Google job listings hint at the company’s plan to make Android-powered tablets dominate the market

The release of the Pixel 6 series, especially the first Google silicon called Tensor chip, showed Google is more serious than ever to make its presence known in the mobile hardware competition. Now, the company appears to be planning on occupying more space in the tablet market through the Android operating software.

Recently, a series of job listings for Google’s “Android Tablets” department was spotted by 9To5Google, leading to speculations about the company’s supposed plans in the tablet market. While some might think this hints at a Pixel tablet in the works, details included in job posts suggest a different scenario.

It appears that Google is more focused, at least currently, on getting more tablet OEMs to use the Android operating system. In the job post for a new Senior Engineering Manager to oversee “Android Tablet App Experience,” Google wrote, “We believe that the future of computing is shifting towards more powerful and capable tablets.”

While that might seem like Google is hinting at launching its own tablet device, the following sentence suggests it may not be the case. “We are working to deliver the next chapter of computing and input by launching seamless support across our platforms and hero experiences that unlock new and better ways of being productive and creative,” Google added.

In the two other job listings, the possibility that the posts are more about expanding the Android OS reach in more tablet brands is made more apparent. Both the Director and VP of Product Management jobs will include the task of “[partnering] with leads across Android, Platforms and Ecosystems, and cross-product area teams.”

While it is not entirely impossible for Google to introduce a Pixel-branded tablet, the company appears to have a different priority at the moment. These job posts also give more insight into the importance of launching the Android 12L OS version for Google.

Many previously thought the OS designed specifically for devices with larger screens such as tablets and foldable phones was announced because Google was close to launching its first foldable smartphone. That did not happen yet, and Google has given no indications that a Pixel tablet will be released soon. It now appears that Google is also looking to expand its reach through its software products by possibly making the Android OS available to more tablet manufacturers around the world.

Photo by Masakaze Kawakami on Unsplash