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The Verge Says Googlebook Laptops Have Strong Hardware but Beta Software

The Verge reviewed every Googlebook at launch and found premium hardware from five PC makers, but beta-level Googlebook OS bugs and lackluster app support mean none is worth buying yet.

AI News Feed · 2026-10-23 00:00

The cheapest Googlebook costs $900, a price at which The Verge said buyers should expect quality processors, metal builds, high-quality displays, good speakers and good keyboards and trackpads, including haptic ones in some cases. The review said the Googlebooks meet those hardware expectations and also offer very good battery life and at least 16GB of RAM. Google wanted the devices to feel premium, and HP, Acer, Lenovo, Dell and Asus delivered, according to the review. The software, which is the same across the models aside from some preinstalled manufacturer apps, needs to catch up.

The Verge said it does not recommend buying any Googlebook in their current state. It said the review scores cover both hardware and software as they stand today and are bad. The publication added that the hardware is worth reviewing to see which model shows the most promise if the software improves or if modders install other operating systems.

The Acer Googlebook 14 is the only 2-in-1 convertible among the models reviewed. The Verge described it as light, with a sturdy metal chassis and a 2880 x 1800, 120Hz OLED touchscreen with stylus support. It said Googlebook OS does not yet support portrait orientation, limiting the Acer’s stylus potential; an auto-rotate toggle only flips the orientation 180 degrees. The review said the speakers lack bass and can sound muffled in tablet mode depending on how the laptop is held, but are decent and balanced. The webcam’s colors and contrast are a touch drab, it said. Battery life lasted eight to nine hours of light-to-mixed usage. An Acer representative told The Verge that the $900 launch price is available only for a limited time.

The Dell XPS Googlebook is 2.2 pounds with a 13.4-inch screen and starts at $999, making it one of the smallest and lightest Googlebooks available, according to the review. The Verge said it does not offer the flippy tablet modes of the cheaper Acer model. It praised the keyboard and trackpad and described the laptop as a lovely piece of high-end hardware. The review listed only two USB-C ports and some issues with the anti-glare display as drawbacks. It said the Dell makes the most sense if Googlebooks are to work as secondary computers: light, fast, simple and fun to use, even if $900 or more is a lot to pay for that kind of device.