Short answer: Googlebooks are Google’s new premium laptops, on sale in the US from October 4, 2026. They run Googlebook OS, which combines ChromeOS and Android, and they’re built to work closely with Android phones. Five models launched, from $899 to $1,299. Based on early hands-on coverage, the ASUS Googlebook 14 ($1,299, 2.2 pounds) is the standout, the Acer Googlebook 14 ($899) is the best value and the only 2-in-1, and the Dell XPS Googlebook ($999) is the compact pick. Full lab reviews aren’t out yet, so we’ll update this guide as they arrive.
How we put this together: this guide is based on Google’s announcement, manufacturers’ specifications and published hands-on coverage (linked below). It is not based on hands-on testing by iTech Level. Prices are US launch prices as listed at Best Buy and may change. See how we choose products.
All 5 Googlebooks compared
| Googlebook | Best for | Screen | Chip | Weight | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASUS Googlebook 14 | Lightest, best screen | 14″ 3K OLED, anti-glare | Intel Core Ultra 5/7 (Panther Lake) | 2.2 lb | $1,299 |
| Acer Googlebook 14 | Best value, only 2-in-1 | 14″ 2.8K OLED, 500 nits | Intel Core Ultra 5/7 (Panther Lake) | Thin and light | $899 |
| Dell XPS Googlebook | Compact, Snapdragon | 13.4″ 2.5K, 500 nits | Snapdragon X Elite | 2.2 lb | $999 |
| Lenovo Googlebook 15 | Biggest screen | 15.3″ 2.8K OLED | Intel Core Ultra 5 (Panther Lake) | 2.8 lb | $1,099 |
| HP Googlebook 14 | Snapdragon with OLED | 14″ 2.8K OLED, 500 nits | Snapdragon X Elite | 2.74 lb | $1,299 |
Specs from Google, Android Authority and Tom’s Guide. Prices are Best Buy launch prices reported by Tom’s Guide; some early reports listed the Dell at $1,199 and the Lenovo at $1,299, so check the current price and configuration.
What is a Googlebook?
A Googlebook is a premium laptop that runs Googlebook OS (codenamed Aluminium during development), Google’s new operating system built on Android with desktop foundations from ChromeOS. Google sets minimum hardware for the name: at least 16GB of memory, a touchscreen, a haptic glass trackpad, a backlit keyboard, premium materials and an Intel or Qualcomm chip with an AI processor rated above 45 TOPS. Every model has a “Glowbar” on the lid that lights up at startup, shows the battery level and animates when you talk to Gemini (Google).
- Works with your Android phone: signing in brings over your phone’s settings, saved passwords, Wi-Fi networks and messages. “Continue On” picks up tasks from your phone, the Files app shows your phone’s files and photos, and “Cast My Apps” runs phone apps in a desktop window.
- Gemini built in: wiggle the cursor (“Magic Pointer”) to ask Gemini about what’s on screen, dictate notes with Rambler, or create desktop widgets by describing them.
- Apps: the full desktop Chrome browser with extensions, Android apps from the Play Store, native Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom and CapCut, and a Linux terminal for developers.
- Updates: 10 years of automatic updates with quarterly feature drops (9to5Google).
- Extras with every Googlebook: 12 months of Google AI Pro with 5TB of storage and a year of GeForce Now cloud gaming, plus trials of YouTube Premium, Photoshop and CapCut.
The 5 Googlebooks: which to buy
1. ASUS Googlebook 14: the standout
Tom’s Guide, which went hands-on with all five, picked the ASUS as the standout, saying it was “astonished by how light this 2.2-pound laptop feels”. It’s 0.43 inches thin, with a magnesium-aluminium chassis, a 14-inch 3K OLED touchscreen with anti-glare treatment (ASUS quotes up to 1,000 nits peak HDR brightness), six speakers and a large haptic touchpad. The base model has an Intel Core Ultra 5, 16GB of memory and 256GB of storage, and ASUS claims up to 18 hours from its 70Wh battery.
Good to know: at $1,299 it’s one of the two most expensive Googlebooks, and 256GB of storage is modest at that price. Battery claims are ASUS’s own until lab reviews arrive.
2. Acer Googlebook 14: best value, and the only 2-in-1
The Acer is the cheapest Googlebook at $899 and the only convertible at launch, so it folds into a tablet. It has a 14-inch 2.8K OLED touchscreen (500 nits), an Intel Core Ultra 5 or 7 (Panther Lake), 16GB of memory, at least 256GB of storage, an aluminium-and-magnesium chassis and a 71Wh battery (Android Authority). Tom’s Guide calls it the one to get for a premium laptop that doubles as a tablet for under $1,000.
Good to know: the base model’s 256GB of storage fills up faster than you’d think with offline video and Android apps. If you mostly need a laptop for the web and Google Docs, a Chromebook costs far less (see below).
3. Dell XPS Googlebook: the compact pick
The Dell is the smallest Googlebook, with a 13.4-inch 2.5K touchscreen (500 nits) in a machined aluminium body that weighs 2.2 pounds. It uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite with 16GB or 32GB of memory and starts with 512GB of storage, double the other base models. It adds face unlock and a haptic touchpad. Android Headlines went hands-on with all five and called Dell “the clear winner”.
