Exploring Google’s Bold Vision for the Future of Laptops

Using a Googlebook feels surprisingly intuitive right from the start. The hardware is sleek and modern, drawing from the latest laptop designs. The operating system is familiar territory for anyone who’s used a Chromebook. However, the standout feature is the seamless integration with your Android phone, making both devices feel like a unified experience. After my first hands-on session, I went from skeptical to genuinely excited about what Google is bringing to the table.

Following a minimal announcement back in May, Google is set to roll out its new line of Android-based laptops, known as Googlebooks. The initial five models from various manufacturers will be available on October 4th, with preorders already open and prices ranging from $899 to $1,299.

So, what exactly are Googlebooks?

In essence, they are laptops powered by a new operating system that merges elements of Chromebooks and Android, enhanced with Gemini AI features. They resemble Chromebooks but sport Android’s Material Three Expressive UI and utilize premium materials. While there’s no standard specification for Googlebooks, they all fall into the thin-and-light category, with screen sizes between 13 and 15 inches, at least 16GB of RAM, touchscreen displays (most being OLED), metal chassis, backlit keyboards, and biometric unlocking options like fingerprint or facial recognition, along with a distinctive Google Glowbar light strip on the lids.

The initial lineup is driven by Intel Core Ultra Series 3 “Panther Lake” and Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite processors, with MediaTek options expected to follow. Although the first wave of Googlebooks shares similar dimensions and branding, there are notable differences: haptic or mechanical trackpads, various port configurations, and even a 2-in-1 convertible model.

During my hands-on time with the Googlebooks, each model showcased its own strengths. The Asus was impressively lightweight, the Lenovo offered a plethora of ports and an optional mouse with a matching Glowbar, the Acer’s convertible design allowed for tablet-like functionality at a competitive price, the HP boasted a stunning display and a surprisingly comfortable keyboard, while the Dell felt like a premium XPS 13 with a different chip.

The real magic of Googlebooks lies in their software. They run on Googlebook OS, which is built on the Android stack over a Linux kernel, supporting both x86 and Arm architectures. This Android desktop interface runs Android apps and feels reminiscent of ChromeOS, but it shines when paired with an Android phone.

You can cast apps from your Android device directly to a Googlebook without even touching your phone. Googlebooks feature two app drawers: one for installed Googlebook apps and another that displays mobile apps from your phone. Clicking on a mobile app allows you to use it fully with the mouse, keyboard, or touchscreen, similar to iPhone Mirroring on macOS, but with individual apps appearing on the desktop rather than the entire phone interface.

Another handy feature is Continue On, which shows icons of apps currently in use on your phone in the bottom bar, allowing you to click and transfer them to the Googlebook. This transition can lead to either a native app or a web app, depending on how developers have set it up. A Google representative mentioned that adding Continue On functionality is relatively straightforward for Android developers, and casting apps doesn’t require any additional setup.

Quick Access is another significant feature, enabling you to view and access files stored on your phone directly from the Googlebook’s desktop Files app. Your paired Android phone appears in the sidebar of the Files window, allowing for easy searching and file sharing without needing to pick up your phone. However, this feature is limited to Android users; iPhone users will only have access to a basic Link to iOS app for message syncing.

As showcased in May, the Googlebook mouse cursor, dubbed the Magic Pointer, allows you to summon Gemini by simply wiggling it. This feature lets you ask Gemini questions or have it analyze content on your screen for more information. During a live demo, users could ask Gemini to verify the legitimacy of a Spotify account email or add a marathon training schedule to Google Calendar. Some tasks are processed locally, while others utilize cloud capabilities, though the specifics weren’t always clear during the demos. Googlebooks also include recent Android features like Create My Widget for custom widgets and Rambler for speech transcription.

While these thin-and-light laptops aren’t primarily designed for gaming, their Android foundation means they can access around 20,000 games at launch. Many of these are free-to-play mobile titles, but the Play Store also features indie games that should run smoothly on a laptop. I tried out games like Dead Cells and Balatro, both of which are excellent indie choices. However, it was a bit off-putting to see a demo of Asphalt Legends offering a post-race ad for in-game currency rewards, which felt out of place on a laptop. On the brighter side, Nvidia’s GeForce Now service will be available on Googlebooks, with the first year free for new laptop owners.

A major advantage of Googlebooks is their ability to keep pace with rapid software developments, unlike Chromebooks. While Chromebooks will still be around, especially in educational settings, it’s clear that Google is shifting focus toward Googlebooks. They promise a decade of OS support, similar to Chromebooks.

During the media briefing, I asked about the target audience for Googlebooks, and the Android president indicated they’re aimed at users who prefer devices like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 and want an alternative to Windows or Mac. The initial pricing seems to sidestep direct competition with the MacBook Neo for now, but given the current state of Windows 11 and user frustrations with Microsoft, a new competitor could shake things up.

One reassuring aspect was Google’s effort to label apps as desktop-compatible in the Play Store. Similar to how Valve verifies games for Steam Deck compatibility, Google has three designations for Play Store apps on Googlebooks: Made for desktop, Optimized for desktop, or Better on the website. It’s exciting to see an “Optimized for desktop” version of Lightroom available for installation, even if it’s the mobile version rather than the full desktop application.

While this indicates Google is taking the initiative seriously and the Android integration features are appealing, several questions remain unanswered regarding Googlebooks and their new OS:

* What will happen to Chromebook software as development shifts to Googlebooks?
* Can users trust Google with their entire computing experience?
* Is there a demand for a laptop designed with Gemini in mind, especially amid the ongoing AI backlash?
* Will developers like Adobe optimize their mobile creative apps for desktop use or bring desktop-exclusive apps to Android?
* Are these laptops truly ready for launch? Google hasn’t sent out review units ahead of the release, and some OEM representatives received the hardware just before the briefing, deferring software questions to Google.
* What will future budget-friendly Googlebooks look like, and how affordable will they be in the current market?

After exploring what Googlebooks have to offer, I transitioned from confusion about their purpose to feeling intrigued and hopeful for fresh ideas and competition in the laptop market, even if it might serve as another vehicle for Gemini. It’s not every day we see a new contender in the desktop OS and laptop arena. Googlebooks seem to hold more potential than Chromebooks, along with some exciting features, but Google has a lot to prove at these higher price points.