Google Pixelbook 12in: Features, Specifications, & Overview

Google has released the latest version of Google Pixelbook 12in laptop. The new Pixelbook comes with a variety of impressive features that should not surprise anyone following tech news recently. The laptop includes a 12-inch touchscreen display, a 360-degree hinge, an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 128GB solid-state drive (SSD). The 360-degree hinge allows users to operate, Overall, the Google Pixelbook is a versatile and powerful Chromebook with great hardware and software features.

This brief review of the 12-inch Google Pixelbook will delve deeply into every aspect of this device. If you are interested in learning more about the new Pixelbook with an i7 processor, you should read this article.

Specifications of Google Pixelbook 12in

Features of Google Pixelbook 12in

After using the Google Pixelbook 12in for a week, I put its features to the test, evaluating everything from performance to durability. Read on for my experience with this laptop after a week of hands-on use

1. Design

This laptop has a 3:2 aspect ratio, making it more compact than other 12/13-inch laptops. However, the smaller size and lightweight 1.1 kg design actually made the laptop easier for me to carry around.

The Chromebook features an attractive, lustrous aluminum silver design that looks sleek and slim. The clean lines and matte finish give it a refined, minimalist aesthetic that I prefer over the flashy RGB lighting found on many laptops. The subtle silicon accents add a nice modern touch that helps this Chromebook stand out from the competition.

2. Operating System

The Google Pixelbook 12-inch laptop runs on Chrome OS, an operating system developed by Google specifically for its Chromebook and Pixelbook devices. Chrome OS offers enhanced security over Windows laptops thanks to its built-in security features.

I was impress by its fast boot times, with the operating system loading in under 10 seconds on startup. I highly recommend ChromeOS for students, as it natively supports Google apps like Drive, Docs, Sheets, and more. You no longer need to open a browser to access these apps. Moreover, ChromeOS has built-in support for all Android applications, eliminating the need to use emulators like BlueStacks to run Android apps on your laptop.

3. Display

The 12.3-inch screen on this laptop is smaller than most Windows laptops and uses a less common 3:2 aspect ratio. This more compact size contrasts with the larger, more typical 13-inch or 15.6-inch screens on many laptops. For example, the Acer Predator Helios 500 17 AMD has a screen that looks gigantic compared to this one.

Despite the smaller size, I found the viewing angles to be adequate for a sub-$1000 laptop. The colors are vibrant, making YouTube videos pop on the display. However, the Gorilla Glass screen has a very reflective surface that can make viewing difficult in bright daylight.

The Google Pixelbook’s 12-inch touchscreen is also responsive and enjoyable to use. Scrolling through menus feels smooth, and drawing directly on the screen with my finger or the Pixelbook Pen works well for applications like Google Drawings.

Overall, this makes a good indoor laptop for Netflix, YouTube, and more. With 400 nits of brightness, the screen is brighter than average, though I’d still prefer using it inside during the daytime when possible.

4. Battery Performance

Most laptops I have used, especially power-hungry gaming models like the Dell Alienware 15 R4 and Asus ROG GL753, tend to have poor battery life. However, even these gaming laptops do not drain their batteries as quickly as the MacBook 12-inch M7.

When I first got this laptop, I could use it efficiently for up to 10 hours on routine tasks like Google Docs and Sheets. However, the battery life dropped to 8 hours when I began streaming Netflix and YouTube in 1080p.

The Google Pixelbook 12in has a standard charging time of under 2.5 hours thanks to its 41 hr battery and 45W battery charger. This is a pretty typical laptop charging duration.

5. Keyboard, Camera, Touchpad, And Speakers

The Google Pixelbook 12in has a backlit keyboard without a number pad, as expected for a compact laptop. The keys have a smooth, low-travel press thanks to their shallow actuation force and even spacing, making typing comfortable.

The generously sized touchpad enables easy gesture control and responsively recognizes inputs. However, the laptop’s speakers and webcam disappoint – the former lack power and clarity while the latter captures dark, grainy video without autofocus. For better audio and video, external accessories like the Monoprice 110010 speakers are recommended over the Pixelbook’s built-in options.

6. Connectivity

I was disappointed with the limited connectivity and port options on this laptop. It has only two USB 3.0 Type C ports, which is inadequate. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find it includes an SD card reader.

The lack of connectivity ports limits this laptop’s usefulness. Specifically, the missing of an RJ45 ethernet port forces internet access solely through WiFi. Adding more ports, especially ethernet, would greatly improve the laptop’s capabilities.

7. Performance

I used this laptop in diverse settings, most of which involved Google applications. However, as expected, Google Meet performed poorly, primarily due to the low-resolution 720p camera. Despite ample lighting, I appeared dark and blurry on video calls.

When browsing, the performance was flawless – videos played seamlessly without any lag, even 4K YouTube videos rendered beautifully on the screen. Watching Netflix movies was just as impressive, with crisp, detailed picture quality.

I love how Chromebooks and Pixelbooks seamlessly integrate with Google Assistant, thanks to their four built-in microphones that clearly recognize my voice commands. With just an “Ok Google,” I can easily get things done hands-free. If future laptops broadly adopt a similar hands-free experience through voice assistants, it would likely lead to a more pleasant and productive experience for users.

However, since this runs on ChromeOS, the support for various applications is limited, which restricts its use for creative producers who rely on apps like the Adobe Creative Suite. As ChromeOS does not support most of these professional applications, they will not run on this device.

While this laptop does not support most PC Windows games aside from browser-based ones, you can stream games using NVIDIA GeForce Now. However, the performance and frame rates will be below what you could expect when playing games natively.

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Pros & Cons Of Google Pixelbook 12in

Now that we have reviewed the specifications of the Google Chromebook Pixel 2, we can examine the pros and cons of this 12-inch device. Analyzing its strengths and weaknesses will help determine if it is worth purchasing.

Final Words

The Google Pixelbook 12in is an excellent laptop for those whose study or work centers on Google applications. With its ChromeOS, sturdy construction, fast performance, and reasonable price of $999, this laptop provides great value.

However, the main drawback of Chromebook is that it runs on Chrome OS, which is still relatively new and undeveloped compared to more mature operating systems. While Chrome OS offers decent functionality and heightened security, it lacks the accessibility, customization, and specialized applications available on Windows. Many users may be hesitant to adopt Chromebook given the limitations of the fledgling Chrome OS platform.

If you plan on using work applications not supported by ChromeOS, this laptop won’t be a good choice. However, as a student or casual user, it should meet your needs.