Good to know: Tom’s Guide lists it at $999 at Best Buy, but some launch coverage listed $1,199, so check which configuration you’re getting. The Snapdragon X Elite launched in 2024, so it’s an older chip than the Intel Panther Lake in the Acer, ASUS and Lenovo, though Arm chips are usually efficient.
4. Lenovo Googlebook 15: the big-screen pick
The Lenovo has the largest screen at launch, a 15.3-inch 2.8K OLED touchscreen, with Dolby Atmos audio, which suits video and side-by-side work. It has an Intel Core Ultra 5 (Panther Lake), 16GB of memory, 256GB of storage, a magnesium-alloy and carbon-fibre chassis, face unlock and a fingerprint reader. Tom’s Guide describes its boxier design as reminiscent of a MacBook Pro.
Good to know: at 2.8 pounds it’s the heaviest Googlebook, though still light for a 15-inch laptop. Tom’s Guide lists it at $1,099 at Best Buy; other launch coverage said $1,299.
5. HP Googlebook 14: Snapdragon with an OLED
HP pairs a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite with a 14-inch 2.8K OLED touchscreen (500 nits), 16GB or 32GB of memory and 256GB of storage, in an all-aluminium body. It has both a fingerprint reader and face unlock, and Tom’s Guide liked its lattice-less keyboard, saying the keys have excellent travel.
Good to know: at $1,299 and 2.74 pounds, it costs as much as the lighter ASUS. Choose it if you prefer a Snapdragon chip with an OLED screen in a 14-inch size.
Googlebook vs Chromebook
- Price: Googlebooks start at $899. Good Chromebooks cost $400–$700, such as the $649 Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 with an OLED screen.
- Software: Googlebooks run the new Googlebook OS with deeper Android phone integration and newer Gemini features. Chromebooks run ChromeOS, which Google will keep updating through mid-2034.
- Hardware: every Googlebook has at least 16GB of memory, an AI chip and a premium build. Chromebooks range from basic to premium.
- Who should buy which: a Googlebook if you have an Android phone and want a premium laptop; a Chromebook if you want a capable, simple laptop for the web, school or Google Docs for less.
See our best Chromebooks guide for the cheaper alternatives, including which current Chromebooks might move to Googlebook OS.
Should you buy a Googlebook now?
- Yes, if you use an Android phone, live in Google’s apps, and want a premium, light laptop with a long update promise.
- Wait, if you want independent lab tests of battery life and performance first. These are first-generation devices running a brand-new operating system, and full reviews are only starting to arrive.
- Look elsewhere, if you need Windows-only software, or you use an iPhone: the headline phone features are built around Android. A MacBook Air or a Windows laptop is the better fit.
Where to buy a Googlebook
In the US, Googlebooks are sold at the Google Store, Best Buy and the manufacturers’ own stores. The Google Store sold out of several models during pre-orders, while Best Buy had the most consistent stock (PC Guide). They’re also sold in the UK and Canada, from £999 and C$1,299. Black Friday (November 27, 2026) will be their first big sale, but as brand-new products, don’t count on deep discounts.
Our verdict
From the early hands-on coverage, the ASUS Googlebook 14 is the Googlebook to get if you want the lightest, best-looking one, and the Acer Googlebook 14 is the best value at $899, with a 2-in-1 design. Choose the Dell XPS Googlebook for a compact laptop with 512GB of storage, the Lenovo Googlebook 15 for a bigger screen, and the HP Googlebook 14 if you want Snapdragon with an OLED. We’ll update these picks when full reviews are in.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Googlebook?
A Googlebook is a new type of premium laptop from Google’s partners Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP and Lenovo. It runs Googlebook OS, which combines Android and ChromeOS, works closely with Android phones and has Gemini built in. Googlebooks went on sale in the US on October 4, 2026, from $899.
Which Googlebook is the best?
Early hands-on coverage from Tom’s Guide picks the ASUS Googlebook 14 ($1,299) as the standout for its 2.2-pound design and anti-glare OLED. The Acer Googlebook 14 ($899) is the best value and the only 2-in-1. Full lab reviews are still to come.
How much does a Googlebook cost?
Googlebooks start at $899 for the Acer Googlebook 14. Best Buy launch prices reported by Tom’s Guide are $999 for the Dell XPS Googlebook, $1,099 for the Lenovo Googlebook 15, and $1,299 for the ASUS and HP Googlebook 14.
Is a Googlebook the same as a Chromebook?
No. Googlebooks run the new Android-based Googlebook OS and must meet premium hardware rules, such as at least 16GB of memory and an AI chip. Chromebooks run ChromeOS, cost less, and Google will keep updating ChromeOS through mid-2034.
Can you use a Googlebook with an iPhone?
You can use one as a regular laptop with Chrome, web apps and Android apps, but the headline features, such as syncing settings and messages, Continue On and Cast My Apps, are built around Android phones. iPhone owners will usually be better served by a MacBook.
