Google has been rumored to make a new foray into the first-party Chrome OS device market with a new laptop that might launch by the end of 2021. Now, a new leak that might lend this idea further weight has emerged. Its contents hint that the Mountain View giant intends the "Pixelbook 2" to be as modern as possible on its debut.

A very similar candidate Pixelbook Go successor, thought to go by the code-name Atlas, may have been spotted with a silver colorway in an earlier leak. However, it is nowhere to be seen in this new set of renders, which categorically show the alleged Chromebook in frankly Mac Mini-esque blue, green, yellow, pink or orange finishes for a possibly aluminum chassis. [1]

Figure 1. Google Pixel Book 2

Figure 1 shows this is hard to know with any certainty. Traditionally, Google’s premium hardware has come with premium pricing. The original Chromebook Pixel launched in the USA at over $1,000 and cost UK buyers £799. The more recent Pixelbook was similar, with the base models setting you back £999/$999. If Google does introduce a new flagship, then expect a price in the same ballpark as its predecessors. [3]

Features, specs, and design

One of the most distinctive aspects of the original Pixelbook was its 3:2 touchscreen display. Most laptops have 16:9 displays, so this immediately sets the Pixelbook out from the pack. The jury is still out on that, but our guess would be no. The reason we say that is the Pixelbook Go — the most recent Pixel-branded laptop — has a 16:9 display. Also, the Pixel Slate’s tepid response from consumers might have been a sign that 3:2 isn’t what people want. Additionally, no other major laptop line adopted the 3:2 design, so Google may abandon the 3:2 novelty just for the sake of staying competitive.

The Pixel 6 phones come with a new Google-made CPU called Tensor. We also saw a recent leak from @AppleLe257 with allegedly official renders of the Pixelbook 2. The leak shows the Pixelbook 2 in color options of orange, green, yellow, blue, and pink. The leaker also confirmed a 13.3-inch display and Google Tensor for the Pixelbook 2. We don’t know how accurate this leak is, but if it is, then the likelihood of the Pixelbook 2 arriving in 2023 is strong.

Finally, Google is throwing a lot of its weight behind Google Stadia, its game-streaming service. It wouldn’t be surprising if the next Pixelbook is designed to work well with Stadia, which could influence various aspects of the design and specs. This would also back up our theory that the Pixelbook 2 might have a 16:9 (or maybe 16:10) display, as this would be key for gaming.

The new Pixelbook will almost certainly be a high-end machine, though, with premium build materials and a strong spec sheet. Stylus support is also pretty much a given, and it wouldn’t be surprising if some newer technologies come standard with the Pixelbook 2, such as Wi-Fi 6 support, Thunderbolt 3 support, etc. [2]

References:

1. https://www.notebookcheck.net/The-Google-Pixelbook-2-emerges-in-the-form-of-renders-with-a-trendy-range-of-colors.565026.0.html
2. https://www.androidauthority.com/google-pixelbook-2-1012720/
3. https://www.techadvisor.com/news/laptop/google-pixelbook-2-3802600/

Cite this article:

Thanusri swetha J (2021), Google Pixel Book 2, pp. 44