Asus and Acer have launched lightweight 14-inch laptops running Googlebook OS, pairing robust hardware and matte-finish OLED touchscreens with Android-based productivity software. Starting at £1,200 for the Asus model, the new machines face software niggles despite seamless cross-device phone integration.
Hardware Design and the Asus Googlebook 14 Build
Built around a 14-inch 3K 120Hz OLED touchscreen, the Asus Googlebook 14 features a magnesium alloy chassis finished in dark grey Ceraluminum. The display is topped with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus and a Corning Gorilla Matte anti-glare coating designed to resist reflections and provide a tactile surface for swiping.
Acer’s first Googlebook nails a lot of the basics, with a 14-inch OLED touch screen, a decent processor, and the latest connectivity standards. Whether Googlebook OS works for you, though, depends on how strongly you're tied to Android. https://t.co/p9QaJMoIGR
— https://x.com/PCMag/status/2109282922058404045
The machine measures up as a lightweight, slim option for working on the move, running silently without a cooling fan. Practicality is a strong point, offering two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C sockets split across the edges, a pair of USB-A ports, an HDMI video output, and a 3.5mm audio jack.
Performance Benchmarks and Competitor Pricing
Under the hood, the Asus review sample packs an Intel Core Ultra 5 325 CPU with eight physical cores and eight threads, paired with integrated Intel Graphics, 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, and a 512GB SSD. This hardware setup delivers similar Geekbench results to the Acer Googlebook 14, though the Acer achieves lower scores across Geekbench 6 and 7, OpenCL, and Vulkan.
When stacked against Windows alternatives, pricing and raw power vary significantly across the market. The Asus Googlebook 14 starts at £1,299, while comparable Windows machines offer different trade-offs in power and display technology.
| Laptop Model | Base Price | Processor | RAM & Storage | Display |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asus Googlebook 14 | £1,299 | Intel Core Ultra 5 325 | 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD | 14in 3K 120Hz Matte OLED |
| Asus Zenbook A14 | £1,199 | Snapdragon X2 Elite | Not specified | 1920 x 1200 Glossy Non-Touch |
| Honor MagicBook 16 | Not specified | Intel Core Ultra 5 325 | 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD | 16-inch screen |
| Acer Googlebook 14 | £999 | Not specified | Not specified | 14-inch screen |
| Lenovo Googlebook 15 | From £1,049 | Not specified | Not specified | 15-inch screen |
| Dell XPS Googlebook | From £1,261 | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified |
Googlebook OS Software Features and Cross-Device Sharing
Special features powered by Google include the Magic Pointer, which lets users select objects to query Gemini or create AI-generated drawings. The Rambler speech-to-text tool removes filler words from speech, though reviewers note it requires finishing a thought before interpreting the text rather than typing live. Meanwhile, the smart File Manager provides basic descriptions of file contents.
Software Limitations and App Compatibility Hurdles
Despite hardware appeal, reviewers note that Googlebook OS still requires polishing. File transfers via the Files app are limited to files under 200MB, requiring the Quick Share tool for larger items. Phone casting can also appear stuttery when handling active content like games.
App compatibility introduces further friction for daily use.
- Made for desktop
- Compatible for desktop
- Better on the website
- Built for mobile
- Unoptimized apps that may display glitches, awkwardly placed UI elements, or fail to maximize to fullscreen
These limitations, combined with mediocre battery life on the Asus model, leave reviewers concluding that the machines are likeable for light productivity but difficult to recommend wholeheartedly until the software matures.
