Skip to main content

Google’s next Chromebook Pixel reportedly boasts 16GB of RAM

next gen chromebook pixel google  2015 1 000
Image used with permission by copyright holder
For quite some time now, Google’s Chromebooks have served as a menial alternative to more expensive Windows PCs. Simplistic by design, they’ve always seemed to be targeting those less familiar with the ins and outs of a proper desktop operating system.

As a result, when Google launched its first-generation Chromebook Pixel back in 2013, many were baffled by the $1,300 barrier of entry. Now, of course, it’s priced more reasonably starting at $999, but even so, none of that will matter soon enough, as it looks like a more capable version is well underway.

This news stems from Jacob Gwiazdzinski who discovered a thread in Google’s Chromium OS code review group based around the name “chell,” which appears to be a next-gen model of the Chromebook Pixel, complete with a multi-colored lightbar — a component featured in every Pixel device leading up to this point. Notably, though, the first round of HP Chromebook 11 computers had the same lightbar in place.

Spec-wise, the chell board will reportedly boast a sizable 16GB of RAM, a Skylake CPU, and a backlit keyboard.

While all of this sounds quite fascinating, what’s more intriguing is the question of whether or not this Chromebook Pixel will offer something a little more appetizing than an entire operating system based around a web browser. This is especially worth considering after the myriad rumors suggesting a convergence between Android and Chrome OS.

If these pan out to be true, a $1,000-plus Chromebook might finally be worth the colossal ton of pocket change. But then again, that all depends on what the operating system is and how it functions on a conventional notebook. The Pixel C was a step forward for Google’s Chromebook revitalization initiative, but it wasn’t exactly an ideal laptop solution either.

Perhaps we’ll find out more come May when Google hosts its I/O developer conference.

Editors' Recommendations

Gabe Carey
Former Digital Trends Contributor
A freelancer for Digital Trends, Gabe Carey has been covering the intersection of video games and technology since he was 16…
Google clears the air on disappointing Pixel 6 charging speeds
Charging the Pixel 6.

Google's Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro were initially thought to charge at up to 30 watts, but were found to actually charge at substantially slower speeds than that. Now, Google has confirmed that the Pixel 6 does in fact charge at closer to 20W to help preserve the long-term battery life of the newest Pixels.

Writing on the Pixel community forums, a Google community manager explained: "We’ve optimized Pixel’s lithium-ion battery for high charge rates when the battery level is low. Pixel 6 can get up to 50% in around 30 minutes (with Google’s 30W USB-C power charger), and quickly reaches up to 80% in about an hour, depending on device usage and temperature. The peak power that Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro draw from the wired charger is 21W and 23W, respectively. As the battery gets closer to full, charging power is gradually reduced in order to improve battery longevity."

Read more
Google launches a Pixel 6 Material You fashion collection you can’t actually wear
Pixel 6 rear cameras.

This year’s Pixel 6 series almost feels like a breath of fresh air with its brand new Android 12 Material You design. The decade-old mobile operating system now has a much-needed visual overhaul that allows a ton of individuality, customization, and character unlike any version before. To complement the same theme, Google has launched the Google Pixel 6: Material You Collection available to anyone in the U.K. for free starting November 23. 

Before you get too excited, let's clarify. Google is not giving you free clothes. The Material You Collection is a 12-piece unisex set of limited-edition digital fashion apparel that will allow Pixel 6 users to "express their individuality better." To put it simply, it is a visual representation of physical clothes. Meaning that, yes, you can't actually wear any of these. Think of it as concept art or costume design rather than a product. Strange, but that's how marketing works, we suppose. 

Read more
The Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro barely charge any faster than the Pixel 5
App screen on the Google Pixel 6 Pro.

With the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, Google appeared to have outdone the battery longevity of the already long-lasting Pixel 5 by offering bigger batteries and faster charging speeds to compensate. But an analysis done this weekend by android-focused tech blog Android Authority has found Google's Pixel charging speeds to be much more in line with older Pixels than the company would have you believe.

A test carried out by the tech publication showed that the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro could only reach 22 watts at peak changing speeds -- just a little bit over the 18W you'll find on older Pixels. This means that the Pixel 6's charging time is also slower than the older Pixel 5 due to a combination of its bigger battery and its similar charging speeds. It takes the Pixel 6 just under two hours to reach a full charge, whereas the Pixel 5 would charge in a little over an hour and a half. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra with a 25W charger outpaces both. You can read the reasoning in the Android Authority piece, but the short version is Google's Pixel 6 drops wired charging speeds after 50%, whereas Samsung keeps a fast charging pace up to around 85%.

Read more