It’s been an exciting 2019 in the world of Chromebooks, which comes to an end today. And about two weeks ago on a podcast, I shared what my Chromebook of the year is. But I put off writing about it, mainly because I was finding it difficult to explain why I chose what I did. After much reflection and quiet time during the holiday season, I figured it out.

But first, let me share my pick, which is certainly arguable: I think the best Chromebook for most people, and launched in 2019, is the Google Pixelbook Go.

Here are my reasons why:

• Lighter and thinner than any similarly sized Chromebook.
• Better design and materials than most Chromebooks
• Speakers that are on par with, if not better than, those found in the Pixel Slate, which easily produce the best sound from any Chromebook.
• Improved hush-keys that are now what I consider the gold standard of Chromebook keyboards.
• Outstanding battery life in such a thin package

Yes, there are some “downgrades” from the Pixelbook when it comes to the Go. You lose the 2-in-1 form factor and stylus support as previously mentioned. The display resolution is lower and the screen aspect ratio is now 16:9. But in every other meaningful way, this is an upgrade from the Pixelbook and it comes at a lower cost.

Putting aside the reviews and my own personal opinion, what do actual customers who bought the Pixelbook Go think of it? Here’s how it fares from Best Buy reviewers for the $649 model: