Google has launched pre-orders for a new category of premium laptops, Googlebook, featuring Gemini AI and enhanced integration with Android devices. The devices begin at $899, which is well above Google’s traditional “Chromebook” price range.
Acer, Asus, Dell, HP and Lenovo are the first Googlebook lineup models. According to Google, the machines are powered by Intel or Qualcomm chips and have up to 14 hours of battery life, depending on the model and use.
The entry-level Acer Googlebook 14 will cost from $899 and will feature 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage and an Intel Core Ultra 5 processor. Other models are more expensive, up to $1,299.
Googlebook is not looking to compete in the budget market with the Chromebook. Google is using Android technology and mixing desktop components of ChromeOS, and making it Android phone-centric. Users will be able to transfer files and access phone applications and resume some activities on other devices.
The new laptops put the spotlight on Gemini. The built-in AI can assist with writing, answering questions about content on the screen and offering task assistance, Google says. Rambler can even take a voice recording and convert it into organized notes and action items.
There’s also a feature called Create My Widget, which allows users to describe what they want instead of writing code to create a customized widget. Google is also bringing its Antigravity development platform and developers will have access to a Linux terminal for coding and running AI tools.
The hardware will be aimed at a higher segment in the laptop market. Google claims that the lineup will feature displays and materials targeting higher-end users, and is also prioritizing security with its Titan hardware root of trust and other security measures carried over from ChromeOS.
All Googlebook purchases come with 1 year of Google AI Pro, featuring 5TB of cloud storage and access to Google’s cutting-edge Gemini capabilities.
There’s also a bundle of software and entertainment services, such as limited-time subscriptions and a GeForce NOW offer.
Google is also going after those who wish for a tighter phone/laptop experience. The strategy is similar to Apple’s ecosystem, but Google is creating it around Android instead of the iPhone and macOS. The launch has been called an attempt to provide a more cohesive computing experience for Android users by analysts and technology publications.
The launch is happening at a time when Apple is moving into the lower price brackets with its $699 Macbook Neo. That moves Google’s $899 base price into a more competitive segment of the market, where customers have more options than just the traditional Windows machine and Mac.
The first Googlebook devices will be available to customers on October 4 in the U.S. Google states that it will be available in Canada, the UK, Ireland, France, Germany and Australia on October 5th.
Google is launching it not as another iteration of the Chromebook, but as a rethinking of the laptop in general.
It will be a while before the devices are available to customers and more reviews are written, but whether consumers will find enough value in Gemini and Android integration and the new hardware to warrant the $899 starting price will be determined.
