Google’s Chrome OS has been up and coming over several years now, primarily touted as a cloud-based and web-exclusive computing experience. Chromebooks have become a top choice for educational institutions considering their affordable price tags, providing cheap and easy access to the web. However, outside of institutions, Chromebooks also have a loyal fanbase and growing following. For these people, devices like Google’s Chromebook Pixel exist.
Unlike their much cheaper counterparts, Google’s Chromebook Pixel line serves as a showcase of what the Chromebook is capable of. They are fitted with high-end specs and equally high price tags. The original Pixel Chromebook, released in 2013, had an entry-level price of $1,299. In 2015, Google introduced a second-generation Chromebook Pixel, this time with a more agreeable $999 entry-level price. Today, Google unveiled its third-generation Chromebook Pixel, this time with a new name: the Pixelbook.
Although it sports a new name, the Pixelbook still aims to demonstrate Chrome OS’s capabilities, which now extends the ability to run Android apps in certain models. Although Chromebooks traditionally don’t need much to operate smoothly, the Pixelbook houses powerful specs that one might expect to find in a traditional PCs. The Pixelbook’s specs are as follows:
- 12.3-inch display; 3:2 ratio
- 7th gen Intel core i5 processor
- 8GB of RAM
- 128, 256, or 512GB of internal storage
- Two USB-C ports
The Pixelbook works as having a 4-in-1 design, as the screen can flip around to the underside of the keyboard, and is the first Chromebook with the Google Assistant built-in. The Pixelbook Pen, a new stylus made for the Pixelbook, will be sold separately for $99. The Pixelbook Pen is extremely responsive, with 10ms latency and 2,000 levels of pressure sensitivity.
In a feature called Instant Tethering, the Pixelbook can connect seamlessly with a Pixel phone’s internet to grant Wi-Fi access when there are no other connections available. Pixelbook users who use a Pixel phone can also use their phone to unlock their computer.
The Pixelbook is priced along the lines of the 2015 Chromebook Pixel with a starting price of $999 for the base model, all the way up to $1,649. Pre-orders start today, and the device will officially be available in stores starting on October 31.