Googlebook arrives in Canada: Android finally tries to become a real mobile
Googlebook arrives in Canada with Android, Gemini and five premium models. Here are their prices, their functions of AI and their main limits.
Google today launches a new family of laptops in Canada that are neither traditional Chromebook nor Windows PCs. The Googlebook combines the technology base of Android, some desktop foundations of ChromeOS, an isolated Linux environment and deep integration of Gemini.
The category was unveiled in May and then detailed on 21 September. Its Canadian marketing is officially scheduled for October 5, 2026. Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP and Lenovo offer the first five models.
A mobile designed around the Android phone
The central principle is the continuity between the telephone and the computer. After the association of an Android device, Googlebook can find certain settings, passwords and Wi-Fi networks, view phone files, display messages and transmit a task compatible from one screen to another.
The Continue On function allows, for example, to start an activity in a mobile application and to take it back on the mobile. Some phone applications can also be projected on the computer without having to be reinstalled.
This integration is the most concrete difference with Windows and macOS. However, it remains dependent on an Android phone and the support offered by each application. For an iPhone owner, the advantage is much less obvious.
Gemini installs directly in the cursor
Googlebook OS integrates several artificial intelligence functions. Magic Pointer makes Gemini appear when you quickly shake the cursor, then allows you to ask a question about text, an image or several items displayed on the screen.
Rambler transforms a broken dictation into a structured text, removes hesitations and can organize the actions to be performed. Create My Widget produces a widget from a description, while Google Antigravity and an isolated Linux terminal allow developers to create or run programming tools.
However, the word "agent" must be tempered. During a takeover, DDay.it found that Gemini could search for and explain content, but not freely move files, create folders or control all applications. Several functions also depend on a Google account, an Internet connection and selected privacy settings.
Five manufacturers and high Canadian prices
The [Official Canadian Selection](https://googlebook.google/intl/en ca/shop/) includes a 14-inch Acer convertible, 14-inch ASUS and HP models, a 13-inch Dell XPS and a 15.3-inch Lenovo. Memory starts at 16 GB and storage generally ranges from 256 to 512 GB. Intel Core Ultra Series 3 or Snapdragon X Elite processors integrate a neuronal unit exceeding 45 TOPS according to Google.
Google announces input configurations ranging from C$1,299 to C$1,799**. At the time of the audit, Best Buy Canada instead displayed six configurations between 1 399.99 and $1 899.99. The price can therefore vary depending on the processor, storage, retailer, promotion and region.
Each eligible device includes 12 months of Google AI Pro with 5 TB cloud storage. The subscription then increases to CA$26.99 per month, unless cancelled. Google also promises up to ten years of updates, but the announced autonomy — from 13 to 19 hours depending on the model — comes from controlled tests and will have to be confirmed independently.
The big obstacle remains the applications
Googlebook can run Android apps, web apps and Linux tools. This does not mean that it automatically replaces a Windows PC or Mac.
Conventional Windows software does not work natively. The available Microsoft 365 applications are Android or Web versions, which may differ from complete editions for Windows and macOS. Specialized accounting, engineering, management or creative software must therefore be checked prior to purchase.
The first shots also observed that some Android apps remain designed for a vertical phone screen. They work in a narrow window, but can display a lot of empty space or a distorted interface in full screen. Android Central nevertheless sees the first promising models and highlights the quality of touch screens, keyboards and pads.
Limits or Considerations
In-store availability officially begins today, but local inventory and delivery times must be verified. Some Canadian pages still displayed pre-orders during the audit.
Most organizations should wait. Google confirms that the Googlebook of 2026 does not yet support domain registration or complete centralized management. The first tools for businesses and schools will only begin to arrive in the second half of 2027.
Finally, integrating Gemini with what appears on the screen and Google services makes privacy settings particularly important. Users should review the Gemini history, connected applications and preservation rules before handing over sensitive documents.
Conclusion
Googlebook is not just a more expensive Chromebook. It represents the first serious attempt to turn Android into a high-end mobile platform, with a phone-computer continuity that Google had never offered so directly.
The material seems convincing and some functions of Gemini are original. In contrast, Canadian prices place them directly against MacBooks and Windows laptops, while the application ecosystem and professional management remain incomplete. The first generation will best suit Android users already working in Google's browser and services — provided they check each essential software before purchasing.
