The Google Pixelbook can now take on the MacBook Pro. Is it good enough to make you switch? Read on.
(This is an update to a post first published in December 2017.)
Here are the pricing and configs I’m using for comparison purposes.
–The entry-level Google Pixelbook: it qualifies as a sub-$85o laptop (starting price) because of consistent discounts despite its list price of $999. This model comes with: 1.2-GHz Intel Core i5-7Y57 (7th Generation) 8GB of memory, and 128GB of storage (a robust config for a Chromebook).
–The entry 13-inch MacBook Pro: It’s listed at $1,299 but is consistently discounted up to $200*. This entry-level non-Touch-Bar model is equipped with a 7th Generation Intel Core i5 (base speed of 2.3 GHz), 8GB of memory, and 128GB of storage. (I’ve found that 128GB is actually plenty of storage if you opt for iCloud storage when configuring the MacBook.)
Note that after the Apple July 12, 2018 MacBook Pro update the entry-level non-Touch-Bar MBP 13 model remains unchanged from the mid-2017 MacBook Pro 13. Only the 2018 Touch Bar MBP 13 models (starting at $1,799) get the updates such as 8th gen Intel quad-core and the upgraded Butterfly Keyboard.
Design:
Pixelbook: The 12.3-inch Google Pixelbook falls somewhere between the 12.5-inch HP EliteBook x360 and 12-inch MacBook. Like those laptops, it is pushing the boundaries of extreme portability. The Pixelbook is a tablet-like 0.4-inches thin and weighs a mere 2.4 pounds, while the all-aluminum chassis is very solid/durable.
The Pixelbook also has a 360-degree hinge and its touchscreen can fold into various modes including tablet, tent, and stand.
MacBook Pro: The 13.3-inch MacBook Pro is heavier at just over 3 pounds. But it makes more efficient use of its chassis than the Pixelbook, i.e., the display bezels are narrower and the depth (at 8.36 inches) is actually less than the Pixelbook (8.7 inches). That said, the MBP is slightly wider and significantly thicker (0.59 inch) than the Google laptop. (See photo below).
Winner: No winner in this category. The Pixelbook pushes the thin-and-light envelope while being sturdy with good weight distribution. But the MacBook Pro is an overall more efficient design.
Performance:
As of August 2018, both entry-level laptops have Intel Core i5 7th Generation processors (see notes above). Apple uses a 15-watt Intel Core i5 processor (on the entry-level 13-inch model that I’m using) while Google uses a very-low-power Core i5 Y series 4.5 watt chip (on my config).
Pixelbook: Less wattage typically less performance. But not in this case. The Pixelbook is fast in day to day use with no lag. I’ve put it to the test running lots of Chrome tabs, a photo editing app, social media apps, and Microsoft Office. (See Pixelbook raw benchmark performance here. And the MacBook Pro 13 without Touch Bar benchmark performance here.)
The Pixelbook’s snappy performance is related to the efficiency of the Chrome OS. You won’t get the pop you get on a Pixelbook on an equivalent Windows 10 ultraportable or 12-inch MacBook that use very-low-power Intel Y series processors. I have used 12-inch MacBooks extensively (and owned a couple) and am now using a 2017 Windows 10 ultraportable with a Y series processor. There’s really no comparison, i.e., Google Chrome OS is just plain fast.
MacBook Pro: the entry-level MacBook Pro can lag a bit in some more performance-intensive applications but most of the time its performance is fine and won’t faze the typical user.
Winner: Pixelbook. While the entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro isn’t a slouch, it doesn’t feel as fast as the Chromebook. The Chrome OS running on top of the Pixelbook screams (at least for what I do, which is pretty much the same things I do on the MBP 13).
Update: If you compare the top-end Pixelbook with the updated 2018 Touch Bar MBP 13 that’s another discussion, which I’ll only touch on here. That high-end Pixelbook ($1,649) uses a 1.3 GHz Intel Core i7-7Y75 processor and benchmarks show very good performance. But the high-end Core i7 (quad-core) MBP 13 (starting at $2,099) is, needless to say, also fast.
Battery life:
PixelBook: 41 watt-hour battery (WHr) rated by Google at up to 10 hours.
MacBook Pro 13: 54.5 WHr battery rated by Apple up to 10 hours.
Both the MacBook Pro and Pixelbook have good battery life.
