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Google began selling its first Googlebook laptops on October 4th, and The Verge received review units of all five models about a day later. The devices resemble Chromebooks but add new ways to link an Android phone to the laptop, including casting apps, moving tasks between devices, and accessing phone files and notifications directly from the laptop.
Amazon's October Prime Day sale is underway, spanning laptops, monitors, PC hardware, phones and accessories. TechSpot reviewed hundreds of listed discounts and reports that many are not new savings but prices already seen for weeks or figures set after recent price increases.
Research indicates that most TVs and laptops are unlikely to fail within the extended warranty period, as they tend to last beyond two or three years. Manufacturer coverage typically handles early defects, reducing the need for additional warranty plans. The cost of extended warranties may outweigh potential savings, especially given the decreasing prices of new or refurbished devices.
As Googlebook laptops go on sale, Google has added new support documentation explaining features unique to the Android-based devices. The pages detail the RGB Glowbar strip's various lighting states—covering usage, charging, battery level, and Gemini interactions—as well as Game Controls, which lets users map physical keys to on-screen touchscreen controls for Android games.
Microsoft is expected to reveal pricing and a release date for its Surface Laptop Ultra at an upcoming event, according to the report. The laptop, first shown in June, is among the first devices to use NVIDIA's new RTX Spark chip, an Arm-based processor built for running large AI models locally, and features a 15-inch mini-LED display with up to 2,000 nits of brightness.
Engadget has reviewed more than 130 tech products so far in 2026, scoring them on a 100-point scale ranging from 67 to 94. The outlet's editors selected Best of 2026 award winners by first narrowing the field to products scoring 90 or above, then comparing top contenders within categories, and rechecking prices and performance before finalizing picks. Some categories, including earbuds, headphones, tablets, Windows laptops, foldable phones and smart glasses, are still pending due to expected late-year product launches.
Google is partnering with actor Henry Cavill to create a video game showcasing its new Googlebook laptops, which run Android rather than ChromeOS. The companies are targeting a November release, though Google has not disclosed the game's genre or other creative partners involved.
Google published a support page for Chrome Enterprise and Education customers stating that ChromeOS software support will continue through 'mid-2034.' The page frames the timeline as Google positions its new Android-based Googlebooks as the eventual successor to Chromebooks. The 2034 date had previously appeared in a court filing, but this marks its first public appearance on an official support document.
Google shared new details on its Chromebook Plus laptop lineup, emphasizing tight integration with Android phones and a commitment to 10 years of software updates. The first devices come from Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, and Lenovo.
XMG, maker of gaming laptops and Schenker workstations, said DDR5 SO-DIMM memory prices have risen sixfold since July 2025, prompting it to raise laptop prices by €100 to €300 depending on the model. The company attributed the hikes to rising costs across RAM, SSDs, PCBs, CPUs and GPUs, worsened by higher shipping and insurance costs linked to the Middle East conflict affecting Red Sea and Suez Canal freight routes.
Google's Alexander Kuscher revealed in an Android Faithful interview that Googlebook laptops contain a hidden app called Glowbar Disco, which syncs the lid's light strip to music. Google previously showed the effect but hadn't disclosed it was a dedicated app, and Kuscher didn't say where on the device it's located.
A China-only laptop dubbed the 'QwenBook' has been introduced, marketed on its ability to run multiple operating systems at once rather than relying on a single native OS. The device appears aimed at users who want flexible, possibly cloud-dependent computing rather than a traditional dedicated PC setup.