First look at Googlebook: A premium Chromebook alternative for Android users

Tech Home Tech Computing Laptops First look at Googlebook: A premium Chromebook alternative for Android users Googlebooks use an all-new OS that merges Android and ChromeOS with more premium hardware. Written by Kyle Kucharski, EditorEditor May 12, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. PT

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ZDNET's key takeaways

• Googlebook is a new device line coming this fall.
• It merges Android and ChromeOS for smoother phone-to-laptop use.
• Chromebooks aren't going away anytime soon.

Google has announced an all-new laptop lineup, called Googlebook. Yes, you read that right -- the new product category is a step up from the Chromebook in terms of performance and features, merging ChromeOS and Android into a single operating system.

This new, unified OS is a risk for Google that could potentially pay off big. Chromebooks already had integrations with Android smartphones, but Google says the new operating system will bridge the gap, bringing MacBook-like features to Googlebook. Details are sparse, however, as we're expecting more information to be unveiled at I/O, Google's developer conference, on May 19.

Also: Windows rivals to MacBook Neo are here - but I'm more excited for Google's response

Googlebook enters the laptop market at a crucial moment. When Apple's $599 MacBook Neo dropped earlier this year, it completely altered consumer expectations for budget laptops, forcing both PC makers and Chromebook makers to re-evaluate their offerings.

Google's strategy seems thus: release a higher-quality laptop powered by a unified operating system across Android smartphones, and play ball with competitive features, powered by its new overarching AI engine, Gemini Intelligence. Notice a naming trend here?

Android integrations that 'just work'

One of the biggest selling points for the Neo was how well it integrated with the iPhone. It forced users to justify why they were using a Windows PC at all when they could unlock features like Messaging, FaceTime, and Phone Mirroring -- all on a laptop that was potentially cheaper than their PC.

Googlebooks are almost certainly a response to that. One of the focal points of the new OS is the Cast My Apps feature, which lets you seamlessly use apps on your phone directly from your Googlebook -- no downloading required.

Ultimately, the idea here is to bring native support for Android apps to the laptop experience on Googlebook, including the new overarching AI engine, Google Intelligence. Notice a naming trend here? It will roll out features in waves, starting with the latest Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones this summer.

Also: 6 underrated Android features that are seriously useful (and how they've made my life easier)

Other features, like Create My Widget, use AI to create widgets for Googlebook based on prompts made in natural language. For example, the demo showed the user creating a widget for a family vacation, which Gemini Intelligence made as a scrollable itinerary that sat on the user's desktop.

There is also some smoothing of Android-to-iOS features. For one, Google says its new Quick Share feature, which lets you share photos, videos, and files to different devices, will be compatible with AirDrop. This will be available on Pixel phones to start, with support for Samsung, OPPO, OnePlus, Vivo, Xiaomi, and Honor devices later this year.

What about Chromebooks?

It's been 15 years since Google released its first Chromebooks: affordable devices with modest hardware, built for basic tasks like surfing the web. Today, Chromebooks and Chromebook Plus devices have evolved to premium status with OLED panels, up to 16GB of RAM, and, of course, support for Gemini and complex AI tasks.

Google was clear: Chromebooks are not going anywhere. "Chromebooks are not dead," Alexander Kuscher, senior director of tablets and laptops at Google, said on a virtual press briefing. If Googlebooks are an all-new product, the existing market of Chromebooks will remain unchanged... for now.

Also: You can turn off Gemini in Gmail, Photos, Chrome, and more - here's how

Kuscher said Google is committed to supporting software updates for Chromebooks until, at the very least, 2034, and readily admitted that the company was in no position to "just get rid of" the millions of Chromebook devices that are already deployed in schools, businesses, and the hands of consumers worldwide.

I don't have to say that's a good thing, as any kind of limitations on older devices would be like Windows 11 migration PTSD all over again -- exactly the sort of thing Google is keen on being an alternative for.

Although specific products and associated specs have not yet been announced, Google confirmed new premium devices from Acer, Asus, HP, Dell, and Lenovo. Physically, there's also not a lot to go off yet, but one thing Google showed off is the new "Glow bar," a rainbow-hued LED bar on the back of every Googlebook as a unified design language.

The new Googlebooks won't be here until the fall, but we can expect laptop manufacturers to start announcing products as early as this summer.

Featured reviews

I walked 3,000 steps with my Apple Watch, Google Pixel, and Oura Ring - this tracker was most accurate After using the MacBook Neo for weeks, switching to the Air has been refreshingly sweet I bought an earwax camera for my toolkit and use it for everything but my ears LG G6 vs. Samsung S95H: I compared the best OLED TVs of 2026 and made a tough choice

• I walked 3,000 steps with my Apple Watch, Google Pixel, and Oura Ring - this tracker was most accurate
• After using the MacBook Neo for weeks, switching to the Air has been refreshingly sweet
• I bought an earwax camera for my toolkit and use it for everything but my ears
• LG G6 vs. Samsung S95H: I compared the best OLED TVs of 2026 and made a tough choice

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