Google’s laptop-tablet hybrid might be launching this week

Google hasn’t put a lot of focus on its tablets in the last two years or so, but the rise of laptop-tablet hybrids has started to breathe new life into the market, which has renewed the company’s interest. Tablets used to be all about playing games and watching videos, but that started to change once Microsoft released its Surface Pro line, at which point tablets started to focus more on productivity. You know a trend is serious when Apple is hopping on the bandwagon, and Google doesn’t want to be left out. A few months ago, the company announced the Pixel C, which is its answer to the iPad Pro and Surface Pro 4, and though there’s no official release date, some reports suggest that it could be this week. 

Google’s hybrid laptop and tablet device, the Google Pixel C, could be coming as soon as next week, set to compete with the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 and the Apple iPad Pro. The Google Pixel C is rumored to be coming out as early as Dec. 8, Tech Radar reports. The news comes via Dutch website Tweakers. If the reports is confirmed, the laptop tablet hybrid would go on sale about two months after the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P smartphones. The Google Pixel C and the new Nexus smartphones were announced at the Google Nexus event on Sept. 29. Just like the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 and the Apple iPad Pro, the Google Pixel C is a tablet that can be paired with an optional keyboard cover. When the keyboard is attached to the tablet, the device will act more like a laptop. Google wants users to be productive with the Pixel C, instead of just watching videos or playing games on it. The keyboard attaches to the tablet with magnets instead of docking ports. When it is attached to the tablet, the keyboard will also charge itself. The offered keyboard is not a miniature model either. Rather, it is a full-sized and full-featured keyboard. This indicates Google wants people to use the Pixel C for typing documents and getting real work done, putting the Pixel C up against the Surface Pro 4 as a tablet meant for productivity.