Google has reportedly canceled the development of its second-generation Pixel Tablet, raising questions about the company’s commitment to the tablet market. This news follows reports that Google had also canceled plans for a third-generation Pixel Tablet, even before a second-generation model was released.
These cancellations suggest that sales of the first Pixel Tablet, released last year, may not have met expectations, leading Google to re-evaluate its investment in the tablet category. Just last week, there were rumors of new features and accessories being developed for the now-canceled second-generation Pixel Tablet.
It’s possible that Google’s Nest division, which focuses on smart home devices, could take over the company’s efforts in the large-screen device category. This could involve further development of devices like the Nest Hub and Hub Max, rather than standalone tablets.
Google has faced challenges in gaining significant traction in the tablet market, despite early success with the Nexus 7. The company’s previous attempt to compete with Apple’s iPad, the Pixel Slate, was met with negative reviews, leading Google to announce in 2019 that it was exiting the tablet market.
However, Google reversed course in 2022, announcing that its Pixel hardware team was developing a new tablet. This resulted in the $499 Pixel Tablet, which was bundled with a speaker dock. Google later began selling the tablet separately for $399.
The recent cancellations indicate that Google’s efforts to establish a strong presence in the tablet market have once again encountered obstacles. The company’s future plans for the tablet category remain uncertain.
