HP Googlebook 14 Review: Great laptop, shame about the OS

Key Points:

• The HP Googlebook 14 impresses with its hardware, featuring a sturdy aluminum build, a comfortable keyboard with good key travel, a responsive haptic trackpad, and a vibrant 14-inch OLED display, all within a slim and lightweight design.
• Performance is strong thanks to the Snapdragon X Elite processor and 16GB of RAM, delivering near-instant boot times and smooth operation, while battery life is decent and charging is quick.
• However, the Googlebook OS software significantly limits the laptop's potential, suffering from a restricted desktop-class app library, diminished Linux support, and no ability to emulate apps from other platforms, making it less functional than Windows, macOS, or Linux alternatives.
• The review criticizes Googlebook's positioning as "a laptop for Android users," arguing that it fails to offer meaningful advantages over smartphones or other laptops, and at a $1,200 price point, it does not justify its cost compared to more versatile Windows or Mac options.
• While HP has delivered excellent hardware, the overall experience is hampered by Googlebook OS, and the laptop is recommended only if the platform matures and becomes available on more affordable devices in the future.