Google has opened pre-orders for its new premium laptop range, Googlebook, targeting users seeking a more integrated, AI-led experience above standard Chromebooks. The devices, starting at $899, feature ties with Android and Gemini technology, signalling a shift towards higher-end, ecosystem-focused laptops.
Google has opened pre-orders for Googlebooks, a new premium laptop line that starts at $899 and is due to ship from 4 October. According to Google’s announcement and reporting by Axios, the devices are not meant to replace Chromebooks but to sit above them, offering a more integrated, AI-led experience that leans heavily on Gemini and tighter links with Android phones. The pitch is that many users already do most of their work in a browser, while still wanting more seamless access to apps, files and assistance across devices.
The first wave includes five machines from Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP and Lenovo. Google says the category requires at least 16GB of RAM, 256GB of storage and around 14 hours of battery life, which suggests a fairly consistent baseline even where designs and chipsets differ. Android Central reported that pre-orders went live on 21 September at 9 a.m. ET, while Google has framed the line as part of a broader shift towards an “intelligence system” built around Gemini features, the Magic Pointer cursor behaviour and widgets.
Acer has the entry model, a 14-inch convertible with an OLED touch display, Intel Core Ultra 3 silicon, 16GB of RAM and at least 256GB of storage. Google’s store lists a version with an Intel Core Ultra 5 chip, 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage at $899. It is also the only 2-in-1 in the group and the only one with the Glowbar placed in a corner rather than centrally.
Dell’s XPS-branded Googlebook is likely to draw the most attention among buyers seeking a thinner premium model. It carries a 13-inch 2.5K touchscreen, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite, 16GB of RAM and at least 512GB of storage, with a starting price of $1,199. HP and ASUS are both priced at $1,299, but they split on processor choice: HP uses Snapdragon X Elite, while ASUS goes with Intel Core Ultra 3. Both have 14-inch OLED touchscreens and 16GB of RAM, though ASUS is notably lighter at 2.2lb. Lenovo’s larger 15.3-inch model is being positioned as the workhorse of the range, with Intel Core Ultra 3, 16GB of RAM, storage up to 1TB, and a thicker chassis that includes a fan.
Googlebook looks like a deliberate attempt to create a higher-end counterpart to the Chromebook, while keeping ChromeOS laptops in the market. The strategy appears aimed at users who want the flexibility of Android apps and web tools, plus closer phone integration, without moving to Windows or macOS. Windows Report said Google is also bundling a year of Google AI Pro and a selection of other software subscriptions, which indicates the company is using software value to support the hardware launch. Whether the category gains traction will depend on whether buyers see enough advantage in Google’s AI and ecosystem approach to justify the premium.
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