Just as Google had anticipated in late February, the company introduced the new version of its Chromebook Pixel laptop. Its exterior appearance remains relatively unchanged, but there are some high-level changes in its specifications, including a faster processor and two reversible USB Type C ports. The best part? It is more affordable than the previous model.
Beyond limited availability, another factor that hurt adoption of the Chromebook Pixel was its price. Starting at 1,299 dollars, many users quickly lost interest and opted for products with similar features and a more friendly price. However, Google does not intend to disrupt the market with the Pixel. In fact, that was never the plan. The concept behind the Chromebook Pixel is to provide a suitable working environment for software developers without sacrificing portability or performance. Two years have passed since the original Pixel debuted, and several outlets highlighted Google's delay in updating its specs, but the situation changed at the latest Google at Work event, where it was officially confirmed that a new version was on the way.
Under the Hood
The dimensions of the new Chromebook Pixel are nearly identical to the previous model. Its touchscreen remains at 12.85 inches, with a resolution of 2,560 by 1,700 pixels. Even so, the changes are not long in coming. There are two configurations: one with 8 GB of RAM and 32 GB of solid-state storage, and another that doubles both values. Then we find differences in processors. The Chromebook Pixel with 8 GB of RAM comes with an Intel Core i5-5200U chip, which has two cores and a base frequency of 2.2 GHz (2.7 GHz in Turbo mode), while the variant with 16 GB of RAM is backed by a Core i7-5500U, also dual-core, which raises the frequency to 2.4 GHz. Both processors belong to the Broadwell architecture, and thanks to its optimizations, Google has managed to extend the battery life of the new Pixel to 12 hours. Those who need extra space without complications will find an SD card slot.
Finally, something that deserves a chapter of its own is the inclusion of two reversible USB Type C ports. Like Apple with the new MacBook, Google wants to take advantage of the virtues of the brand-new standard, unifying data transfer, video output and battery charging under a single port. The reason for having two physical ports is perfectly logical: the company expects developers to connect an additional display or external drives while simultaneously charging the battery. The top model with the i7 chip keeps the original price of 1,299 dollars, but the new Chromebook Pixel essential will be available for 999 dollars. In other words, Google improves the specs of the first version while cutting 300 dollars from its price. For now, they will only be sold in the United States and the United Kingdom.
