There are already an abundance of 2-in-1 laptops to choose from, but the Google Pixelbook aims to stick out from the rest.
How?
By combining the learnings from the Google Chromebook Pixel (a Chrome OS machine) and Google Pixel C tablet (which rand Android Oreo). And not just in the sense of its sharp design and impressive specs, moreso by the fact that the Pixelbook is the best of both worlds – it runs both Chrome OS and tons of Android apps natively out of the box.
I know what you’re thinking, and yes, Google has enabled Android app support on select Chromebook models. But, the Pixelbook is the first Chrome OS device released with more than enough built-in storage to actually realize the dream of installing any Android app that you desire.
Also, to make using Android apps easier with a touchscreen, the Pixelbook’s optional (but shouldn’t be) intelligent pen works to combat the issue of Android apps not translating well to the keyboard and trackpad configuration. You can also also invoke Google Assistant to chime in on anything on your screen.
While Google was among the first manufacturers to make a premium Chromebook and Android tablet, the Pixelbook now comes at a time when its competitors have already laid most of what it's trying to do.
For instance, the Samsung Chromebook Pro is well-built, compatible with Android apps and includes an S Pen. Sure, it doesn’t have the smarts that the Pixelbook Pen does, but you’ll need to decide if those Google Assistant smarts are worth the cost.
Now, let’s talk price. The Google Pixelbook, like the other members of the Pixel family (Google Pixel 2, Google Pixel 2 XL), isn’t the most affordable device within its category.
Buying into the 2-in-1 from Google will cost $999 or £1,199 for the 128GB model stocked with 8GB of memory and an Intel i5 processor, and that's the the lowest configuration. The top-of-the-line model features an Intel i7, 16GB of RAM and 512GB of NVMe SSD storage for $1,649 or £1,699. The Pixelbook will release on October 31st and pre-orders are open now.
We’ve only just had a brief look at the Pixelbook at Google’s big hardware event and what follows are our first impressions. You can expect our full review in the coming weeks.
The Google Pixelbook is startlingly thin at 10mm when closed and it weighs just over two pounds. Not completely different in looks compared to the Chromebook Pixel, this model carries along the company’s love for bold, angular design.
Google calls this a “4-in-1” device, though it’s a 2-in-1 as you know it, through and through. You can use the Pixelbook as a standard laptop, wrap the keyboard around almost 360-degrees to use in tablet mode or set it up in tent mode, the latter of which is great for watching a movie.
The laptop is compact, to put it simply.
Starting with the palm rests, it’s coated in a grippy material that feels comfortable, though it’s hard to tell how long it will maintain its pristine color – a worry we share with the Microsoft Surface Laptop’s fabric-covered keyboard.
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