Google seemed to have a long-term plan for its tablets. Recent reports even talked about the Pixel Tablet 3 coming in 2026. However, industry sources revealed that the company has canceled the development of the Pixel Tablet 2 and its successors. That said, a new report reveals details about the key hardware improvements that the Google Pixel Tablet 2 would have brought.
Leaked technical details of the canceled Google Pixel Tablet 2
Previous leaks had revealed that the Google Pixel Tablet 2 would be powered by the Tensor G4 chip. The latest report from Android Authority confirms this, revealing that the Tensor G4 chip would have been slightly weaker. The company would have used an IPoP (Integrated Package on Package) instead of FOPLP (Fan-Out Panel Level Packaging) packaging. This translates into cheaper hardware, but thicker and with worse thermal management.
The chip could make sense in a tablet, whose large surface area allows it to dissipate heat much better than a phone. However, leaks have revealed that Google will use the SoC in the Pixel 9a as well. Despite not being the most powerful on the market, the Tensor G4 would have been a notable improvement over the Tensor G2 of the original Pixel Tablet.
The Pixel Tablet 2—codenamed “kiyomi”—would also have had a 5G modem. According to the source, Google planned to implement the Exynos 5400 modem of the Pixel 9 series. However, the tablet would not support satellite telecommunications. The presence of a modem would also have enabled GPS support in the variant with cellular connectivity.
Thread radio and improved display
Like the Pixel 9 series and the Google TV Streamer, the Pixel Tablet 2 would have integrated a Thread radio. Thread is a protocol that seeks to improve the user experience of smart home device ecosystems. Google promoted its first tablet with a big focus on its smart display capabilities. The company saw it as a hub from which to control all your IoT products. So, it makes more sense to integrate the radio into the tablet than in the Pixel 9 lineup, which Thread hardware utility is currently still zero.
Regarding the screen, the Pixel Tablet 2 would keep the same technology, size, and resolution. That is, it would have brought a 10.95-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 2560 x 1600 px. However, the company planned to increase the refresh rate to 120 Hz (previously 60 Hz) and the brightness to 550 nits (previously 500 nits).
Better front and rear cameras
Lastly, the leak with the details of the Pixel Tablet 2 reveals that Google had plans to improve the cameras. The device would have included a Samsung S5K3K1 front camera (1/3.94″, 10MP), the same as the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Plus, the device would have upgraded the rear camera to a Samsung S5K3J1 sensor (1/3″, 11MP, autofocus). Remember that the rear camera of the original Pixel Tablet (Sony IMX355, 1/4″ 8MP) doesn’t even support autofocus.