The Google Pixelbook i5 brings together toughness and performance, captured inside a metal body. That alone places it on the fast track to be the best Chromebook for kids—but we remain skeptical. Its 7th gen Intel CPU provides snappy performance, backed by a long battery life and a fast-charging feature.
Why We Like It – Google Pixelbook i5
Encasing all of its precious hardware inside an all-aluminum chassis, the Google Pixelbook i5 aims to protect itself from “what-ifs,” a valuable asset to have when in the hands of kids.
- All-aluminum chassis
- Fast charging capabilities
- Snappy performance
- Pixelbook Pen sold separately
- Expensive
Display Type & Resolution
Displaying a resolution of 2400×1600, the Google Pixelbook i5 is reaching several steps above 1080p, which is 1920×1080. And on a 12.3-inch screen, pixel density will look amazing, especially accompanied by great color accuracy.
Battery Life
Battery life is almost equally good, lasting up to 10 hours on a single charge. That’s the same as the Asus Chromebook Flip C434, but the Google Pixelbook i5 has the benefit of fast-charging. It takes just 15 minutes of charging to regain another 2 hours of battery life.
Weight & Durability
Weighing only 2.45 lbs, you wouldn’t think the Google Pixelbook i5 was very durable, right? Wrong! It’s actually built with an all-aluminum chassis, which offers far better durability than the plastic material used underneath the Google Pixelbook Go. Its white and silver finish also looks great against the backlit keyboard.
Inputs
You get an audio jack and two USB Type-C ports. That’s by far the least number of ports we’ve seen on a laptop. Yes, there’s adapters, but that’s another cost on top of the Google Pixelbook i5’s already bloated price.
Value
Speaking of which, picking up a Google Pixelbook i5 is going to set you back $1200. Chrome OS, nor Google Assistant, or its performance warrants that steep pricing. You don’t even get a Pixelbook Pen; it’s sold separately! Unless your child is going off to college, save yourself $600 and drop down to the Acer Chromebook 714.
Google Pixelbook i5 Wrap Up
There’s plenty of features to like and consider to justify picking up the Google Pixelbook i5. Its fast-charging ability is highly sought after, especially when you’re constantly on the move. And we won’t argue with its snappy performance and great build quality. But that price is hard to swallow, and really only suited for kids heading off to college.
