Google Chromebook Pixel Review
Performance and Benchmarks
In the following tests, we take a look at how the Chromebook Pixel compares to other notebooks in a similar price range -- as well as the Intel Atom-based Series 5 Chromebook -- by running a few common benchmarks that are currently available in the Google Play Store. Be aware that the two-year old Series 5 Chromebook scores vastly lower than the new Chromebook Pixel throughout, but we felt it prudent to include its scores in order to showcase just how far the product as a whole has come.
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Here, you'll see the Chromebook Pixel hanging tight with some of its closest rivals, specs-wise. More important, however, is to see just how far Chrome OS has evolved compared to the Series 5 score. In around two years, Google now has employed hardware that'll run Chrome OS around 2x faster but at a significant cost increase of course as well.
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In SunSpider, a Javascript processing benchmark the Chromebook Pixel performed well. It's right in the mix with its rivals, and while it's no shock, the improvement here compared to the Atom-based Series 5 is amazing. We hope that the Pixel will prove to people that Chrome OS can indeed offer solid performance if paired with the right hardware.
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In Kraken, yet another Javascript processing benchmark, the Chromebook Pixel continued to show signs of strength. The results here place it right in line with competing non-Chrome OS machines, while its score far surpasses the score put up by the Series 5 Chromebook.
Web Browser Performance testing
Chrome Browser Testing
WebVizBench is a more complex, very unique benchmark that pushes a browser's HTML5 rendering to its limits. Hundreds of albums are floated across the screen, with multiple real-time image layers overlaid as well. The Chromebook Pixel managed to run the benchmark fairly smoothly, though the Intel HD 4000 GPU didn't do it any favors here. Still, compare the improvement over the Series 5 Chromebook -- it's a major performance boost.
Web Browser Performance testing
Chrome Browser Testing
In Google Octane, the Chromebook Pixel kept itself in the mix. We're feeling like a broken record at this point, but this test once again shows average performance compared to rivals, and extraordinary performance compared to the Series 5 Chromebook of two years ago.
Web Browser Performance testing
Chrome Browser Testing
Fishbowl is a graphically-intense benchmark that places an array of fish on-screen, along with other intense elements, in order to push a browser experience to the max. The Chromebook Pixel managed to display 500 fish at a buttery-smooth 60FPS (capped by screen refresh), while the older Series 5 Chromebook could only manage 6FPS. That's a 10x improvement in rendering, which isn't suprising, given that Intel's integrated HD 4000 graphics engine is so much faster and robust versus the integrated graphics found in Atom series SoCs.
