Google’s lofty goal with the new Googlebook laptop range was to ‘reinvent the laptop for the Android community,’ and after spending an hour or so using them, I’m very pleased to say I think they’ve succeeded.

A UX built from the ground up

Google has bought five well-respected laptop makers — Acer, Asus, Lenovo, Dell, and HP — onboard to handle the hardware, leaving the software for it to deal with, and it has done a great job.

Googlebook OS has been built for laptop screens and there are recognizable elements from Chrome OS, macOS, Windows, and Android, but instead of being a greatest-hits-style mess, it’s coherent, and the features are well-thought-out.

Material 3 Expressive makes its big-screen debut, complete with dynamic desktop widgets that adapt and change depending on the screen layout and displayed data. Rambler, seen on the Pixel 11 series, is also available throughout, and there’s a dedicated button to call up all the apps on your Android phone.

This is Googlebook OS’s secret weapon. Everything that’s on your phone is available on your laptop. Not just apps, but searchable files, photos, and contacts too. The search feature uses AI to understand the file contents too, so you don’t have to recall photo filenames, and Chrome has a carry-on feature to resume browsing.

I watched it all being demonstrated several times, and switching between your Android phone and the Googlebook looked seamless, powerful, and hesitation-free.

It’s exactly what I wanted. I wanted to see Googlebook OS as an extension of Android and vice versa, while still including everything that makes a Mac or Windows laptop — from multitasking and multiple home screens to the use of established elements like the taskbar — so good to work on.

It wouldn’t be a Google product without Gemini, would it. Gemini is awakened using a tool called Magic Pointer, where a fast finger scrub of the trackpad activates the assistant.

Cleverly, Google has made this gesture an option, and added the same functionality to the Caps Lock key, making it more accessible.

Once active, you can take screenshots for Gemini to analyze, use shortcuts to Rambler and emojis, sync with your calendar or inbox, use a search system similar to Circle to Search, and even have Gemini examine an email to see if it’s genuine or a scam.

It was also refreshing to see Gemini being used this way, where it wasn’t pushed to the forefront as the primary reason you should use a Googlebook, but instead a powerful tool that’s optional rather than compulsory.

What about apps?

Good and bad news

Laptops, just like phones, need a strong app ecosystem and a powerful discovery tool if they’re going to succeed. Googlebook OS is a step in the right direction, but some old Google issues remain.

The Google Play Store is your primary app resource. Apps made for the big-screen are supposed to be surfaced in the store, but it doesn’t appear a dedicated space for them will exist.

Instead, Google will implement a traffic light-style system, where apps will be identified using badges saying they’re made for the desktop, optimized for the desktop, or better on the web. Android apps on your phone will scale in the standard way.

Google will approve apps made for the desktop, and it’s putting an emphasis on gaming too, with 20,000 compatible games apparently available at launch.

Discovery in the Google Play Store is already a big problem, and it doesn’t seem likely much will change in Googlebook OS, particularly for newcomers or relative Android newbies. More experienced Android users will be used to the Play Store’s foibles, and the badges to identify compatible apps will help you make the right decision.

What about the hardware?

Ups and downs

I had the chance to try out all five Googlebook laptops. Google isn’t dictating hardware or material requirements, but all follow some basic rules such as using aluminum, magnesium, and carbon fiber in the construction, along with an LCD or OLED touchscreen, and a backlit keyboard.

My personal favorite was the Asus Googlebook. It was the only one with a matte screen, and a unique texture over the body made it tactile and unusual. The keyboard had just the right amount of travel, and the glass-like trackpad was direct and accurate.

Dell’s XPS model was the smallest, while the Lenovo Googlebook was the biggest and ugliest, due to an ungainly webcam module above the screen.

Acer currently makes the only convertible Googlebook, and it highlighted where work still needs to be done to accommodate the feature. The software wasn’t keen to rotate, and required a small button to be tapped on-screen. That would be fine, but it didn’t always seem to appear, or work.

There’s Pixel HiLight-style LED indicator on the back of each Googlebook called the Glowbar. At the moment, it can show battery status and a few other indicators, but the good news is it’ll be opened up to developers in the future, meaning it should get more useful.

Intel, Qualcomm, and MediaTek all supply processors. There’s 16GB of base RAM with the option to expand to 32GB, and we should expect batteries to return around 16 hours or web browsing on a single charge.

Google promises 10 years of quarterly software updates, and buyers will receive a year of Google AI Pro membership too. Prices start at $999.

Is this the ultimate laptop for Android fans?

Yes, I think it will be

I came away from my short time with the new Googlebook range feeling that Android fans have finally got the MacBook competitor they deserve.

I’ve always liked Chromebooks, but never for work, and usually consider them a big, slightly more capable tablet than a genuine Mac or Windows alternative.

The work that has gone into Googlebook OS elevates it beyond Chrome OS, and while some issues remain with app discovery, the integration with Android on a phone means I’ll be able to comfortably and seamlessly swap between devices, just like I can with iOS and macOS.

I’m conscious it’s the launch of a brand-new operating system, and buyers will need patience to get used to it, but I left my hands-on time thinking I’d confidently recommend experienced Android owners to give the Googlebook a try.

The stumbling block is the price. Spending at least $1,000, regardless of the hardware quality, means, unlike a Chromebook, it won’t be a product for casual tech fans to buy-and-try. You’ll have to commit if you’re spending that amount of money on a totally new piece of software.

However, I hope to spend a lot more time with a Googlebook. I saw genuine potential during the demonstrations and my own time exploring the software. I use iOS and Mac OS for work because they integrate so well together, making everything faster and less annoying when I’m up against a deadline.

I got the distinct impression a Googlebook would do the same with my Pixel 11 Pro, and that’s a tantalizing prospect.