Google Chromebook Pixel review

Google unveiled its Chromebook Pixel laptop to compete with Apple MacBooks and Windows 8 ultrabooks.
Touting what the firm claims is the highest resolution screen ever seen in a laptop, the Pixel doesn't come cheap. Costing £1,049, the 13in-sized device is rather costly considering the limitations of its Chrome OS, which is bound to put some buyers off, especially considering that it won't support many popular applications and the latest games, for example.

However, with touch capabilities on a display that boasts a quality higher than that seen on Apple's Retina technology, and a striking aluminium finish, Google's Chromebook Pixel is bound to gain some well-deserved attention. Whether the firm can translate these features into sales remains to be seen. Nevertheless, we've put the Pixel through its paces to see if it has what it takes to compete with fellow industry giants Apple and Microsoft.

Design and build
What initially strikes you about the Chromebook Pixel is its anodised aluminium chassis, which not only gives it a sleek, stylish look, but creates an impression that it will be robust enough to withstand a good few knocks and drops.
We also like how the Pixel's brushed metal finish, which uses active cooling so has no visible vents - as well as screws or speakers - gives it a very minimalistic, high-end appearance. At £1,049, it is in harmony with its price tag in terms of looks. However, a downside to the Pixel's build is that it isn't the lightest we've tried and tested, feeling quite heavy at 1.52kg. Measuring 16.2mm thick, it's also not the slimmest laptop design we've had the pleasure of using.

Saying that, the Pixel does have some great features, such as its piano hinge, which Google says has been built in to help dissipate heat and augment the Wi-Fi antenna. Whether this is really the case, we're not too sure, but it does retain a very smooth motion, so opening and closing the lid is effortless.
Another charming, albeit rather pointless quirk featured on the Pixel is the LED bar light that sits on the lid just above the groove where you open it up. In true Google style, this emits an array of colours in the theme of the search engine's ubiquitous logo: a rather simple but fun way of adding brand association to the Pixel's minimal design.

Overall, the Pixel did impress us in terms of design and build. Although it might remind us of Apple's MacBook Pro series, it feels exceptionally well made, possessing a very high quality finish and as a result is an absolute pleasure to work on, or play on for that matter, and will undoubtedly impress anyone that uses it.

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