Google’s abandoned Pixel Tablet 2 had a better display and 5G upgrades

A hand holding the original Pixel Tablet.
The original Pixel Tablet only had a 60Hz display. | Photo by Dan Seifert / The Verge

The Pixel Tablet 2 may never see the light of day, but new details reported by Android Authority reveal what Google may have had up its sleeve for the sophomore device, including a high-refresh display, 5G connectivity, and more.

The Tablet 2 apparently would have gotten a 120Hz 10.95-inch LCD display, doubling the refresh rate of its predecessor, while the resolution would’ve been unchanged at 2,560 x 1,600 pixels. The Tablet 2 had some camera upgrades, too: it would’ve gotten the same 10MP selfie camera as the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, and Google had updated the rear camera with an 11MP shooter.

Google also reportedly planned to bring over the 5G modem from the Pixel 9 series, though while Tablet 2 models with cellular connectivity would have supported GPS, they wouldn’t have had satellite connectivity. The company may have leaned more into making the Tablet 2 a smart home hub with a Thread radio, though as Android Authority notes, Pixel 9 phones that also have the radio don’t actually use it for anything. Google had also apparently planned to add external display support for up to a 4K monitor.

None of that sounds especially impressive, but it might have made Google’s interesting Android tablet and smart display hybrid just a bit more competitive with Apple’s iPad. Instead, it seems, the Pixel Tablet will stay a one-off.

source https://www.theverge.com/2024/12/2/24311118/google-canceled-pixel-tablet-2-better-display-5g-tensor-g4