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Googlebook review: Google’s new laptops are woefully underbaked
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- DeepHorus
Google’s first Googlebooks have launched as premium laptops from Acer, Asus, Dell, HP and Lenovo. Prices start at £999 (€1,099/$899/A$2,299), far above budget Chromebooks. The devices combine Android software with deep phone links and aim to challenge Windows and macOS.
Google sets strict hardware standards for these machines. They must include backlit keyboards, haptic trackpads, fingerprint readers, touchscreens, good speakers and fast chips with at least 16GB of RAM. Such specifications are usually expected in premium Windows PCs, which often cost more.
Reviewers tested the Acer Googlebook 14 and Asus Googlebook 14. The Acer costs £999.99 and offers a convertible design, a glossy 14-inch 3K OLED screen and a 1.14kg aluminium-magnesium body. The Asus costs £1,199.99, weighs 0.99kg, is 11mm thick and has a matt 14-inch 3K OLED display.
Setup mimics an Android phone: users scan a QR code, enter a passcode and transfer apps and accounts in about four minutes. The Googlebook runs many Android apps, which is both its biggest strength and weakness. Most apps remain mobile versions, and only a handful are “made for desktop.”
Even Google’s own apps show limitations. Calendar displays only one account at a time, Docs opens as a Chrome window and Files lacks pinnable locations. Chrome also lacks split-screen tabs and multiple profiles found on Windows and macOS.
The review found excellent hardware with satisfying keyboards, great trackpads and quality screens. However, it concluded that the software feels underbaked and not yet competitive. The app gap remains a central problem for the new platform.
Googlebooks are positioned as premium alternatives to MacBook Air and Surface Laptop models. Their success will depend on whether Google and developers can improve desktop app quality. For now, buyers get strong specifications but an unfinished software experience.
