It is already expected that Google will unveil the new Pixel and Pixel XL flagship smartphones at a press event on Oct. 4. Speculations suggest, however, that Google will also launch a new slate at the said event.
Perennial tipster Evan Blass has already let it slip that Google is partnering with Huawei for a new 7-inch slate. However, the announcement did not go into specifics of when fans can expect the new tablet, only that it is "on track for release before the end of the year." With Google already confirming a press event for Oct. 4, industry followers agree that the Huawei-built tablet will be unveiled at the launch.
This is highly possible, given speculations that the new slate, instead of previously-rumored Nexus 7 follow-up, will be rebranded as a part of the Pixel lineup. Blass himself hinted this. Instead of naming the new tablet as a Nexus 7 successor, the noted tipster only indicated that the upcoming slate is "Google's Huawei-built 7-inch tablet." This may be a clue indicating that, instead of a 2016 Nexus 7 edition, Google will be introducing the device as a part of the Pixel lineup.
In addition, the new slate featuring a 4-GB RAM also indicates that it will be a flagship tablet. This is contrary to how the Nexus 7 is positioned as a budget-friendly, mid-ranger series. With the upcoming tablet having 4 GB of RAM, it is expected that its specs will include an above-average Snapdragon 625 processor. However, it is also likely that Google is positioning its next tablet as a flagship slate counterpart to the Pixel, which means that the new 7-inch device may also come out with a Snapdragon 820 processor.
However, even if the new tablet gets rebranded as part of the Pixel lineup, Google may still position it as a budget-friendly iteration, despite having flagship specs. The new tablet's maker, Huawei, is known to come out with flagship devices that carry competitive price tags, and this may also carry over to its new Google-partnered tablet.
