Google Reportedly Cancels Next Version of Pixelbook Laptop to Cut Costs
Google also dissolved the team building it, a report says.
- Macy has been working for CNET for coming on 2 years. Prior to CNET, Macy received a North Carolina College Media Association award in sports writing.
Google released the Pixelbook Go in 2019 -- which now seems to be the last in its line of laptops.
Google will no longer be developing the Pixelbook laptop, according to a report Monday from The Verge. The report, citing an unnamed source, said that the tech giant has canceled all plans to release the next version of the Pixelbook, and is also transferring the employees building the computer to other teams across the company.
The next Pixelbook was rumored for release in 2023, and was reportedly "far along in development." As recently as May, Google hardware chief Rick Osterloh said there would be future Pixelbooks.
Google didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
This move seems to be part of the company's effort to save money. The report notes that Google CEO Sundar Pichai said in July that Google intends to slow hiring and cut some projects in light of global economic uncertainty.
"In some cases, that means consolidating where investments overlap and streamlining processes," Pichai wrote in a memo. "In other cases, that means pausing development and redeploying resources to higher-priority areas."
Read also: Google Announces Fall Pixel Event on Oct. 6
Google began its Pixel branding in 2017 with the first Pixelbook Chromebook. The tech giant released the Pixelbook Go, an ultra lightweight Chromebook, in 2019. Google has also launched Pixel phones -- announcing its Pixel 7 Series at its annual developer conference in May -- Pixel earbuds, and is reportedly set to release its first Pixel smartwatch this fall.