Googlebooks are Android’s answer to the Apple ecosystem. Powered by a new OS that combines Android and ChromeOS and is designed for Gemini Intelligence, this new class of laptops integrates with your Android phone to deliver a seamless cross-device experience. If you’re an Android user seeking greater interoperability between your phone and laptop, Googlebooks could be a game-changer.
At a Googlebooks event, I went hands-on with the first five of these laptops and was more impressed than I expected. Though each machine has unique design elements, all are thin and light notebooks with touchscreens and haptic touchpads. Each also has a Glowbar to denote them as Googlebooks. These notebooks start at $899, pack 16GB of RAM, and feature premium aluminum shells. Chromebooks, these are not!
While all of the Googlebooks I checked out were solid machines in their own right, one stood out above the rest. I’ll detail which I liked most and why, along with the other Googlebooks expected to hit the market in early October. Also, check out our interview with the head of Android for more.
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Asus Googlebook 14
The standout is the Asus Googlebook 14, which starts at $1,299. The instant I picked it up, I was astonished by how light this 2.2-pound laptop feels—and I say this as someone who regularly uses a MacBook Air! The Nano Ceramic magnesium-aluminum chassis not only looks and feels great, but it’s also extremely sturdy, which is essential for a laptop that’s only 0.43 inches thin. The Dusk Ash color is also eye-catching.
So, what’s under that lovely hood? The base model packs an Intel Core Ultra 5 Panther Lake CPU, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of SSD storage (up to 512GB). Asus says the laptop has an advanced cooling system that supports sustained performance and quiet operation. The company also claims the 70Wh battery can deliver up to 18 hours of battery life.
Then we have the 14-inch 3K OLED touchscreen, which Asus says can reach 1000 nits of peak HDR brightness. What stood out to me was its anti-glare tech, which effectively reduced the glare from the bright lights at the event I attended. If you work outdoors or in harsh lighting, this’ll be a great addition. I’ll need more hands-on time with the display (not to mention some lab tests), but based on my brief time with the Asus Googlebook 14, it seems plenty bright and colorful.
Other features include a six-speaker system with dual force-canceling woofers and two tweeters, which Asus says create fuller sound for calls, presentations, and media. Then there’s the large haptic touchpad, which uses six-point force sensing that delivers consistent click pressure no matter where you tap. I also liked the relatively roomy keyboard and the springy keys.
Again, all the Googlebooks I checked out were great in their own right, but the Asus Googlebook truly won me over because of its super thin, light design. It’s exactly the kind of laptop I would want to travel with daily because of its ultraportability and sleek aesthetic. I’m eager to put it through its paces and see if it lives up to the hype.
Other Googlebooks
Acer Chromebook 14
After the Asus Googlebook 14, the other one that stood out most was the Acer Chromebook 14. It was the only 2-in-1 convertible I saw at the event, and it was also the most affordable, starting at $899. Like most of the announced Googlebooks, it has an OLED touch display, a sturdy, thin, lightweight aluminum chassis, and claims strong performance and long battery life thanks to its Panther Lake CPU. If you’re looking for a premium device that doubles as a laptop and tablet for under $1,000, keep an eye on this one.
Dell XPS Googlebook
The $999 Dell XPS Googlebook is for folks who want a higher-end laptop than the $699 XPS 13 but much more affordable than the $2,399 XPS 14. It packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chip, 16GB of RAM (up to 32GB), 512GB of SSD storage, and a 13.4-inch 2.5K touch display. This notebook is also 2.2 pounds, like the Asus Googlebook, and has a similarly sturdy machined aluminum chassis. I’m a big fan of XPS laptops, so it’s good to see Dell trying that brand with Googlebooks.
HP Googlebook 14
The $1,299 HP Googlebook 14 is another svelte laptop, featuring a 14-inch 2.8K OLED touch display, 16-32GB of RAM, 256GB of SSD storage, a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chip, and an all-aluminum build weighing just 2.74 pounds. What stands out most is its lattice-less keyboard, which makes for a denser keyboard deck. Though some aren’t fond of this design, I quite like it—especially since the keys have excellent travel distance.
Lenovo Googlebook 15
Last but not least is the Lenovo Googlebook 15. As its name suggests, this has the largest display of the launch Googlebooks at 15.3 inches. Of the Googlebooks I saw, this has a boxier design reminiscent of a MacBook Pro. It’s also the heaviest at 2.8 pounds, though it’s still relatively lightweight. Other features include a magnesium-alloy and carbon fiber chassis, an Intel Core Ultra 5 Panther Lake CPU, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage.
Outlook
We don’t often get a new class of laptops, let alone ones also featuring a brand-new operating system. Because of that, Googlebooks are genuinely exciting. That said, given how these machines are primarily targeted at Android users, their appeal might be limited. Even if that’s the case, I appreciate that these laptops are more about fitting into people’s lifestyles rather than being machines focused on pure power and specs.
The first wave of Googlebooks arrives on October 4, so it won’t be long until we can all check them out. We’ll have full reviews of these laptops here on Tom’s Guide, so make sure you don’t miss out—especially if you’re a person these notebooks are targeting. Stay tuned for more!
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