AJ is a journalist from New York City. He's covered a variety of consumer tech topics throughout his career, with his work published on media outlets including CBS, FOX, and NBC.
Google’s Chromebooks have become an increasingly popular low-cost alternative to traditional laptops and have garnered strong demand from consumers, institutions, and schools across the market. Then, in October 2017, Google created the Pixelbook, a hybrid laptop-tablet with a 360-degree hinge, a touchscreen display, and compatibility with the Pixelbook pen, a battery-powered stylus. Having the Pixelbook while still creating new Chromebooks created some confusion among consumers, but since then, we’ve adjusted. Now, Google decided it was time to confuse things even more.
In October 2026, Google debuted its new Googlebook, not to be confused with the Chromebook, the Pixelbook, or the Google Books app. Featuring a new operating system called Googlebook OS, Googlebooks are designed to be the successor to Chromebooks. This new lineup of laptops has some interesting features, but the backlash following its rollout has been rather alarming.
Why is the Googlebook getting so much backlash?
Google is known for good software, but it seems very “gimmicky” for these devices
Various tech influencers have been a bit harsh on the new laptop, including MKBHD’s review titled “WTF is a Googlebook?” The price of the latest Chromebook models ranges from $349 to $749, while the Googlebooks start at $899 and go up to $1,299. What makes the Googlebook different? Well, most of the devices feature an OLED touchscreen display, at least 16 GB of RAM, 512 GB of storage, and built-in Gemini Intelligence, Google’s biggest selling point.
One of the Gemini AI-integrated features is the ‘Magic Pointer’, where you wiggle the cursor, and the AI assistant will appear, and give you options such as visualizing a set of images the cursor hovers over, or hovering the cursor over suspicious emails in Gmail, and Gemini will analyze the email for you without opening it, according to the company.
Another main feature the company highlights is Rambler, where Gemini will serve as a smart voice dictation tool that can write emails for you using voice input, while also correcting stutters, filler words, and mistakes. But arguably the best feature of the laptop is Create My Widget, which lets Gemini make a widget for you based on how you describe it. But as MBHD mentions in his review, it’s cool “when it works.”
All of these AI features, along with the Android apps that run on Googlebook’s Android-based operating system, sometimes do not work, as Android Authority reported in their review that multiple apps and AI features did not function properly, and the cross-device integration of apps wasn’t perfect. To me, a lot of the AI features seem ‘gimmicky,’ and if the Googlebooks can’t run Android apps properly, why wouldn’t I just opt for a high-end Chromebook or Pixelbook that costs much less?
Will Chromebooks eventually become obsolete?
Google reportedly plans to discontinue Chrome OS
The tech company will reportedly stop supporting Chrome OS after 2034, according to Engadget. It seems the company plans to pivot to Chromebooks and Googlebooks running on Googlebook OS. Google claims that the new operating system features “seamless cross-device capabilities, native app support, and intelligent productivity tools.” But with Android apps and intelligent productivity tools already not working properly, what makes Googlebooks OS truly different from its predecessor?
For now, it seems Chromebook users will remain safe from their devices being obsolete, especially considering that even if the OS does eventually become obsolete, you’ll still be able to use the device and its apps; they may just not be able to function properly compared to Android apps that are supported with updates.
It’s also worth mentioning that Chromebooks and Pixelbooks already have Gemini AI software, so they have some of the same intelligent capabilities as the Googlebook. The major differences are that this new lineup of Google laptops features a dedicated “G” shortcut key on the keyboard for the Gemini assistant, as well as an RGB glow bar on the upper outside the laptop’s lid.
The Magic Pointer and Rambler features likely won’t be available for Chromebooks and Pixelbooks, but Googlebook OS will be available for “some Chromebooks,” according to The Verge, while Pixelbooks likely won’t get it. An alternative to Rambler, though, is simply to download a voice-to-text app, such as Microsoft SwiftKey, that uses AI to transcribe speech and pick up on speaking patterns and mistakes.
Don’t rush to get a Googlebook
Google should address the software concerns first
Until Google provides a software update for Googlebook OS to improve app and AI functionality, I’d hold off on getting the Googlebook. This is also technically a first-gen product, so, in the company's defense, first-gen products often come with a few technical issues. If you need a new Google laptop with high-end hardware features such as an OLED display, you could always opt for a high-end Chromebook such as the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus, which currently costs $774.99, about $150 less than the starting price of the Googlebook.