11 Reviews
TechRadar
100
The Google Pixelbook is the first Chromebook worthy of consideration alongside the most high-end Windows and Mac devices. From its excellent design to its massive software enhancements, this is the best Chromebook to date, bar none.
- Sublime design
- Full Android app support
- Awesome keyboard
- Excellent stylus support
- Pen sold separately
- Poor audio performance
- No biometric login
PCWorld
90
Google’s Pixelbook supports Android apps, Google Assistant, and pen input, making it a leader in Chromebook capabilities. Whether anyone will follow is the great unknown, but it’s probably the best chance Chromebooks have to get out of their rut.
Truth be told, the Pixelbook probably has more power than most Chromebook users will ever need. It gets a high rating not because I think everyone should buy it. Frankly it’s unaffordable for most people, and hard for many to justify compared to a full-fledged Windows or Mac PC. Instead, the Pixelbook earns its rating because it succeeds in showing the best a Chromebook can be.
- Beautiful 2400x1600 display
- Fast performance
- Very thin and light
- Long battery life
- Keyboard throw is a little short
Engadget
85
The question is the same one we asked of the Chromebook Pixel: Is it worth spending $1,000 on a laptop running Chrome OS? The answer this time is different: Yes… with a couple of caveats.
Photo and video editors as well as serious gamers will still need to look at more traditional options. But, anyone else looking for a high-quality laptop should give it real consideration. In the last two and a half years, Chromebooks have become more popular and many essential services work perfectly well in a browser. Plus, Android apps on Chrome are finally a real and useful thing
- Excellent hardware design and display
- Comfortable and quiet keyboard
- Outstanding performance
- Google Assistant is surprisingly useful on a laptop
- The combo of Chrome and Android apps make this the most capable Chromebook yet
- Expensive
- Mediocre battery life
- Not all Android apps are well-suited to a larger screen
- Pixelbook Pen feels very laggy compared to the competition
CNET
80
The Pixelbook has high-end hardware and a great hybrid design, but it’s still hard to justify spending so much on a Chrome OS laptop.
If your computer activity revolves around using a browser, the Google Pixelbook is a great notebook for work or school. It’s also good for personal activities such as watching movies and sketching. Still, it’s difficult to justify the Pixelbook’s price when cheaper, capable Chromebooks exist.
- The Google Pixelbook has a sleek convertible design
- Its sharp touchscreen is bright and colorful
- Performance is fast, lag-free and smooth
- The dedicated Google Assistant button is useful
- It’s expensive
- The stylus is sold separately
- It has the same built-in limitations as other Chrome OS systems
T3
80
The Pixelbook is a hugely impressive device and wonderfully designed, but you need to know that Chrome OS is right for you before buying.
The Pixelbook is the best Chromebook ever. And, providing you’re OK with Chrome OS, there’s an awful lot to like. Aside from the fact it’s an expensive piece of tech, it’s unfortunate that the hardware features a low-power Intel processor.
That makes it lacking a little compared to many Windows and Mac rivals at the same price point. And naturally, it would be a much more compelling package if the Pixelbook Pen was included alongside the device itself.
- Chrome OS so much better than before
- Pixelbook Pen costs extra
- The design is fabulous
- Low power processor
- A MacBook Air or Macbook may be a better option?
Stuff
80
It’s tough to see who would want an ultra-high end ChromeOS convertible - however well built or equipped the Pixelbook might be.
Looking purely at the hardware, the Pixelbook is a fantastic hybrid laptop. It’s thin and light, yet plenty powerful and with a fantastic keyboard. The screen is gorgeous, too. If it was running Windows, it would easily trade blows with the Lenovo Yogas and Dell XPS 13s of the world.
But it doesn’t, It’s running ChromeOS. And most people are going to need a damn good reason to part ways with $999 (or more!) just to own one.
- Gorgeous screen
- Excellent build & flexibility
- Keyboard is great to type on
- ChromeOS still fairly limited
- As expensive as a full-blown laptop
- Few pro-level art apps defeats the point of the Pen
The Verge
75
When I think about whether the Pixelbook could reasonably replace a MacBook or a Windows laptop, my gut says that, for most people, the answer is “no.”
Unless you’re an expert in the ways of both the web and Android, it shouldn’t be your only computer.
- Beautiful, well-designed hardware
- Great performance with Chrome apps
- Thin and light
- Android apps need to be updated for screen and pen
- Battery life is only average
- Tablet lacks features like split screen
Digital Trends
70
Chromebooks aren’t just the cheap, education-ready laptops they once were — at least, that’s what Google wants us to believe.
The Pixelbook has much to recommend it but also suffers annoying problems, and more work is needed to make Assistant and the Pixelbook Pen truly useful.
- Extremely slim
- Handsome look
- Beautiful, pixel-dense display
- Feels snappy in everyday use
- Battery can easily last a full workday
- Chrome OS has limited inking support
- Assistant isn’t as useful as it could be
- Android apps are supported, but buggy
PCMag
70
The Google Pixelbook is a powerful, upscale 2-in-1 convertible laptop that will serve well-heeled Android and chromebook fans well.
The Google Pixelbook is an alternative to premium laptops for folks who know they can function using just the web and Android-based apps. There’s also the attraction of never having to wait for Windows Updates to finish, or worrying about processor-robbing malware.
- Premium construction and styling
- Android apps for offline use
- Instant Tethering with Pixel 2 phone
- Contextual search with Pen and Google Assistant
- Very expensive for a chromebook
- Only two USB-C ports
- Pen is separate purchase
Wired
70
The hardware’s right, but the Pixelbook still feels like a beta product. I’m getting tired of writing this: This Chromebook could be amazing, if only the software worked better.
Until more apps work better, this epically wonderful thing is really just a web browser. And a grand’s a lot to spend on a web browser
- Light, thin, attractive hardware
- Great keyboard and trackpad
- As versatile a laptop as you’ll find
- Android apps are not good on Chromebooks
- Not good at all. Not even a little bit.
Laptop Mag
70
The speedy and sexy Google Pixelbook is the best Chromebook, though it comes at a much higher price than we’re used to.
The Pixelbook’s aesthetics, performance and display are great for a Chromebook, but they also stack up well against Windows- and iOS-powered competitors. If not for its higher price and subpar battery life, the Pixelbook would be an easy recommendation.
- Exquisite thin design
- Brilliant display
- Speedy performance
- Expensive
- Mediocre battery life