Google Launches Premium Laptops to Challenge Apple's Downmarket Push

Google has launched its premium laptop line, Googlebook, in an effort to move ChromeOS upmarket as Apple pushes into cheaper machines. The first models of Googlebook come from Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, and Lenovo, running on Intel or Qualcomm chips with up to 14 hours of battery life. They start at $899, putting them just above Apple's new MacBook Neo priced at $699.

The launch marks a shift for Chromebook makers, who have traditionally focused on low-end devices targeting students and budget buyers. Googlebook, on the other hand, offers tighter Android integration and Gemini features that allow users to draft and organize text, answer questions about on-screen content, and resume tasks handed off from an Android phone.

The move comes as Apple moves downmarket with its $699 MacBook Neo. Alphabet shares were up 1.48% intraday following the announcement.