{
  "id": 17579249,
  "title": "Best Chromebooks and Googlebooks (2026): Laptops With a Google Touch",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/01/best-chromebooks-and-googlebooks-2026-laptops-with-a-google-touch",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-11-01T10:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Wired",
    "slug": "wired",
    "url": "https://www.wired.com/story/best-chromebooks/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "For those seeking the best Chromebooks and Googlebooks of 2026, there are several models to consider. While Googlebook models have been released, it's important to remember that first-generation products often come with compromises. After testing several Googlebooks over the past few weeks, I have compiled a list of suggestions on which models to buy and which to avoid. If you're interested in more recommendations, I encourage you to check out Best Laptops, Best Cheap Laptops, Best Android Tablets, and Best Android Phones.\n\nStarting with a more affordable option, the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 often sells for under $500, making it one of the cheapest premium laptops Google has ever released. The Acer's biggest strength is its responsive touchpad, which improves the overall user experience. However, its screen quality is a significant drawback, with colors appearing desaturated and a lack of sharpness due to its 16-inch screen resolution. Despite this, the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 offers excellent value for its price, featuring an Intel Core i3 processor, 8 GB of RAM, and 128 GB of storage at a discounted price of $350 when on sale.\n\nThe Asus Chromebook CX14 and CX15 are also worth considering, with prices dropping to as low as $130. These models are not \"Chromebook Plus\" versions, so they may have lower RAM, storage, or processing power compared to the Acer Chromebook Plus 516. Still, they offer attractive features such as thin bezels, a comfortable keyboard, and a decent touchpad. The CX15, in particular, has an appealing blue color and larger touchpad. However, the touchpad and display could be improved, as well as the webcam quality. Nonetheless, the Asus Chromebook CX14 is my preferred choice, as it lacks the number pad and off-center touchpad found in the CX15.\n\nComparing Googlebooks to Chromebooks, Googlebooks run a custom version of Android that closely resembles Chrome OS. They offer the full version of the Chrome web browser, can run Google Play Android apps natively, and provide seamless integration with Android devices. The inclusion of a year of Google Gemini AI features is a bonus, although the AI-based context menu can be buggy. Googlebooks come with 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage, making them comparable to high-end Windows laptops or the MacBook Air. However, the price remains a significant hurdle for the Googlebook platform.\n\nAmong the available Googlebooks, the Acer Googlebook 14 stands out as the best overall option, offering a 2880 x 1800 resolution OLED display with a 120-Hz refresh rate. Its sharper, brighter, and more colorful display sets it apart from other Chromebooks. The Dell XPS Googlebook is another strong contender, emphasizing portability, battery life, and high-end design. With its 13-inch screen, it offers a more compact footprint while maintaining the quality of the Dell XPS 13. Like the Windows version, the XPS Googlebook does not include a headphone jack, which may be a consideration for some users.",
  "summary": "While Google is heralding a new series of laptops called Googlebooks, Chromebooks are sticking around—for now. These are the ones to consider.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}