Googlebook: Google's First Android Laptops Go on Sale

In early October Google began selling Googlebook, a new laptop platform built on Android. It is meant to succeed the Chromebook: Google is merging ChromeOS and Android into a single system. The platform was announced in May 2026 together with Android 17.

Five models launched from Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP and Lenovo. According to media reports, prices range from $899 to $1,299, and Acer's $899 price is described as a limited launch offer. The laptops are listed with Intel Core Ultra or Snapdragon X Elite processors, from 16 GB of RAM, OLED screens, up to 14 hours of battery life and up to 10 years of updates. Gemini is built in. Sales began in the US, followed by Canada, the UK, Ireland, France, Germany and Australia. Exact dates by country differ slightly between sources.

What the reviews say

The first reviews are alike: the hardware works, the system does not yet.

Tom's Guide, which tested the Dell XPS Googlebook, praises performance and battery life but notes that the new system is still unfinished and somewhat buggy. MobileSyrup, after first impressions of the ASUS Googlebook 14, puts it this way: great hardware, meh software.

An independent review after a week of use gives more detail. The author returned an HP because of a screen defect, then an ASUS because of stutters, but notes that the HP's performance is among the best he has seen from an Android device and that the battery lasts a full day. On the downside: Gmail opens as a web app, some Android apps scale poorly on a large screen, Linux graphical apps open inside a terminal, and Chrome has no profile switching.

What about business use

For companies something else matters more. According to Google's guidance, Googlebook currently has no work profiles or device management, and Managed Google Play is unavailable. The review's author, citing Google's roadmap, says the first wave of such support is expected in the second half of 2027.

My comment

This is a typical first-generation picture: the hardware is ready before the system. Google is trying to join the mobile ecosystem to the desktop one, and the hard part is not the hardware but apps written for phones and familiar corporate tools.

For an ordinary user the conclusion is simple: Googlebook is worth a look for people who already live in the Android ecosystem and can put up with rough edges. Those who need a laptop for everyday work would do better to wait for at least the next system updates.

For business the conclusion is stricter. While devices and apps cannot be managed centrally, a fleet of such laptops will not replace Chromebooks or ordinary laptops. If Google delivers what it promised, 2027 will be the interesting year to look again.

Sources: Android Authority, Tom's Guide, MobileSyrup, Bayton.