Reviewers fault Googlebook software despite solid hardware

Google has released Googlebook, a premium laptop line built on Android in cooperation with Acer, Dell, Lenovo, HP and Asus. Reviewers cited by Ars Technica said the hardware is solid but the software and app ecosystem do not hold up against macOS or Windows 11 laptops.

The machines ship with touchscreens, metal bodies and biometric authentication. The Acer Googlebook 14 starts at $899, a Lenovo model with an OLED display and haptic trackpad costs more than $1,100, and the HP Googlebook 14 is priced around $1,300.

The main complaints concern the Android-based OS. Reviewers said background apps close and work screens have to be reloaded, while key apps such as Slack and Photoshop keep smartphone-oriented interfaces, making keyboard and mouse control awkward. Google Drive, Gmail and Calendar are provided as web apps rather than desktop programs.

Phone integration also drew criticism. File sharing, notification sync and app mirroring with Android phones often disconnect or degrade in performance, according to the review. The Magic Pointer feature, which sends screen content to the Gemini assistant, produced errors even for basic tasks such as creating calendar entries.

Apps can be built with the AI development tool Antigravity, but reviewers said they need considerable rework to reach finished quality. Ars Technica concluded that the Googlebook's hardware is good, but the software does not support it and the line lacks competitiveness against macOS and Windows laptops.