Google Pixel C Pro Reviews

The Google Pixel C has it all: a fantastic display, heaps of power, a premium design and a lofty price tag. The only problem is, it's up against the excellent iPad Pro.

As a standalone tablet, the Pixel C is superb. It’s better than the HTC-made Nexus 9 which was great but not exceptional. Which the 'C' most certainly is. Storage is a bit limited, but if you can live with 32GB it’s good value at £399. Paying an extra £119 for the keyboard is something we can’t see many buyers doing. If typing is a priority, you’d be better off spending your £518 on a decent ultraportable laptop as Android Marshmallow – good as it is – isn’t nearly as versatile as Windows. And while the keyboard is well designed, you’ll still prefer a full-size laptop keyboard. If you need to run Windows apps, the consider the Surface 3 which is slightly cheaper - even with the optional keyboard - but remember that there are even cheaper options such as the Asus Transformer T100HA.

The Pixel C is simply not a decent productivity device, despite what Google would like to think or tell you, so I’d only recommend purchasing it as a standalone device, and only if you're content with what Android has to offer from an app, game, and tablet entertainment standpoint.

There's a lot to like about the Pixel C. The hardware is beautifully designed and finished, the magnetic system is clever, and the performance is whippet-fast. It feels like it's ready and waiting for a version of Android that is similarly practical, and there the whole experience starts to slide.

Killer industrial design, awesome performance, and a great hardware keyboard telegraph the Pixel C's intentions. Now Google just needs to make Android a productivity tablet OS.