Source: Marques Brownlee
MKBHD Googlebook review: What You Need to Know
THE TL;DW
- Marques Brownlee’s MKBHD Googlebook review walks through Google’s newly launched premium laptop line using Asus and Dell XPS review units provided by the brands.
- Googlebook runs a new Android-ChromeOS hybrid OS built around Gemini, with native Google Play app support and features like a “Magic Pointer.”
- Five manufacturers — Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, and Lenovo — launched Googlebook models starting at $899, positioned above standard Chromebooks.
The Jupiter Take
Google hasn’t reshaped its laptop lineup this dramatically in 15 years, and MKBHD’s hands-on take is one of the first big creator reactions to the platform. Whether “Googlebook” sticks as a real MacBook alternative or just a pricier Chromebook rebrand is the question the video tries to answer.
Context
Google first teased this shift back in May 2026, when it unveiled Googlebook during The Android Show ahead of I/O, pitching it as the successor to the 15-year-old Chromebook brand and built specifically “for Gemini Intelligence.” The devices run a new unified OS that merges Android and ChromeOS rather than just bolting Android apps onto a browser-first system, letting Google Play apps run natively with resizable windows, a trackpad, and keyboard support. Google confirmed Googlebook is designed for Gemini’s helpfulness to sit at the core of the hardware, a notable break from the sidebar-style AI Chromebook Plus models already shipped.
The first wave launched October 4, 2026 in the US, with Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, and Lenovo all shipping distinct models starting around $899 and climbing past $1,299 for OLED configurations. Crucially, Google isn’t retiring Chromebooks outright — cheaper ChromeOS machines stay in the lineup for schools and budget buyers, while Googlebook targets people already living in the Android and Gemini ecosystem who want a MacBook-tier alternative. MKBHD’s video adds to a wave of day-one coverage from outlets and reviewers sizing up whether the hardware and software actually justify premium pricing, a conversation that echoes Linus Tech Tips’ recent look at which laptop makes sense for students heading back to class.
