Google has announced prices and release dates for its first Googlebooks: five models from Acer, Asus, Dell, HP and Lenovo, with prices starting at $899. Pre-orders opened on September 21 and retail availability will begin on October 4.
Googlebooks run Android with desktop features borrowed from ChromeOS. They can install Android apps from the Play Store, run a desktop version of Chrome with extensions, and connect to an Android phone to access its apps and files.
Googlebooks: features and hardware
All five launch models ship with at least 16 GB of RAM and use Intel or Qualcomm processors paired with NPUs rated above 45 TOPS. The machines include touchscreens and haptic trackpads, some offer OLED displays, and Google claims up to 14 hours of battery life.
Where’s Samsung’s Galaxy Book?
SamMobile reported in May that Samsung is developing Galaxy Book laptops powered by Android 17 and One UI 9, but Samsung is not among Google’s first five Googlebook partners. Samsung has not announced an Android-powered Galaxy Book or provided a launch date, and neither company has explained why Samsung is absent from the initial lineup. Samsung often announces new Galaxy products on its own, so it may be saving Android Galaxy Books for a separate launch. Google has demonstrated how its laptops integrate with an Android phone; it remains to be seen what One UI and Samsung’s own software will add when Samsung’s Android Galaxy Books arrive.
