a trackpad and a battery providing double (or more) the power. Don't know for sure though.
    Reply
  • gangrel
    It's a 32 GB tablet with a rather strong processor, and a major screen. No way 4G fits into the price point.

    That said, I'll probably pass. First, a tablet of this size becomes less portable. Second, the processor is strong for now, but the next-gen Qualcomms are expected to be more powerful and have less heat issues...the A-57 cores, IIRC, are the source of the heat problems.
    Reply
  • alextheblue
    It's a 32 GB tablet with a rather strong processor, and a major screen. No way 4G fits into the price point.

    Wow 32 WHOLE Gigabytes? And a lightning-fast-if-you're-comparing-to-a-phone CPU! They really outdid themselves.

    At this price I'd expect to see 64GB, a microSD slot, and either an X5 or X7 Cherry Trail T. The only thing the Pixel C has going for it is a decently high resolution display, but at 10" I'd rather have a decently calibrated 1080p unit if it means all the other hardware gets bumped way up.

    That keyboard price is outrageous too. Who do they think they are, Apple? If they bundled the keyboard or included LTE this price would look a lot more attractive.
    Reply
  • Ephemeral_1
    Price does seem Apple high... You do get slightly better screen resolution an 32 vs 16 GB compared to an Ipad air 2, but if the build quality, and or software real world experience are not as good then they are no value.
    Reply
  • Larry Litmanen
    It's a 32 GB tablet with a rather strong processor, and a major screen. No way 4G fits into the price point.

    That said, I'll probably pass. First, a tablet of this size becomes less portable. Second, the processor is strong for now, but the next-gen Qualcomms are expected to be more powerful and have less heat issues...the A-57 cores, IIRC, are the source of the heat problems.

    I don't know about you but i had a tablet before, storage is a huge issue. Most people do not want 4G because no one wants to pay more money so most go for a WiFi model, you can't always access Wifi like when you are on the train so you have to have content stored locally.

    A season of a NCIS or some show like that can be around 7GBs, if you have only a few season plus the OS, plus music, pictures, apps and games, you will run out very fast.

    Micro SD card for extra storage is an absolute must, without it i would not buy any tablet.
    Reply
  • jestersage
    The keyboard incorporates a battery that can wirelessly charge the tablet when folded in. So you only have to charge one device. That accounts for much of the price.

    I prefer a lower resolution, too. 1080p is fine. And more storage or a micro SD option.
    Reply
  • Quixit
    Maybe I'll pick one of these up when they end up in the clearance bin.
    Reply