It appears that the Google Pixelbook is no more, with reports that Google has not only canceled its next Chromebook, but also disbanded the team working on it.
This news, according to The Verge (opens in a new tab), is a real blow. The previous model, the Pixelbook Go, was not only one of the best Chromebooks ever made, it was also one of the best laptops.
This is also a bit of a surprise, as there were hints that Google was working on a new Pixelbook recently at this year's Google I/O. A Google spokesperson also hinted to us last year that a new Pixelbook was coming.
Unfortunately, it seems that plans have now changed, probably in part due to Google's decision to cut costs by canceling or pausing some projects. Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, wrote in a note (and seen by The Verge (opens in a new tab)), that these measures "mean pausing development and redeploying resources to higher priority areas." It looks like the team working on future Pixelbooks has relocated to another part of Google.
Analysis: Goodbye, Pixelbook
The Pixelbook series only had two entries - the high-end original Pixelbook, along with the more affordable Pixelbook Go - but it certainly made its mark.
The original Pixelbook was supposed to show the potential of Chromebooks. Instead of being just cheap devices for browsing the web and sending some emails, the Pixelbook came with a stunning 2400 x 1600 display, 256GB SSD, 8GB of RAM and an Intel Core i5 processor, the kind of spec that would not have shined. out of place on a high-end laptop.
His goal was to challenge people's preconceived ideas about what a Chromebook is, while also serving as an inspiration for other Chromebook manufacturers (Google, of course, is also behind the Chrome OS operating system that all Chromebooks run, so that he has a vested interest in the success of all Chromebooks, not just his own). It was a difficult, if not impossible, task, so it is perhaps not surprising to learn that it was unsuccessful.
The main problem was the high price: launching at €999 / €999 (around AU$1500) and going up to €1649 / €1699 (around AU$2400), the lack of sales showed that the world just wasn't happy. I was ready for an expensive Chromebook.
The follow-up, the Pixelbook Go, was more affordable, but at $849/$829 (around AU$1250) it was still significantly more expensive than most Chromebooks, despite excellent performance and battery life. , plus one of the best keyboards we have. I have even used it on a laptop.
Once again, the Pixelbook Go has remained a niche product, despite rave reviews (including our own).
With Google seemingly ending development on the Pixelbook, there seems to be no appetite for high-end Chromebooks with price tags to match. It's understandable, but we can't help but feel sad that this could mean that Chromebooks are doomed to always be seen as budget devices when they could have been so much more.