Google Pixelbook Review

Google Pixelbook

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Genre: Articles, Hardware, Laptops
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I’ve never been a big proponent of Chromebooks for various reasons, mostly because I often found them under powered for what I wanted to do. But after taking the Pixelbook from Google for a spin, my tune on the product and its usefulness completely changed. While never meant to be a primary device, the Google Pixelbook has been an excellent companion device for the running of GamesReviews.com, and now I cannot even imagine keeping things up and running without it.

And it all begins with a slim and lightweight design that makes moving it form A to B to C incredibly easy. Whether as a secondary screen on my desk, or next to me on the couch while writing notes for various reviews, the portability of this device is second to none. In weight and size, imagine an over sized tablet with an attached keyboard, but with much more functionality.

And this is thanks to the fantastic Chrome OS, which provides all the important applications and browsers you need for a successful day, including the Google Play Store. The Pixelbook wouldn’t be anything special without some serious power under the hood, and in that regard – when considering the form factor and design – there is a lot to like here. The 2,400 x 1,600 display looks incredibly sharp, and with the latest generation Intel Core i7 processor, getting around has never been quicker or more efficient.

The other features packed into the Pixelbook put it one step ahead of the competition in the same market, including a fantastic 720P webcam and two USB C ports for charging or other connectivity. For those moving from a laptop over to Chromebook, the USB C might take some time getting used to – I so frequently grabbed for a device only to realize it was standard USB 2.0, not C – but are key to keeping the device thin and lightweight.

Ultimately, the Pixelbook is missing features unless paired with the Pixelbook Pen, and while it’s unfortunate that the two don’t come together in one bundle, the extra $99.99 is well worth it to maximize the capabilities of the Pixelbook itself.

Outside of being a great tool for navigating various Android applications, the pen is also useful for taking notes – of which programs exist to transcribe them into text – as well being a great research tool. How you might ask? I wouldn’t believe it unless I had done it myself, but by clicking and holding the button on the pen – which otherwise is your Google Assistant button – users can use the pen to then circle things they see on screen, and Google will instantly begin pulling information about whatever was circled.

For example, when helping my 8 year old son with his school project, we circled a wolf picture we found on Google, and Google instantly supplied various results based on the image, including the Wikipedia page and more. Imagine working through a document or reading an e-book and coming across an image of something you aren’t quite sure what it is. Using this amazing pen feature, that will no longer be an issue. Curious to know who an actor is? Circle their character and see what comes up!

While not my primary use computer in the house (yet), the Pixelbook has been a phenomenal companion device to the ins and outs of running and managing a video game  and tech reviews website. Whether taking notes while playing games, or having the Toronto Maple Leafs game playing via the Sportsnet or TSN app while grinding away on a review titles, the versatility and usefulness of this device in all facets of life is what makes it a product I’m not sure I could live without. The only major downside from my time with it was the audio capabilities, which are downright bad. The speakers sit below the Pixelbook’s keyboard, and while they are positioned well to support the size and shape Google was going for, they don’t provide a great audio experience.

Now, this would be a fairly poor review on a video games website without at least touching on all the great apps available via Google Play, and thankfully they all run incredibly well. We used the device to look at a number of games, most notably Disney Magic Kingdoms, of which we had been previously playing on our Google Pixel 2. My initial assumption of taking these games meant for phones and splashing them across large screen was pretty skeptical, but over my time with Disney Magic Kingdoms – and a host of other games, but paid for and free-to-play – the resolution was incredible, without distortion.

Using the pen to navigate these apps felt very natural, but using my finger like on a phone was equally as good, and while I would still highly recommend picking up the Pixelbook Pen, you can get away without it if you are primarily using the device to use various Android applications.

Overall, the Google Pixelbook is the best Chromebook available on the market right now, and it’s 3-in-1 design – outlined in the image above – makes it a very versatile and useful device in all areas of life. It’s been keeping GamesReviews up and running for the last few weeks, and now that we are pairing it with the Google Pixel 3 XL, our offices are slowly transitioning into a Google ecosystem, and for the better!