Google Pixelbook Go review - Value is in the eye of the beholder (Update - 4K model now available) - Android

Design

• 311 x 206.3 x 13.4mm
• 1.06kg
• Painted magnesium
• Corning Concore Glass
• USB-C x 2
• 3.5mm headphone jack

Many affordable Chromebooks are made from low-cost materials and thus feel cheap to hold and use. The Google Pixelbook Go feels anything but cheap. An attractive magnesium shell forms the Chromebook’s profile. Where the top is flat metal with gently rounded corners, the bottom is a ridged plate. Google says the ridges are meant to make the Pixelbook Go easier to grab and hold. I have to wonder if heat dissipation is also a factor.

There are a million black laptops out there, but not all of them have the Go’s matte-paint-on-metal finish. The texture is fantastic. While I generally find black to be boring, the Just Black Pixelbook Go is simple yet sophisticated. The Not Pink colorway will surely appeal to some people, but I’d have loved to see a rich blue or matte white model instead. One can dream, I suppose.

Google kept the Pixelbook Go’s profile as small as possible. The 13.3-inch display allows the Chromebook to reign in the dimensions. It’s smaller and lighter than my Apple MacBook Pro, which has the same screen size as the Pixelbook. My shoulders can confirm that the Go weighs less than the MacBook, too, as they were less fatigued after lugging the Pixelbook around Manhattan for a day.

The ports could be better. The Go has just two USB-C ports, one on each side. Because the Chromebook charges via USB, you’ll need to reserve one of those ports for the power cable at times. There’s also a dual 3.5mm headphone jack. There are no USB-A ports, nor is there a memory card slot/reader.

A notch helps your thumb take hold of the lid and push it open when the Chromebook is seated on a table. The weight of the lower half means you don’t need two hands to open the Pixelbook Go, and I appreciate this. The hinge is strong and holds the lid wherever you set it. (FYI, the Pixelbook Go is a standard clamshell; the lid does not swing all the way around.)

The 16:9 screen fills most of the display area. Bezels could be thinner, but they really aren't too bad.

A full-sized keyboard, oversized trackpad, and stereo speakers fill the lower deck. Google selected the right options for the function keys, which include controls for volume and brightness, back/reload, multitasking screen, and music playback. The keyboard features a dedicated Google Assistant button, as well as quick access to the app drawer.

Speaking of the keys, Google calls the Pixelbook Go’s keyboard Hush Keys. Minimal travel is meant to help reduce the noise generated when tapping away at the keys. I have to say, I really like this keyboard. It’s much better than the keyboard of the Asus C434 Flip, which felt mushy in comparison. The Go’s keys were immediately comfortable to me, and my fingers did not become fatigued despite hours of typing. I’d say this keyboard is second only to the excellent Pixelbook in the Chromebook space. The keyboard is backlit, so you can see the keys in the dark.

The trackpad is decent, but not the best I’ve used. For me, a good trackpad is hard to come by; it’s the single biggest pain point with Chromebooks in my experience. The Pixelbook Go gets it mostly right. First, it’s large so it feels natural to use. Speed and response time can be set high, and you have the option to select a gentle tap or a full click to interact with items on the screen. The tap option is a little too sensitive, but it’s better than the intense clacking made when you press the trackpad down.

In all, the Pixelbook Go is a much better-looking, higher-quality option than pretty much every other Chromebook out there — but you’ll pay for it.