Googlebook Review: The New Laptops Merging ChromeOS and Android Feel Half-Finished

Googlebook, Google's new laptop line that brings ChromeOS and Android under one roof, is getting mixed marks in early reviews. The hardware is well liked. The software hasn't matured enough to justify the high price.

What happened?

Google has launched the Googlebook brand with traditional PC makers including Acer, Asus, Dell, HP and Lenovo. The devices start at $899 in the US and £999 in the UK. Early reviews say the hardware quality is approaching the level of the MacBook Air and Surface Laptop, but the software experience isn't there yet. Connectivity with Android phones and integration with Google services are the main selling points, but the gaps start there too.

Why does Googlebook feel unfinished?

For years, Chromebooks rested on a single idea: a cheap, fast-booting, browser-centric computer. That formula worked in schools and for low-budget home use. Prices fell as low as around £160. But the same formula doesn't work the same way on a device that costs close to $1,000. At that price, users expect a full desktop experience, not a browser tab.

Google has run two separate operating systems for years: Android on phones and tablets, and ChromeOS on laptops. Android apps came to ChromeOS years ago, but they often behaved like stretched-out versions of a phone interface. Inconsistencies persisted in areas such as window management, keyboard and mouse support, and offline use. Googlebook promises to complete this merger. The reviews, however, show that the seams of the merger are still visible.

Missing features such as Find Hub are symbolic for this reason. The service for locating phones, earbuds and accessories is a core part of the Android ecosystem. Its absence on a device that claims to be "Android's laptop form" shows that the platform hasn't yet built a cohesive ecosystem. The fluidity Apple offers between Mac, iPhone and AirTag is the result of an investment spread over many years. It was always going to be hard for Google to reach the same level in a first generation.

What changes against the competition?

Google's goal is clear: to become an alternative to Windows and macOS. But those two platforms have things Googlebook lacks.

Here, Googlebook's real problem is its price positioning. For the same money, users get a decades-old software catalog on Windows, and creative workflows and ecosystem consistency on macOS. Googlebook's plus is a streamlined experience built around a Google account and Android apps, but that advantage doesn't yet look big enough to close the price gap.

Manufacturer variety cuts both ways. Brands like Acer, Asus, Dell, HP and Lenovo can offer different prices and designs. If third-party models such as the HP Googlebook 14 fill the entry level at more reasonable prices, the picture could change. On the other hand, a multi-manufacturer model creates risk around the consistency of software updates. The fragmentation of drivers and updates seen in the Windows world could spread to Googlebook as well.

What does it mean for users in Turkey?

In Turkey, laptop prices are climbing fast because of exchange rates and taxes. Under these conditions, a starting price of $899 would put the device, in local pricing, directly against the MacBook Air and higher-end Windows models. Chromebook's established strength in education and corporate purchasing could open a door for Googlebook. For individual users, though, there is little justification for paying this much for a first-generation product whose software hasn't settled.

What's next?

There are three things to watch. First, how quickly Google fills in the missing Android features. Second, whether app developers will actually ship versions optimized for large screens and keyboards. Third, whether manufacturers can bring prices down.

It's worth remembering that Google had limited success with its earlier premium ChromeOS attempt, the Pixelbook. The difference with Googlebook is that this time it has the backing of the entire PC industry rather than a single device. Even so, that backing doesn't close the software gaps.

Our verdict is clear: Googlebook is the right idea, executed too early. Until the software matures and prices fall, these devices are an experiment for enthusiasts and, for most users, a product worth waiting on.

The Guardian's review lays out this gap between hardware quality and software in detail.