Google - Pixelbook Go 13.3" Touch-Screen Chromebook - Intel Core m3 - 8GB Memory - 64GB Solid State Drive - Just Black

The new Pixelbook Go is Google’s latest series of Chromebooks, and it is absolutely fantastic. Apparently, it is intended to be a “scaled down” Pixelbook Chromebook. The Pixelbook Go is available in several configurations including this entry-level model which has an Intel Core m3 CPU, 8GB of RAM and 64GB of SSD storage. The next level model has an Intel Core i5 CPU with either 8GB or 16GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The top tier has an Intel Core i7 CPU, 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. All 3 CPUs are 8th generation. The first two models have Full HD, 1920x1080, 16x9 Aspect Ratio, 13.3” Touchscreen Displays, while the top tier model adds a 4k, Ultra HD Display. The Corning Concore glass touchscreen panels are very reflective, which is very typical of touchscreens and which also obviously readily collect fingerprints. The touchscreen is very responsive and pleasant to use. Inasmuch as Google used Corning Concore glass, it is reasonable to surmise that these are “One Glass Solution” (OGS) screens, which utilize a sheet of high-strength Concore Glass as the top sheet of the display panel, rather than a second sheet of glass being laminated to the top of the panel. This results in a thinner, lighter and more economical display panel, and undoubtedly contributes to the extremely thin, 0.5” thickness profile of the Pixelbook Go. Off-axis angle viewing is very decent, but of course the greater the off-axis angle, the more visibility, contrast and color fidelity deteriorate. Overall, the display genuinely appears to be excellent. It is bright and vivid, with good color rendition and color fidelity, and is very nice to view. Videos and TV streams look great and don’t suffer from buffering or lagging. The clamshell case is very impressive. The painted magnesium alloy case is a very elegant and high-end attribute. It both looks and feels very impressive, and it is reasonable to surmise that it is likely to be very durable. The bottom of the case is scalloped. Perhaps that is for structure, perhaps it is merely aesthetic, but perhaps it might have been designed to serve both as a heat-sink with the additional surface area, as well as providing convection cooling via the scalloped channels. In fact, when the computer is working hard, such as when running multiple video streams, the bottom of the Pixelbook Go, as well as the area above the keyboard get palpably warm. This Pixelbook Go is remarkably lightweight. The specifications claim 2.3lbs (1061g). The size, weight and tough magnesium case really make this easy to move around and easy and convenient to carry and makes it the default travelling device. On initial setup, the Pixelbook Go commenced a lengthy update process which evidently included updating most or all of the apps as well as the device’s firmware (including a notification that the touchpad firmware was being updated). Flashing the firmware is likely what consumed most of the time. As is standard with all Chromebooks, setup is extremely easy, and if you choose to sync devices, all browser shortcuts, passwords, etc. will be automatically imported to this device during the initial setup process. The backlit keyboard has very nice feel and key rebound, and relatively quiet sound. Key travel is short, and the keyboard is compact, necessarily constrained by the dimensions of the case. Typing is very comfortable with this high-quality keyboard, and I find backlighting to be absolutely indispensable, and an absolute necessity. When the Pixelbook Go is sleeping, touching any key or the touchpad awakens the display and backlit keyboard. The touchpad is oversized and responsive, a nice and convenient attribute. Even in this base configuration with the Core m3 CPU and 8GB of RAM, the Pixelbook Go performed very well with many open browser windows and tabs and multiple live-TV streams running simultaneously. I really expected the unit to choke with a far less demanding load on the CPU and video sections. This performance was truly very impressive. This is a very powerful and capable Chromebook. This base, entry-level configuration is not at all inferior or insufficient. In fact, it is genuinely excellent. The battery life on the Pixelbook Go is really great. Google claims up to 12 hours of use, but obviously battery life is extremely