Google's replacement for the Chromebook now has a chip inside it. Qualcomm says its Snapdragon X Elite processor will power Googlebooks, the new laptops Google designed around its Gemini assistant, starting with models from Dell and HP that are open for pre-order now. If you are choosing between a Chromebook and a Windows ultrabook for work or school, this is the first clear look at what Google's laptop reboot will run on.
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What a Googlebook is
Google introduced Googlebook in May as a laptop that combines Android with ChromeOS, with Gemini built into the system rather than added as an app. Because it is built on Android, a Googlebook runs native Android apps and games, and it is designed to work closely with Android phones and tablets, so your apps and files can follow you between devices. Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP and Lenovo are Google's hardware partners for the range.
What Snapdragon X Elite adds
Snapdragon X Elite is the Arm-based chip Qualcomm already sells in Windows laptops, where it has built its pitch on long battery life and a dedicated NPU (neural processing unit) for AI tasks on the device. In a Googlebook, Qualcomm says it delivers all-day battery life and the processing power behind Gemini tools such as Magic Pointer, Cast my Apps and Rambler. Together these pull relevant details from your email, calendar and whatever is on screen, and tie the laptop to your phone, so you spend less time switching between windows and devices.
Gaming gets a look in too. Snapdragon Elite Gaming features, which Qualcomm says bring faster frame rates and better graphics, carry over to Googlebooks, and the Android catalogue means thousands of mobile games and apps run natively.
"Snapdragon X Elite delivers extraordinary performance and efficiency, now paired with support for native Android apps and games for Googlebooks users," said Kedar Kondap, senior vice president and general manager of compute and gaming at Qualcomm Technologies.
The first models: HP and Dell
Dell and HP are the first brands bringing Snapdragon X Elite Googlebooks to market. HP's model is the HP Googlebook 14, which Samuel Chang, senior vice president and division president of consumer personal systems at HP, described as a premium laptop that pairs the chip with Gemini features and Android apps. Qualcomm's announcement does not name Dell's model. Pre-orders for the first Googlebooks opened on 21 September, and Google has said the devices arrive later this year.
What it means for Malaysia
Neither Qualcomm nor Google has announced Malaysian pricing or a local launch date yet. Dell and HP both sell laptops widely here, so their Googlebooks are the ones to watch. Snapdragon laptops are already on local shelves: the ASUS ProArt PZ14 with Snapdragon X2 Elite launched in Malaysia this year. Until Googlebooks arrive, our guide to the best Chromebooks in Malaysia covers what you can buy today.
After years of Chromebooks built mainly around the web browser, Google is betting that a laptop built on Android, running AI on the device and working hand in hand with your phone, is what people want next.
