The Google Pixelbook Go (2019) is a 13 inch Chromebook that's lightweight and easy to carry around. It has great up-firing speakers that get very loud, a good 1080p webcam for video calls, as well as a decent keyboard and excellent trackpad. Like all Chrome OS devices, you can't run x86 desktop applications, meaning you're mostly limited to using the Chrome browser, Linux apps, and Android apps from the Google Play Store. It's available with Intel 8th Gen Y-series processors, which are powerful enough to handle light productivity tasks but aren't ideal for heavy workloads. The battery lasts through a typical 8-hour workday on a full charge, and while it does get a bit hot under load, it remains completely silent thanks to its fanless design.
Our Pixelbook Go has an Intel Core m3 model with 8GB of RAM. It can handle most light productivity tasks, but we recommend heavy multitaskers opt for the Core i5 variant with 16GB. The Core i7 model comes with a 4k display and is the only option with 256GB storage, but the higher resolution likely won't be noticeable to most people at this screen size and will negatively impact battery life. Also, even the top-end i7 model might still struggle in very demanding tasks like video editing. Every component is soldered onto the motherboard and is non-upgradeable, so you need to make sure to get the configuration you want when making your purchase.
The Google Pixelbook Go is great for student use. It's easy to carry around because it's thin and light, and its battery lasts an entire day unless you're gaming. The keyboard is decent and quiet, and the touchpad is responsive. The Intel CPUs are powerful enough to handle light tasks, like word processing and web surfing, but they struggle with demanding workloads like complex 3D design or physics simulations. Also, you're limited to web-based and Android apps because Chrome OS doesn't support x86 desktop apps.
- Easy to carry around.
- Battery lasts a full 8-hour day of light productivity and video playback.
- Exceptionally well-built.
- 1080p webcam captures decent amount of detail.
- Only has USB-C ports.
- Must be online to perform most tasks.
- Can't run x86 desktop apps.