Google has started selling the first Googlebooks, the laptops that replace Chromebooks and run a desktop operating system built on Android foundations. After the US debut on 4 October, it is the turn on 5 October of Canada, the UK, Ireland, France, Germany and Australia. Italy isn’t on the list, and Google hasn’t given a date for our market.
What is a Googlebook?
The platform is aimed at people with an Android smartphone who want a computer that works with it effortlessly. Google presents it as a new category of laptop, not a simple Chromebook update: Android underneath, and on top a desktop interface with the Chrome browser and Play Store apps.
The headline feature is integration with the phone. With “Continue On”, you pick up on the laptop an activity you started on your smartphone. The Files app gives access to the phone’s files and photos, while “Cast My Apps” brings the phone’s apps into windows on the desktop.
Gemini’s AI at the centre
On the software side, the most visible novelty is Magic Pointer: shake the cursor to summon Gemini, which can help with whatever content is in front of you. Google also mentions Rambler, which turns voice notes into tidy notes, and Create My Widget, for building widgets from a written description.
On the hardware side, every model has a processor with an AI unit rated at over 45 TOPS, a touchscreen and, in the more refined versions, OLED panels up to 2.8K. Claimed battery life reaches up to 14 hours. Google also promises ten years of system updates.
The launch models
At launch there are five laptops from the manufacturers already working with Google:
- Acer Googlebook 14, the cheapest in the range;
- Dell XPS Googlebook;
- HP Googlebook 14;
- ASUS Googlebook 14;
- Lenovo Googlebook 15, with the largest screen, at 15.3 inches.
The processors come from both Intel and Qualcomm: the Dell and the HP use Snapdragon X Elite, while the others rely on Intel Core Ultra.
Prices and availability
In the US prices start at $899 for the Acer, with the other models costing more, up to around $1,299. Pre-orders are open on the Google Store and at retailers such as Best Buy. Buyers get 12 months of Google AI Pro with 5 TB of cloud storage, three months of YouTube Premium and access to Adobe Photoshop.
For Italy, neither euro prices nor a date have been announced. For those living in Switzerland the situation is the same: Switzerland isn’t among the launch countries. Anyone wanting to buy a model in France or Germany would have to reckon with local prices, warranty and keyboard layout.
Who should take note
A Googlebook makes most sense for people already living in the Google ecosystem: an Android phone, a Google account, documents in the cloud. The bundle of services makes the offer more appealing, because 5 TB of storage and Photoshop weigh on the final bill. Those who use Windows for specific software, or macOS for creative work, won’t find a strong reason to switch.
Our verdict
The move is consistent: Google is bringing Android to the desktop after years in which Chromebooks and tablets coexisted awkwardly. The advantage over the old Chromebooks is the higher price bracket and more polished hardware, with OLED and premium materials; the drawback is precisely the price, which starts close to that of many more mature Windows notebooks.
It remains to be seen how well windowed Android apps will work and how useful Gemini will be day to day. Until there are hands-on tests, claims about battery life and speed should be taken for what they are: manufacturer figures. Italy’s absence from the first wave is a shame, but not a surprise: Google usually widens sales in phases. If you’re interested in Gemini, here you can read about the limits of the free models and AI Plus.
Written by the SpazioiTech newsroom with the help of AI tools, from facts verified across at least two independent outlets, and checked before publication. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
Translated from the Italian original. Read in Italian