dependent on how the computer is being used, and especially how much time the screen is active. I’m finding that all-day use for browsing, email (many), live-streaming news broadcasts, etc. is well within the battery capacity. In fact, during the course of a single day I used the Pixelbook Go extensively, with at least 7 to 10 tabs or browser instances active throughout, the screen/display kept on throughout and including 6.5 hours of live-streaming TV in addition to the foregoing. After 11.5 hours of this very heavy utilization, 11.5 hours of screen on including 6.5 hours of live-streaming broadcast TV, the Pixelbook Go reported 6% remaining battery capacity. If this Pixelbook Go had only typical, intermittent use during the day, and the screen was allowed to turn off and the computer had any time of no activity in which to “sleep”, I am certain that the run-time would have exceeded the claimed 12 hour capacity. In fact, with this very heavy use example, I’m confident that the battery would have kept the Chromebook alive for another 0.5 hours, easily. Demonstrating fantastic battery performance, coupled with the superior portability of the Pixelbook Go, this is obviously the Chromebook to take along when away from home. The camera works well, but is nothing special. It’s fine for video chats (its intended purpose). The audio is stereo (of course) and sounds excellent. The audio quality, fidelity, volume and projection were all very good, and the stereo separation has a nice spatial quality that makes the Pixelbook Go pleasant to listen to. There is a headphone jack and Bluetooth headphones are of course supported. The Wi-Fi performance is also excellent. The Wi-Fi specs include: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 2x2 (MIMO), dual-band (2.4 GHz, 5.0 GHz), and it utilized the full available bandwidth of the Wi-Fi stream, with its 2x2 Mimo. Whereas almost everything about the hardware platform of the Pixelbook Go appears to be first rate, Google clearly economized on the number of ports provided. There are only two USB-C ports (one on each side) and a headphone jack (3.5mm). Additionally, one of those USB-C jacks must be used for battery charging. There is no SD Card slot and no USB-A ports to accept the ubiquitous USB thumb drives that we all use. At the price levels of these computers, there really should be more connectivity options, inclusive of SD Card acceptance. A perplexing matter is that of the pre-established obsolescence schedule for all Chromebooks and Google Pixel phones. Chromebooks, irrespective of manufacturer, are currently only supported for 6.5 years (thankfully increased from 5 years in 2017) with OS and Security updates (termed the “Auto Update Expiration (AUE) date” by Google). The 6.5 years begins when the particular hardware platform is initially released into the retail channel (not from when the particular model enters the marketplace, nor when the computer is purchased). Pixel phones receive only three years of support. This Pixelbook Go is replacing a less than five year old Acer Chromebook that has already received its “final update notification” from Google. It still operates perfectly well, but without Security updates it is destined for consignment to oblivion. These support policies do not appear to be in the best interests of consumers. Additionally, since most electronics in the US are not recycled (and many components are not recyclable at all), these end of life policies increase the amount of landfill waste and environmental pollution. Overall, the Pixelbook Go is absolutely a first rate, top-of-the-line Chromebook. It is quite powerful and fast. It is compact and light-weight, and epitomizes portability and convenience. The case is elegant and a good measure above typical computers, with its thin profile and sleek magnesium shell. The display is also outstanding, and in addition to being full HD, it is a touch-screen. The battery performance is truly excellent, exceeding expectations. The keyboard sounds and feels great, and is backlit. It does everything very well, and its performance is clearly superior to many other Chromebooks, and certainly far better than one might anticipate from a “base-level” configuration. The Pixelbook Go is fantastic, and a pleasure to use. I am extremely impressed with the Pixelbook Go, and I am genuinely enjoying it. It is a wonderful Chromebook that is worthy of accolades. Of course, I recommend it highly.

