Google admits: not every Android app runs brilliantly on Intel-powered Googlebooks

Google has admitted that not every Android app runs brilliantly on the new Intel-powered Googlebooks, as The Verge reports. According to the company, some apps need “fixes from developers” to deliver the expected performance on these laptops.

Googlebook is Google’s new laptop category, the successor to the Chromebook, announced in May 2026. It runs on Googlebook OS, based on Android, where apps run natively — unlike Chromebooks, where Android apps passed through a virtual machine.

The first devices went on sale on 4 October 2026 in the United States, and from 5 October they also reached Canada, Britain, Ireland, France, Germany and Australia. The first manufacturers are Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP and Lenovo, with prices starting at $899. The models use Intel Core Ultra or Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chips and come with Gemini artificial intelligence deeply integrated, including the new “Magic Pointer” feature.

Google’s admission comes precisely on the day of the international expansion of sales. Even though apps run natively on Googlebook OS, optimisation for Intel’s architecture appears to require further work from developers — a reminder that the move from ARM phone chips to laptop processors is not without challenges.

Google has not given details of which apps are most affected, but has hinted that it is cooperating with developers to improve the experience, The Verge reports.