Google Reveals Its Next Generation Chromebook

Mike Moore,

£799 Chromebook Pixel 2 will look to take on Apple’s upcoming Macbook

Google has responded to Apple’s new Macbook launch by revealing the second generation of its Chromebook Pixel laptops.

The updated Chromebook Pixel 2 features boosted power, a 13in touchscreen display, and two new USB Type C ports which looks to enable multi-device charging by combining power, video and traditional USB ports into one cable.

The new device goes on sale from today in the US from £799 – however, there is no word on UK pricing yet, just a “Coming Soon” notice.

To celebrate the reveal, Google has launched a new online store to show off the Chromebook Pixel 2 alongside its Nexus smartphones and tablets.

chromebook-pixel-2Boosted

The new Chromebook shares the same high-resolution touchscreen, aluminium body, and smooth glass trackpad as its older brother. Inside, there is a powerful Intel Core i5 with 8GB RAM and a 32GB SSD.

Google is also making an LS (Ludicrous Speed) version, which packs in more power thanks to an Intel Core i7 processor, backed up with 16GB of RAM and 64 SSD, and will cost £999.

Alongside the new hardware, Google says it has also made a few other enhancements, including a new wide-angle camera lens, and has also introduce voice-control commands, meaning users can say ‘OK Google’ to interact with their device, much like the existing service available on many Android smartphones and tablets.

And thanks to its new charger, Google says the Pixel can offer 12 hours of battery life, and can recharge up to two hours of battery life with just 15 minutes of charging.

“Two years ago, we introduced the first Chromebook Pixel,” Andrew Bowers, Google’s director of consumer hardware, wrote in a blog post announcing the new device. “The idea was to bring together the best in hardware, software and design to inspire the next generation of Chromebooks.”

“It’s been exciting to see how the entire range of Chromebooks – from classroom-proof to high-end – has made a difference to people at school, at home, and at work. Today, we’re introducing an updated and more powerful Pixel to fuel the imaginations of another wave of Chromebook enthusiasts.”

Projections made last year by Gartner predicted a 79 percent increase in Chromebook sales in 2014, with sales projected to reach 5.2 million units during 2014, but then to nearly triple to 14.4 million units by 2017.

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