A week with Googlebooks: four notes from our testing so far

October 5, 2026 · 10:58 am 5 sources

Image: The Verge

Coverage

Coverage

• Google admits not every Android app runs great on Intel Googlebooks
  The Verge · October 5, 2026 10:58
  Google has waited until the day its new Googlebook laptops hit the market to admit that Intel-based models may have issues running some Android apps. Before now, Google has emphasized that the Android-based Googlebooks give owners access to the "entire Play Store library" of apps, along with some…
• Google admits some 'complex' Android apps run poorly on Intel Googlebooks
  Engadget · October 5, 2026 12:38
  Android app compatibility on Googlebooks may not be as smooth as previously stated.
• Our first five impressions of Googlebooks — exciting but underbaked
  The Verge · October 6, 2026 17:31
  Googlebooks are here. The first models went on sale Sunday, October 4th, and we received review units of all five Googlebooks about 24 hours ago. Since then, we've been in a mad dash to put the devices through their paces and get a check on what it's like to use these Android laptops. At first […]
• Android’s physical navigation buttons are back on Googlebooks, but not the way you think
  The Verge · October 7, 2026 20:44
  A common misconception I've seen with Googlebooks is that the Quick Insert and Google logo keys are new. They're not, as they first debuted a couple of years ago on some Chromebooks. But there is something new for Googlebooks that's ripped straight from Android phones circa 2014. On every…
• A week with Googlebooks: four notes from our testing so far
  The Verge · October 9, 2026 13:36
  Google's new operating system is off to a rocky start. The five newly launched Googlebook laptops have hardware that ranges from great to excellent, but the software in its current state is the weak point. There are four of us on staff at The Verge actively testing Googlebooks and, frankly, our…