Starting this fall, the first-ever Googlebooks will officially hit store shelves. Googlebooks are the spiritual successor to Chromebooks, and Google is pitching them as combining the best of Android and ChromeOS to create a new type of Google laptop — with a healthy dose of Gemini AI features, too.
Google is talking a big game for Googlebooks, and some of the new features do sound impressive. But there’s still a lot we don’t know — such as specs, overall build quality, and even pricing. Simultaneously, there are ample Chromebook options available to buy right now, with models available for every budget.
So, rather than waiting for Googlebooks to arrive in a few months and taking a gamble on a first-generation Google product, here are five great Chromebooks you may want to buy now instead.
Would you still buy a Chromebook now that Googlebooks are a thing? 9 votes Yes 33 % No 67 %
Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14
Ryan Haines / Android Authority
The Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 is widely regarded as the de facto choice in the Chromebook world, and for good reason. If you want a Chromebook that checks all of the boxes — including a high-quality display, reliable battery life, and snappy performance — it’s hard to find something much better.
Going in that same order above, the display is a 14-inch OLED panel with a 2K resolution that looks outstanding — offering really nice colors, sharpness, and viewing angles. Lenovo rates the Chromebook Plus 14 for up to 17 hours of battery life on a single charge, thanks to the super-efficient MediaTek Kompanio Ultra 910 chipset. The 910 also delivers plenty of horsepower, and paired with 16GB of RAM, it offers ample performance for multitasking, on-device AI capabilities, and more.
Beyond all that, the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 also gets the little details right. The aluminum design is sturdy, the keyboard feels nice, and the Dolby Atmos speakers are solid, too. Pricing for the Chromebook Plus 14 can vary wildly depending on when and where you buy it, but at the time of writing, Best Buy has it on sale for just $699 — an excellent price for a Chromebook of this caliber.
Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 MediaTek Kompanio Elite processor • Excellent battery life • Exclusive AI features MSRP: $649.99 Lenovo's new Chromebook Plus is the most powerful of its kind for the next generation of Chromebooks Lenovo and Google have partnered to make the Chromebook Plus 14 just about as powerful as they come. It combines MediaTek's top-end processor with a beefy battery and sleek, fanless design for all-day performance in a stylish package. See price at Best Buy Save $300.00 See price at Best Buy Save $90.00
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