Google and HP make a Chromebook Pixel replacement for half the price

People who like Chrome OS but don't like the cheap low-end hardware it normally comes on or the expensive, aging Chromebook Pixel take note: HP and Google have announced a new 13-inch Chromebook that includes many of the Pixel's best features, but does it for a starting price of $499. That's half the $999 starting price of the Pixel, though it's still about twice as expensive as the cheapest Chromebooks.

The Chromebook 13's specs definitely deliver, though you'll need to drop more money to get the really impressive specs. It's got an aluminum enclosure with a soft-touch material on the bottom, and its rounded hinge is more than a little evocative of the Pixel. Higher-end models have a 3200×1800 IPS display, even higher than the 2560×1700 of the Pixel, while lower-end models get a still-reasonable 1080p panel. It has two USB Type-C ports for charging, data, and display output, which also makes it compatible with HP's Elite USB-C Docking Station (PDF), and it includes one standard USB Type-A port for compatibility with existing accessories.

Base models use 4GB of RAM, though 8GB and 16GB configurations are also available, and all models include 32GB of internal eMMC storage and an SD card reader. It also uses a range of Skylake Core M processors, from the Pentium 4405Y at the low end to the m7-6Y75 at the high end. All of these chips ought to provide more performance than the cheaper Atom-derived Celeron and Pentium chips in cheaper Chromebooks but should still allow for a fanless design while maintaining decent performance. It's 0.51 inches (12.9mm) thick, comparable to other Core M laptops, and it weighs 2.89 pounds (1.29 kg). 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2 round out the wireless capabilities, and HP promises 11.5 hours of battery life while browsing.

HP notes that the laptop was "designed in collaboration with Google," much like the Nexus devices or 2013's HP Chromebook 11. The laptop is available for pre-order now, and will ship in May. Look for hands-on impressions and a full review in the coming days.