Google Pixelbook 12in review & Specification

Although there are many Pixelbook on the market, almost all are modern-day netbooks. Google Pixelbook 12in, Google’s flagship cloud-dependent laptop, is an exception to this trend.

With its stylish, sturdy metal case and high pixel density screen, the Pixel could easily be mistakenly thought to be a MacBook Pro. Although the original Pixel cost more than 1000, it was limited by its four-and-a-half hour battery life. This has all changed.

Battery life and performance

Battery life is the biggest difference between 2015 Pixel and its predecessor. The 2015 Pixel has a much more powerful Broadwell processor than the original Pixel. The 666 model is equipped with a dual-core Intel Core i5 5200U processor, while the 832 version has a Core i7 55500U.

The Pixel’s power-sipping processor enabled it to achieve a long battery life of 11 hours 26 minutes when connected via 802.11n WiFi. It also runs undemanding webapps like WordPress and Google Apps, with occasional excursions into YouTube and Pixlr. The battery indicator light is a stylish addition to the Pixel’s laptop. Double tap it and it will illuminate in stages in green, red or red. This gives you an idea of how much remaining battery life.

It’s important to remember that the time it takes to charge the Pixel is not comparable to the battery life results of the Mac OS X and Windows laptops. However, the Chromebook Pixel should be able last a whole working day without requiring a recharge. It’s lightweight of 1.5kg and its charger make it easy to carry around.

Core i5 5200U processor with 8GB memory is more than fast enough to run webapps. Core i7 5500U with 16GB RAM in the higher-end version is too slow. We can’t think of any other webapps that require such processing power, except Polarr, an RAW image processing application. However, this doesn’t mean the Pixel isn’t future-proof. If you are developing a demanding app internally, the Pixel’s speed could prove to be a benefit.

Storage and Ports

Core i7 models are more expensive, but they come with a 64GB SSD. This is in addition to the 32GB that comes with the Core i5 standard model. You get 1TB of Google Drive storage for free for three-years (worth $360 at current Google consumer pricing). This offer is not available to enterprise users and is therefore only for consumers. However, it can be redeemed by anyone. As long as your administrator hasn’t inexplicably disabled Google Drive support, this offer applies to Google Apps for Work users.

For more local storage, you can use SD cards or USB drives. Only the 2015 Pixel, after the Apple 12in Retina MacBook, supports USB 3.1 Gen 1 with Type C connectors. The Pixel, like Apple’s ultra-thin laptops, uses USB-C to charge. The Pixel is lighter than Apple’s ultraportable. It has two USB-C ports on either side. There are also two standard USB 3.0 ports along with a slot for a SD card. This flexibility is great, as you can only output video to a projector or TV using a USB-C or DisplayPort adapter.

Display or Screen

The Pixel’s 12.85in screen is likely to be the most stunning secondary display that you connect. It is bright and brilliant with excellent colour accuracy and contrast. Although viewing angles are large, the glossy finish can cause glare from overhead lighting (such as fluorescent lumieres found in many offices) that can be distracting.

The high resolution of Google Pixelbook 12in 2560x1700pixels makes text look almost like print. Although the 3:2 aspect ratio may seem odd to those who are used to large-screen monitors, the extra horizontal space is very useful for reading and working with documents. It also matches the default aspect ratio for most cameras more closely.

The screen is touch-sensitive, which is odd. However, we don’t see the benefit of a touchscreen on a nondetachable, nonconvertible, or non-hybrid laptop. An upright touchscreen is not recommended for prolonged use, as Chrome OS is meant to be used with a touchpad or keyboard.

Keyboard and Touchpad

Although the keyboard of the original Pixel was stiff, it is not an issue with this keyboard. Large keys provide plenty of feedback and travel so that typing is fast, precise, and comfortable. Although the keys are backlit due to the motion sensor, the backlighting is only activated when your hands rest on the keys or you are actively typing. It’s an insignificant but thoughtful detail.

The touchpad is a big hit with us too. It is large, smooth, responsive, and precise. It’s a far superior touchpad to the ones found on Windows laptops. Chrome OS doesn’t support pinch to zoom on either the touchscreen or touchpad. However, it supports basic gestures like swiping up and down on the touchpad to scroll.

Chrome OS for Google Pixelbook 12in 

You’ll quickly become familiar with Chrome OS if you are familiar with Chrome browser. The entire operating system is essentially the Chrome browser and a few basic apps like calculator, file browser, and video player. Many webapps are available, and many of them can be used offline.

Chrome OS can run some select Android apps like Evernote. However, you cannot just install them yourself. Developers must enable this feature and make them available via Google’s Web Store. Android Wear smartwatches also have the ability to unlock your laptop when you are within Bluetooth range. However, it’s a shame that you can’t use your Android Wear watch to log in as the second factor for two-factor authenticated login.

Conclusion

It is hard to believe that Google Pixelbook 12in was made for C-level executives who don’t want to be seen using a functionally identical, but much more pedestrian-looking, Chromebook like the value Asus C200 or Dell’s new model. The Pixel’s extra power is not necessary for most people.

The Pixel has a lot to love, including its excellent display and well-constructed keyboard and touchpad. We are disappointed that Google chose to replace the discontinued HP Chromebook 11 with the Pixel, which had a brilliantly bright, high-quality screen for a low price. We hope other laptop manufacturers will take note of Google’s excellent work. We’d be happy to pay less for the Pixel, but still with its high-quality design choices like its screen.

However, the Google Chromebook Pixel this year is the best ultra-portable laptop you can purchase.