Google announces Pixelbook Go

Google had a busy day on October 15, unleashing a flood of new hardware at its “Made by Google” event in New York. One of the most hotly anticipated new products from Google finally made its official debut there. Introducing the all-new Google Pixelbook Go, a premium Chromebook at an affordable price.

How do you follow up the Google Pixelbook?

Google’s Pixelbook is a tough act to follow. The premium 2-in-1 laptop set a new high bar for Chromebook design, with unibody aluminum construction, a beautiful 12.3-inch high resolution display, and a 360-degree hinge. 

Google introduced its newest Chromebook today and the good news is if you were lusting after the Pixelbook but found its price just a little too high, the all-new Pixelbook Go will do the job quite nicely. The Pixelbook Go keeps the premium approach, mixes it up a bit, and delivers a high performance Chromebook that’s more compact and much more affordable.

Google announces Pixelbook GoIntroducing the Pixelbook Go

Google stuck with a premium design for the Pixelbook Go. It looks like a stylish and very well made device, but it’s definitely different than the Pixelbook.

The laptop’s case is made of magnesium (instead of aluminum), and instead of square corners they are softly rounded. The 13.3-inch touch display is Full HD 1080p resolution in most configurations, but Google has changed the aspect ratio from 3:2 in the Google Pixelbook to a more traditional 16:9 on the Pixelbook Go. It’s also a straight-up laptop approach, not a convertible that will swivel into a tablet form factor.

Those changes mean the Pixelbook Go is more compact. It’s a little thicker than the original (but still just 12.7 mm), shaving the weight down to 1.08 kg (2.3 pounds). It’s also much more affordable.

Other key specifications to be aware of are dual high-speed USB-C ports (including USB-C charging), 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, a 1080p Duo cam, dual-front-firing speakers, Google’s new Titan security chip, and 12-hour battery life (with fast-charge capability).

Google announces Pixelbook GoUpdated for the best possible Chrome experience

The Pixelbook Go gets some new features that make for an even better user experience. The backlit keyboard uses a new design with keys that offer lots of travel but are virtually silent in use. The bottom of the case gets a unique “ribbed’ treatment that makes it easier to pick up and hold onto. Processors get an upgrade from the 7th generation Intel Core CPUs found in the original Pixelbook to 8th generation versions. 

The least expensive model pairs an 8th generation Intel Core M3 with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of solid state storage, while the sweet spot for performance is the model with an 8th generation intel Core i5 combined with 8GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD.

The end result is a premium Chromebook for those who want the ultimate Chrome laptop experience.

Preorder your Pixelbook Go now!

Can’t wait to get your hands on the new Google Pixelbook Go? . You can order both the Core m3 version and the Core i5 Pixelbook Go now at Best Buy. And if you’re excited about  the Pixelbook Go, you might want to read up on the other new hardware Google announced today, including the new Google Nest Wifi mesh router with integrated smart speaker functionality. 

Brad Moon
Editor Computing solutions
I’m a long-time electronics and gadget geek who’s been fortunate enough to enjoy a career that lets me indulge this interest. I have been writing about technology for several decades for a wide range of outlets including Wired, Gizmodo, Lifehacker, MSN, About.com, Kiplinger, and GeekDad. I’m in my 10th year as a senior contributor for Forbes with a focus on reviewing music-related tech, Apple gear, battery power stations and other consumer electronics. My day job is with the Malware Research Center at AI-native cybersecurity pioneer CrowdStrike.

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