Wasn't really sure of what to expect choosing this Google Pixelbook Go 13.3" Touch-Screen Chromebook in exchange for an honest review. In the past Chrome OS has not been stellar, but now it turns out to be a great alternative to both Windows and Apple OS. So, after three weeks of constant use It appears to me that the Google Chrome Platform doesn't need the latest, greatest, most powerful Intel Chip, immense memory, or a huge hard drive to operate fast. It does quite well with the 8th Gen Intel® Core™ i5 processor coupled with 8 GB Ram of memory and 128GB SSD. Amazing speed! What also makes this Pixelbook Go so versatile is that I can download numerous Android Apps and software from the Google Play Store like MS Word and Excel. WooHoo! In addition to Google Docs and Presentations this makes this laptop ideal for any kind of productivity for a home office, student, or any professional 'on-the-go'. Here is what I love about this Pixelbook Go: *** DESIGN & BUILD – The lightweight magnesium shell is cleverly designed with a matte black finish, ribbed bottom with two rubberized strips to keep this attractive unit from slipping on any hard surfaces. * I love that it is pretty much fingerprint resistant and classy looking too. This sleek unit weighs approximately 2.3 pounds. * It is designed to be super-portable, and as a laptop only. The ribbed bottom makes it easy to grip and carry anywhere. * At only a half inch thick, it is thin enough to slide in my backpack. It can also fit into a medium sized handbag, or carrier. * Love the rounded edges, which make this unit so easy to handle and comfortable in my lap. * What I like about using this unit in my lap is that it does not heat up like my larger Windows unit does. ** HARDWARE FEATURES – First, the keyboard is backlit, and is adjustable for brightness. The keys are illuminated, individually, without light escaping around the keys perimeter. The Hush Keys are silent and responsive to my touch. * A trackpad is conveniently placed in the very center of the unit. It is sensitive and can be adjusted to accommodate anyone's personal preferences. * The LCD, Touch Screen display is 13.3 inches with full HD, 1920x1080 pixels. I was impressed with the brilliance and quality while streaming Netflix Christmas movies with my Grand Kids. * The dual stereo speakers deliver unbelievable sound quality for a medium-sized unit, and can be enhanced by an EQ App downloaded from the Play Store for even richer performance. * The 2MP, 1080p front duo cams allow for dynamic videoconferencing in Google Hangouts. Impressive! * There are two USB-C ports and one 3.5mm headphone jack or auxiliary audio output. Either USB-C port can charge this unit using the included 6.5 foot charging cable with the 45W USB-C wall power adapter featuring fold in/out prongs. I discovered that there is a USB-C to SD card adapter, which allows me to use a 128GB SD card as additional storage. I can also use the second USB-C port to connect an additional screen display. * The WI-Fi connection is 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, which allows me to take advantage of my routers ability to MU-MIMO. It features a 2x2 MIMO dual-band Wi-Fi for even faster uninterrupted download speeds for video streaming. * For data storage the Pixelbook incorporates a 128 GB, flash, SSD drive, with low power draw on the battery and decreased heat production. * The Intel i5-8200Y processor is eighth generation, and uses very little power. It is a dual core processor featuring Intel's Turbo Boost technology. * This Pixelbook Go is also Bluetooth 4.2, which allows me to connect my BT mouse for more efficient scrolling and word processing functions, or, any other BT device like auxiliary speakers or even a printer. *** CHROME OS – Chrome features thousands of Android apps for productivity and entertainment. I downloaded MS Word and Excel from the Play Store so that I could use this laptop on the road for my part-time, consulting job. I am also impressed with Google Docs and Presentations. * Set-Up was very simple. All I needed was my Wi-Fi connection to my home router and my Google account as outlined in the included Quick Start Guide. The Pixelbook turns ON as I opened the unit. The on-screen instructions guided me through the whole set-up. It took approximately five minutes and I was ready to GO. * What I really appreciate is that Chrome features its own virus protection with automatic updates to includes updating the Chrome OS too. These updates operate in the background and do not require any user interface. This saves me money from buying additional third-party virus protection. Great! * The Chrome OS also provides cloud backups. I found that the more I use this OS the more I wonder if I ever really needed Windows. Chrome is a simple OS to learn, and very User-Friendly. Chrome OS is not bloated with unneeded add-ons and features like Windows, which require higher processing speeds, gobs of RAM memory, and a huge hard drive. * I am amazed at how fast this Pixelbook Go actually is. It automatically turns ON when I open it and goes directly to my designated Home Page in just a few seconds. I primarily use this Pixelbook Go for creating construction-related documents, e-mail, and streaming Netflix movies for entertainment. It performs all my activities with quick speed, which was an unexpected surprise and plus. YaHoo! * I can also