Qualcomm provided travel and lodging to Snapdragon Summit. Earlier this year, Google introduced Android on your laptop. Googlebooks seem like a natural evolution of Chromebooks, and I got to spend some time with some of the first models at Qualcomm's Snapdragon Summit.

I expected it wouldn't be very different from Chromebooks, and that's... kind of true. Googlebooks aim to take the best parts of Chrome OS and Android and merge them into a very capable computing OS that can take advantage of AI and better connect to your smartphone. I never quite liked Chromebooks, but I find myself quite compelled by the prospect of Googlebooks, even if the barrier to entry feels a bit high right now.

Not the Chromebook you remember. One major way the new Googlebooks differ from Chromebooks is their price. Chromebooks are compelling because they are available at very low price points, which benefits schools and other institutions with limited budgets.

However, Chromebooks in their current form are pushing for a more premium experience, with the cheapest laptop costing $899. That's still cheaper than most lower-end Mac Books, but prices can easily hit over $1,000, depending on the model and configuration. I was told this is because it's much easier to start at the higher end and work your way down than to start low and work your way up.

It's clear that Google wants to ensure that Googlebooks are seen as a premium computing experience before bringing cheaper options that will eventually supplant Chromebooks. At Snapdragon Summit, I got to play with two Snapdragon X Elite-powered Googlebooks, the HP Googlebook 14 ($1,299) and Dell XPS Googlebook ($999). They feature exceptional hardware that looks and feels premium, something I never quite got from the Chromebooks I've used (though I know higher-end models exist).

The HP has a larger 14-inch OLED display that looks phenomenal, with a sharp resolution and deep blacks for more vibrant images. It also has comfortable keys and a large trackpad. Meanwhile, the Dell XPS has a smaller LCD panel with thin bezels and a matte finish to reduce reflections.

Its aluminum build reminds me a bit of a Mac Book, which speaks to how light and premium it feels in hand. Both laptops share similar specs, including 16GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage. They also feature built-in fingerprint sensors and the distinctive Glowbar, which offers functions like displaying battery life, Gemini interactions, and more.

There's also a hidden easter egg that unlocks more controls, but I was told users have to find it themselves. I'm not sure why Google is hiding this Glowbar control panel, since it feels like an essential or even fun part of the experience. Fortunately, Google plans to expand Glow Bar functionality, but for now it's a bit limited, just like Hi Light on the Pixel 11 Pro.

Many UI elements also just feel very familiar. The quick settings panel feels very Pixel and sits in the top-right corner. The Settings app also looks like it came straight out of a Pixel Tablet, so anyone coming from an Android phone should feel at home.

You can also pin widgets to the home screen for glanceable info and create app folders, just like on an Android phone. What will further help Googlebooks shake the Chromebook perception is its capabilities. Thanks to more powerful chipsets like the Snapdragon X Elite, as well as Android being the foundation for the Googlebooks, the AI integration feels more seamless and practical than anything I've seen on a Chromebook.