Google Chromebook Pixel (2015) Pro Reviews

As we’ve stated in pretty much every Chromebook review, they’re not for everyone. Being tied to the web, and Google’s version of the web in particular, isn’t going to be ideal for some users. The same goes for those that want to edit video, record music, or play AAA games. Those users would be better served by a decent PC, which you could certainly buy for the same money as the new Pixel. But, and it’s a very big but, if you embrace the ideals of Chromebooks, and have the money to spare, the 2015 Pixel is a truly beguiling device that is a genuine pleasure to use. Do we want one? Unquestionably. Will we be buying one? Hmmmm.

The Pixel set a precedent for Chromebooks years ago as the most premium laptop made solely for web browsing. This latest model builds on that legacy, iterating and improving upon it. However, while the Pixel is about as close to perfection as a Chromebook can get, this isn't necessarily a machine for the everyday user. Although the Pixel is available as a commercial device, it's more of a development platform that represents the future of Chromebooks. The inclusion of USB-C and, to a lesser extent, the touchscreen help the Pixel serve as a testbed for these two technologies that have yet to be widely or meaningfully implemented in Google's platform. At the same time, the Pixel represents epitome of what a Chromebook can be today, making it a great choice for developers building applications for the next version of Chrome OS. Simply put, most users won't need this much performance to just run the Chrome browser and a few Android applications. Both the Toshiba Chromebook 2 and Acer Chromebook 13 are excellent Chrome OS machines at a much more affordable price. The latest Chromebook Pixel is a gorgeous preview of what's possible for the platform, but it's not what you need right now.

All in all, the 2015 Google Chromebook Pixel is a brilliant feat of engineering, a marvelously friendly and fast laptop whose screen, keyboard, and balance of power and portability can stand with anyone's at any price. The only way you can say it's not resoundingly worth $999 is to say that Chrome OS isn't the equal of Windows and OS X.Um, er, ahem. That's our problem: In our heart of hearts, while we're great fans of under-$400 Chromebooks as nifty online productivity partners, we hesitate to recommend Chrome OS to everyone—particularly at the Pixel's steep price. It's making strides, it's improving every month, but it's still an underdog against the likes of the MacBook Air or Dell XPS 13.