connect my Android phone to my Pixelbook for 'Smart Lock' and message notifications. My Android phone can lock and unlock my Pixelbook if I so choose and allow me to both send and receive messages on my Pixelbook. * I can also sync with my Android phone to connect my Pixelbook to the Internet using my phone's mobile data (tethering). This comes in handy when there is no WI-FI connection and I need to have an Internet connection to my Pixelbook. * Be aware that the Pixelbook Go can only be BT connected to an Android phone for now. An IOS phone is not compatible at this time. *** BATTERY LIFE – For what activities I do and my settings of the backlit key brightness, and screen display levels allow me approximately 10 hours of battery use. YooHoo! About an hour less if I stream a movie. That is more then enough to last me one day of full use. *** SUMMARY – After three weeks of everyday use I am totally impressed with this Pixelbook Go. I highly recommend this Pixelbook Go as an efficient alternative to Windows and Mac. It allows me to be productive in creating both Word and Google Documents, and, is fantastic for streaming movies. Just the right size for people on-the-go. For its size processor it is one speedy machine with a simple Chrome OS for everyday computer activities. If you are considering serious gaming, photo, and, or, graphics editing, this machine may not fit your needs. However, I think it is an excellent choice for a student, and, plan on buying one for my Grandson, who is going to be in his first year of college this Spring. It's productivity Apps and Portability make this a great choice for him. If you buy one you won't be disappointed.

I have used quite a few Chromebooks over the years, and the absolute first thing I noticed about the Chromebook Go was the build. Admittedly, the design is perfect for me. It is simple, clean, sleek and matte black everywhere. It is made of magnesium but is coated in some type of material that gives it both a nice feel as well as look. It has a very solid feel in the hand, yet, it is also very light. In addition, the bottom has a ribbed design that I have never seen on laptop before. It is very practical and also gives you confidence when you have it in your hand and are on the go. I have been taking this everywhere and I barely notice the weight and am impressed with how it is holding up. Boot times are near instant and initial set-up is extremely easy (with your Google account), although you can dig deeper on some settings if you like. Even though I had some minor concerns regarding the Intel Core M3 chip going in, performance has been great. That is the beauty of Chrome OS. It does not need much to excel and I could not be happier. Chrome with a slew of tabs is no issue, and I have been able to nail down all of my work with ease using Google’s Suite of services as well as some Microsoft Office Apps when required. Having access to Play Store Apps on the Chromebook is a fantastic change. While not all apps will work, I love seeing continued improvements to the platform. That said, life is not all Gmail and work. The touchscreen is Full HD 1080p, with great brightness levels, nice details and full, rich and vivid color. The speakers, located on both sides of the keyboard, sound unexpectedly, well, awesome. There is lots of volume, some bass (yes, a little bass), and little to no distortion at high volume. I consume a TON of media, both at home as well as when I am out, and this thing is fantastic. I have regularly been streaming YouTube TV, Netflix and more recently Disney+ and have liked what I have been seeing (and hearing). It is a good media experience. Having a touchscreen is great, but ultimately, you need a keyboard. An OK one will be…just OK. A bad one? It can ruin an entire computer. A good one? It can be a pleasure to use. That is the case here. It is tough to say, but this may be the best keyboard I have ever used. The layout, spacing and travel are all great. It is extremely quiet and the keys just “feel nice.” It is also backlit with minimal to no bleed through. Google nailed it. If you are a writer or do a lot of typing, try to find one and give it a try. The trackpad is much of the same. Nice size, responsive and a good feel, BUT, whoa, the click is loud. Noticeably loud. By no means a deal-breaker but keep it in mind. Lastly, it is a Chromebook. You will be taking it with you. Everywhere. It doesn’t work without power. Google rates the battery for 12 hours of use and while how long your battery lasts depends on so many factors, I can only say battery life has been great. I have been using my machine pretty hard and generally am doing everything I need and want to throughout the day with battery to spare. Again, your use case is probably different than mine, but I feel confident it won’t be an issue for you. In addition, it comes with a 45W USB-C charger that supports Quick Charge. You should get 2 hours of use from a 20-minute charge. In conclusion, I think this is a fantastic machine. It is well-built, lightweight, portable, and performs well. The display and speakers are great for media, battery life is very strong, and the keyboard is among the best I have used. Chrome OS has evolved a lot over the years and continues to do so. If Chrome OS is for you, and I would guess it is for most people, it is hard for me to find a better way to use it than this Chromebook.

