Google unveils new high-end Chromebook with colorful, grippy bottom

Google announced a ton of hardware on Tuesday, but none will make Chromebook users happier than the Pixelbook Go.

The company’s latest entrant in the laptop arena was shown off at Made by Google 2019 in New York City. It’s available for preorder now with a starting price of $649. We knew about it well ahead of time courtesy of 9to5Google, so instead of surprising us, Google confirmed much of what we already knew.

The laptop has a smaller, more MacBook-like form factor compared to the 2017 Pixelbook, but the changes don’t end there. A distinctive ridged grip runs along the bottom of the laptop, which could make the machine feel better in the hand as you carry it around. It also has a keyboard that looks very similar to the excellent keyboard from the last Pixelbook, which is a big advantage over any recent MacBook.

As was previously reported, the 13.3-inch Pixelbook Go can pack as little as an Intel Core m3 processor and as much as an Intel Core i7, if you’re willing to spend the money. It can also go up to 256GB of storage and 16GB of RAM. The most expensive model will also come with a 4K display.

The Pixelbook Go looks to be one of the most powerful Chromebooks around, but as usual, anyone who buys it needs to be fine with the restrictions of ChromeOS. It’s not compatible with as many apps as macOS or Windows, and it’s not especially useful for gaming. Plus, even at the high end, 256GB of storage is paltry compared to what even a modestly priced Windows laptop packs. That said, for everyday tasks and work, this could be a nifty device.