When Apple launched the MacBook Neo in March, the company’s low-cost laptop sent shivers through the budget laptop market, potentially killing off cheap Chromebooks and entry-level Windows laptops in the process.
Now Google has bitten back. The tech giant has announced a swathe of new AI-native laptops called Googlebooks, boasting a completely new operating system that will combine both Android and ChromeOS.
Unlike traditional Chromebooks, which relied completely on web apps, Google says the new Googlebook platform will work seamlessly with Android phones and apps. Users will reportedly be able to open phone apps directly on their laptop screen, quickly access files stored on their handset without transferring them manually and move between devices more quickly.
It sounds a lot like how Apple’s MacBook and iPhone ecosystem work together currently. Google says that because it’s built on the Android stack, it’ll have more frequent software updates.
Googlebooks are the first laptops designed with Gemini AI at their core – that even includes the much-neglected cursor. Going beyond the right-click, Google is introducing something called the magic pointer.
If you shake your cursor, Gemini will serve up contextual suggestions every time you point at something on your screen. In another example, Google says that you can set up an email to organise a meeting, just by pointing at a date. You can also select two images to visualise them into one single image, like a sofa and your living room.
Google also says users will be able to create their own custom desktop widgets using Gemini AI. The feature can reportedly pull information from apps like Gmail and Google Calendar to build personalised dashboards. Google gave the example of planning a family reunion in Berlin, with Gemini automatically organising flights, hotel bookings, restaurant reservations and countdowns into one place on your desktop.
Acer, Asus, Dell, HP and Lenovo will be the first manufacturers to launch Googlebook laptops, though full specifications, pricing and release dates have yet to be announced. The first Googlebook devices are expected to launch this autumn.
MacBook Neo
Launched in March, Apple’s affordable MacBook Neo is currently £30 off at Amazon. The first ever Mac laptop to be powered by an iPhone processor, it uses the chip found in the iPhone 16 Pro. “The Apple MacBook Neo is sensational. The look and feel are premium, with great materials and exceptional build quality throughout,,” said tech critic David Phelan in his review. “The Neo is a dream to use. For everyday programs, it’s fast and effective, whether you’re typing emails, surfing the web, watching butter-smooth video playback or playing music.”
Buy now £569, Amazon.co.uk
For more, we’ve rounded up the best laptops to buy, from budget to premium