Google Pixelbook Go 13.3" Touch-Screen Chromebook (Intel Core m3; 8GB Memory; 64GB Solid State Drive): My first introduction to Chromebooks a few years ago took me by surprise. They were more competent and compatible than I expected. But, those Chromebook versions were not as lightweight and convenient as I was led to believe. I think Google has made a course correction in this version of the Google Pixelbook Go. While remaining competent and very compatible, it also is more convenient and comfortable enough to take everywhere. This particular model Pixelbook Go has a simple, exceptionally sleek look with a “groovy” bottom surface that adds some uniqueness and ease-of-handling. SETUP: I use a stopwatch these days to test setup and App installation. This Google Pixelbook was ready to use in under 5 minutes. I was online, receiving email, selecting a few more Apps to download and seeing if my photos and movies were ready to review. Yes. I was really ready to work. This notebook required an update, but that didn’t take more than a few more minutes with my fast internet connection. The selection of Apps is incredibly large, with so many useful and free. There are two USB-C™⁵ charging and display outputs (2). I had a fairly generic, multi-port dock available which allowed me to use an ethernet connection, and add USB devices or an external monitor or similar peripherals. I don’t concern myself with ports because I’m willing to trade off to get more portability. PERFORMANCE: While I understand that this is the slower of the available Google Pixelbook Go processors, the included 8GB RAM, the 64GB SSD, as well as the remarkably easy and useful free access (15GB) to Google Drive conceals any limitations. Google Apps are often efficient and mostly compatible. The result is a computer that always feels fast and responsive to anything I wanted to do. The screen is bright, with appropriate contrast, and very colorful. The keyboard has a soft feel, but the keys and trackpad are sensitive and responsive. The speakers are face up, alongside of the keyboard, and can get loud for personal listening. That headphone port makes it easy to connect to an external (not included) system, which you’ll want to add for some better bass. I streamed several movies from my GooglePlay Movie “locker”, (Finding Nemo and Jersey Boys) to test black levels, skin tones, and color. This is a very high quality screen with a wide and useful field of view. I don’t just work on the road; I love my movies-on-the-go. At just over 2lbs., the Pixelbook Go is very very easy to manage. It’s also great for working wherever you take it. Students will love it. INTEROPERABILITY: The major rationale for a Chromebook for me is lightweight usefulness. Translation? I absolutely need to exchange data, pictures, and videos with my other devices but I hate traveling with unnecessary weight. I took the easy way out for this first test and sent my new Google Pixelbook a series of attachments: TEXT (RTF), WORD, EXCEL, PDF, and JPG. EVERY other file type was handled easily, with the Chromebook offering at least one App to manage or edit my transferred files. Videos of my grandson, created on a MacBook now played on my Pixelbook. My Word document was opened without hiccup by a Google Doc, and my simple EXCEL file was opened by Google Sheet. Both were ready to edit.. . . on this Chromebook. SUMMARY: The Google Pixelbook Go approach, with portability, comfort, ease of use, simpler programs and dependence on online storage challenges notions that you need to lug a powerful, near-desktop to get work done on the road. Transitioning between my newest MacBook pro with i7 and this Google Pixelbook was problem-free. Speed is NOT an issue. In fact, those instances where I’m sitting and waiting often favored the Pixelbook’s simpler demands. Carrying around the Pixelbook just seemed smart, and looked professional. I can easily recommend this Pixelbook Go.

