I wasn’t sure about Googlebooks, but after playing with two Snapdragon-equipped laptops, I’m considering switching
Qualcomm provided travel and accommodation to the Snapdragon Summit. There was no additional compensation and Qualcomm had no input on this article prior to publication.
Earlier this year, Google introduced what had long been rumored: Android on your laptop. Googlebooks seem like a natural evolution of Chromebooks, and I was able to spend time with some of the early models at Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Summit.
I expected it wouldn’t be much different from Chromebooks, and that’s… kind of true. Google Books aims to take the best of ChromeOS and Android and merge them into a high-performance computer operating system that can take advantage of AI and connect better to your smartphone.
I’ve never really liked Chromebooks, but I’m feeling quite enticed by the prospect of Googlebooks, even if the barrier to entry seems a little high at the moment.
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This isn’t the Chromebook you remember
One of the main differences between the new Googlebooks and Chromebooks is their price. Chromebooks are compelling because they are available at very low prices, which benefits schools and other institutions with limited budgets. However, Chromebooks in their current form favor a more premium experience, with the cheapest laptop costing $899.
It’s still cheaper than most low-end MacBooks, but prices can easily exceed $1,000, depending on the model and configuration. I’ve been told this is because it’s much easier to start at the top and work your way down than to start low and work your way up.
It’s clear that Google wants to ensure that Googlebooks are considered a premium computing experience before offering cheaper options that will eventually supplant Chromebooks.
This is easy to see in the available material. At the Snapdragon Summit, I was able to play with two Googlebooks equipped with Snapdragon HP Googlebook 14 ($1,299) And Dell XPS Google Book ($999). They have great hardware that looks premium, which is something I’ve never really gotten from the Chromebooks I’ve used (although I know there are premium models).
The HP has a larger 14-inch OLED display that looks phenomenal, with sharp resolution and deep blacks for more vibrant images. It also has comfortable keys and a large trackpad. Meanwhile, the Dell XPS has a smaller LCD panel with thin bezels and a matte finish to reduce glare. Its aluminum construction reminds me a bit of a MacBook, which shows how light and premium it feels in the hand.
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(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)
Both laptops share similar specifications, including 16GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage. They also have in-display fingerprint sensors and the distinctive Glowbar, which offers functions like displaying battery life, Gemini interactions, and more. There’s also a hidden Easter egg that unlocks more controls, but I’m told users have to find it themselves.
I’m not sure why Google hides this Glowbar control panel, because it seems like an essential, even fun, part of the experience. Luckily, Google plans to expand the Glow Bar feature, but for now it’s a bit limited, just like HiLight on the Pixel 11 Pro.
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(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)
Many UI elements also look very familiar. The quick settings panel looks very Pixel and is located in the upper right corner. The Settings app also looks like it came straight from a Pixel tablet, so anyone coming from an Android phone should feel right at home.
You can also pin widgets to the home screen to get visible information and create app folders, just like on an Android phone.
All about AI
What will further help Googlebooks shake up the perception of the Chromebook is its capabilities. Thanks to more powerful chipsets like the Snapdragon
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(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)
Googlebook really shines with its ability to perform more of the AI functions normally found on an Android smartphone. One example I’ve seen in my hands-on work is Rambler, which allows users to dictate notes, emails, and documents in natural language. The AI automatically filters out “umms” and even takes into account times when you seem to change your mind about something you said.
What’s interesting is that Google Books comes with a dedicated Rambler key, so you can easily access them with just a tap.
One feature that I think I will get a lot of use out of is the Magic Pointer. It’s almost like a desktop search circle: you can activate it by wiggling the pointer a little, and it will prompt you to click on an item on your screen that you want to learn more about. You can ask about one thing or add multiple items, and a Gemini dialog box opens in a side panel.
It feels like a natural evolution of the slider, giving you easy access to Gemini when you need it. And speaking of Gemini, there’s also Gemini Live, with a small circular user interface similar to what you find on an Android phone, plus proactive intelligence and automation features, so you can let your computer do tasks for you, just like on your phone.
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(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)
And remember when I mentioned widgets? Well, you can use AI to create your own widget, and you can be as precise as you want. When demoing this feature, the widget creator was given a very specific and lengthy instruction to create a widget that would display the 49ers’ points scored, comparisons to rival teams, and Brock Purdy’s passing yards, all in a purple and neon widget. And in less than a minute it appeared on the desktop.
I can see this being a very useful feature for people who like to use their desktop as a notebook. I also can’t help but think of Windows 8 and its Tile interface, which were essentially dynamic “widgets” that filled your screen, although it seems more functional and a little less jarring.
Finally, since Googlebooks runs on Android, it’s easy to download just about any app or game from the Play Store. You can also easily connect your phone to your Googlebook, search your phone’s app drawer, and stream apps directly to your desktop.
I haven’t had a chance to see this in action, but it looks like an evolution of Phone Hub on Chromebooks. It also reminds me of Motorola’s Smart Connect, which can do the same thing, although a native experience should be more useful.
For example, Continue is a Transfer-like functionality that lets you start a task on your phone and continue it on your laptop. And by connecting your phone to a Googlebook, you can easily exchange files between devices without needing Quick Share or a physical connection.
A promising start
I haven’t spent much time with Google Books, and it’s only a small selection of devices, with other options powered by Intel and even MediaTek chips. Still, it’s a promising start for Google’s computing ambitions, and I’m excited to see where the company takes it, especially as its price drops.
We’ll still have Chromebooks for a while, and some may even be updated to Googlebook OS at some point in the future. Although Google is working with developers to better optimize games for these larger screens, you shouldn’t expect native PC-style AAA games on Googlebook, although you can still use GeForce NOW to stream games to your device.
So, Googlebook may not be for everyone, but it seems like a viable option for Android users who need to stay productive on the go when a tablet isn’t enough, and it could be a go-to option for students as well.
I’ve never been a fan of Chromebooks, but I admit that even I am intrigued by Googlebooks and am seriously considering leaving Windows.
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