Best case: The Pixelbook, with intermittent use throughout the day (totaling 4-5 hours each day), has lasted for two days without needing a recharge. The MacBook Pro is in the same ballpark.
Worst case: Constant use with processor-intensive tasks, and — like any device — you’ll see a remarkable drop in battery life. Only a few hours for both the Pixelbook and MacBook Pro.
Winner: a draw. Chrome OS is really a mobile OS running on a laptop and better suited for conserving battery power but Apple has a laser-focus on battery life so it’s a draw.
Update: I test and use a lot of laptops. The bottom line is, all of the higher-end “premium” laptops from major OEMs like HP (EliteBook and Spectre lines), Dell (XPS line), and Apple have remarkably similar battery life. I really can’t tell the difference in day to day use anymore.
Display:
Pixelbook: The Pixelbook has a 12.3-inch 2,400-by-1,600 (235 ppi) touchscreen. The display is bright and beautiful. Of course, “beautiful” is subjective and very unscientific. But my impression nonetheless. That said, NotebookCheck said the Pixelbook display has some “drawbacks” (see NotebookCheck paragraph under the heading of “ display”). During my very extensive use of the Pixelbook I have never noticed any issues with backlight distribution, as claimed by NotebookCheck.
MacBook Pro: The MacBook has 13.3-inch 2,560-by-1,600 Retina display (227 ppi). Apple is really good at making sure its displays are the best. The MacBook Pro DCI P3 (color gamut) rating is very high (good). And nits (brightness) is very high too.
Winner: MacBook Pro 13. The MBP wins for color gamut and brightness. Display technology is a religion for Apple and it shows.
Ports:
Both the Pixelbook and MacBook Pro have two USB Type C ports. The MBP supports Thunderbolt 3 and the Pixelbook supports 4K display output.
Winner: Neither stands out.
Price/bang-for-buck:
This is the bottom line for consumers. It means a decently configured system at a reasonable price with good quality.
Winner: Pixelbook. It lists at $999 but priced regularly below that (Retailers consistently discount the Pixelbook to prices as low as $830 and, on occasion, Google brings it down to $749.)
Note that the MacBook Pro config I’m using can be had (discounted) for as little as $1,099 or even $999, depending on the timing and the retailer. If you can find one on sale for that price (at places like Best Buy and B&H Photo), that closes the gap a lot.
Overall Winner: Pixelbook (with a qualifier: see below). A great convertible design, high-quality build, good performance, good-enough battery life, and an excellent display. All for under $900 at retailers.
I really like the ChromeBook platform because it’s secure, stable, easy to use, and self-maintains. And Chrome OS is more like mobile operating systems such as Android and iOS — a refreshingly clean break from the old, creaky DOS/Windows/Mac platforms.
Qualifier: The Chrome OS won’t run some popular Windows applications. That’s a fact. Imaging apps, like the full PhotoShop application, aren’t available. Of course, applications like iTunes aren’t available but I have found a painless way to play my iTunes library on the Pixelbook: See this app – and there are plenty of other workarounds too.
That said, more and more popular apps are available all of the time on the Chrome OS. And if you use Google Docs and Google Drive already, the Pixelbook is icing on the cake. And the fact that it runs Android apps is a giant leg-up on both Windows and the Mac. And Microsoft Office apps like Word are very close to the Windows equivalent as of August 2018.
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Notes:
Biometrics: Both the Pixelbook and low-cost MacBook Pro are missing fingerprint readers and facial recognition. (Though you get a fingerprint reader on the $1,799 MBP 13 with Touch Bar.)
Keyboard: With the goal of keeping the comparison as concise as possible, I left out the keyboard comparison. That said, I found no glaring problems with the keyboards/trackpads on either laptop. Both laptops’ keyboards/trackpads are excellent, though the Pixelbook trackpad has a more audible click than the MacBook Pro. That said, the MacBook Pro has a Butterfly keyboard, which has limited travel and the tactile feedback can be less than satisfying for some users. (I may be in the minority but I like the MBP’s Butterfly keyboard.)
Audio: The MacBook Pro 13 wins handily on audio. But that doesn’t mean the Pixelbook’s audio is bad. It’s tinnier than the MBP’s but acceptable.
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*You can find the exact same mid-2017 MBP 13 model discounted often to around $1,099.