Computer is great, but it’s very hard connecting accessories such as the pen, mouse and headset. We manage to get the headset working after many tries, but so far not the pen and mouse. But all-in-all great purchase.

Purchased the Google Pixelbook Go for my 6th grader July of 2020 and it's been working out great for at home learning this fall. She uses Chrome books at school so was familiar with how they operate. This is my first experience & I love it too. When she's not using it, I use it for web browsing, emails, Netflix and have even created a few spreadsheets. Was surprised how amazing the sound was that comes from two speakers on each side of the keyboard. The images on the screen are great too, my MacBook Air looks better of course but for just over $600 it's perfect. The keyboard is super responsive and comfortable to type. Love the light weight also as I hold it on my lap when not at my desk. Battery life lasts me all day, have never had an issue running out of juice. Looking for a printer that's compatible right now, my Brother Laser did not work with it and I bought an Anker adapter for the USB to C connection for some devices. Love it overall and would buy again for sure. :)

WOW this is a fast start and load time. You wouldn't think it would be this fast and so thin. I love how they have made the bottom with a rubber ridges on. I feel safe putting this on any surface i have no fear of it slipping off. This is very light and thin easy to carry around. Screen has a great picture on it and the SOUND is AWESOME i haven't seen a laptop with 2 speakers on top that sound this good. The touch screen is a great feature on this easy touch. The Battery life is good i haven't used it all up yet i want to use it for a whole day to see how long it really last. They make this so easy to use just unfold it and its on to start the set up only took 5min nothing hard just sign in to your Google and your good to go. This can go anywhere as light as it is doesn't really feel like you are hold any extra weight. I wont give you all the specs of the device like the GB, RAM or SSD size. I will just tell you i really enjoy this as my new device. I added pictures of the device so you can see what i'm talking about.

Let me preface this review with a few facts: 1. This is my first Chromebook experience. 2. I currently own a Windows Laptop, Android tablet, and an iPad 6th gen tablet with keyboard case. 3. I'm an I.T. professional that primarily relies on Windows based applications and resources. 4. I tested out the PixelBook Go for about 2 weeks prior to this review. I will start out with a few positives. The build quality is amazing. The brushed aluminum feels great and never seems to get hot. Portability is exactly what you would expect due to the light weight and size. Battery life has been amazing. I've been able to get around 9-10 hours on a single use. That is with YouTube videos, emails, typing up documents, using it to remote desktop while at work, reading books, and the occasional Netflix movie. When I stated earlier about me using it for work, I've been shocked at how useful it has been. I was able to use this solely while utilizing the adaptation of Android apps in the Chrome OS. I also did some photo editing as well with no slow downs. I normally charged it once every other day, depending on my usage. Wifi is very stable, bluetooth devices work well including mouse support, and numerous bluetooth headphones and speakers. I don't want to compare the PixelBook to other devices, but I will say I'm in the Apple ecosystem with an iphone, and iPad. I definitely have put my iPad on the shelf, per say, due to the enjoyment of using the PixelBook Go. The quiet keyboard, which is backlight, and the loud speakers too make other devices not so appealing. My rating though has to due with not all Android apps being supported with the device. As I mentioned, I'm in the I.T. field, and installing apks outside of the Google Play store has been an issue. I did, however get into developer mode in order to install unknown apks, but not all seem to work. I know that may not be a reason to dock a star, but if I am going to use the PixelBook to its full capacity, I believe all Android apps should be supported in the Chrome OS environment. I mean it is an Android device. With that said, I will say that using a Chromebook has opened my eyes to what Chrome OS has to offer as well as its limitations pertaining to workflow depending on your needs. I can definitely recommend this product to anyone who is looking for great battery life, great design, simplicity, and functionality especially if you are an Android user. Hopefully Google will continue to work on the app compatibility issues in the future.