Chromebook Pixel Review!
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The Chromebook Pixel: Most beautiful thing you should never buy! The Chromebook Pixel: Explained! youtu.be Pixel Unboxing & First Impressions: youtu.be Chromebook Pixel: chromebook.com Intro Track: ASDF Movie Song Outro Track: "Channel 41" by Deadmau5 ~ twitter.com google.com @MarquesBrownlee @MKBHD @MKBHD
The Chromebook Pixel is presented as a bold, premium machine that sits at the high end of the Chrome OS ecosystem. The host highlights the aluminum unibody construction and a squared-off design that visually recalls the 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro, emphasizing a refined aesthetic and a distinctive light bar that ties into Google's design language. He argues that at a $1,300 price point, users should expect top-tier build quality, a comfortable chicklet keyboard, a strong trackpad, and impressive speakers, which he confirms as standout features. The display is a core selling point: a 12.85-inch, 2560 by 700 resolution panel with 239 PPI, a brightness of about 400 nits, and a taller 3:2 aspect ratio that increases vertical real estate for browsing and reading. He notes the touchscreen adds versatility but also mentions practical drawbacks, such as hinge wobble and the current lack of Android app support on Chrome OS, which tempers the device's perceived flexibility. The software experience centers on Chrome OS, which feels more capable than on budget Chromebooks due to multi-window support and a dock-like bar for quick app launching, along with a floating settings area for quick access to volume, Bluetooth, and other controls. Performance benchmarks suggest the Pixel is stable and quick for web tasks, with fast boot and wake times, though it trails behind Hackintosh and other traditional OS platforms in raw power. Battery life lands in the mid-range for a laptop of this size, delivering about five and a half hours in typical use, with some reduction when watching videos at full brightness. The reviewer frames the Pixel as a Halo product and a beacon for future high-end Chromebooks, acknowledging that while it showcases Google’s potential, it remains difficult to recommend as a daily driver given the broader software ecosystem and the current constraints of Chrome OS. In closing, he encourages viewers to watch the detailed explain video for context, while noting that the Pixel represents an engineering tour de force and a aspirational direction for Google’s partners, even as the price, performance balance, and platform limitations influence buying decisions.
Topics · technology · consumer electronics · product reviews · hardware · operating systems
Questions answered
- What makes the Chromebook Pixel's display noteworthy and how does its aspect ratio affect browsing?
- The display is 12.85 inches with a 2560 by 700 resolution and 400 nits brightness, delivering 239 PPI. Its 3:2 aspect ratio provides extra vertical pixels, which improves scrolling and reading on web pages, though some letterboxing can occur with video.
- Why does the reviewer consider the Pixel a Halo product, and what are the main caveats for potential buyers?
- The Pixel is praised as a beautiful, well-built piece of hardware that showcases Google's engineering ambitions. However, its value is tempered by Chrome OS limitations, the absence of native Android app support at the time, and its high price, which makes it a difficult daily driver compared to traditional Windows or macOS options.