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Highlights taken by ZDNET
- Google has announced the Googlebook, a new line of premium laptops.
- Chromebooks will continue to receive support.
- Chromebooks focus on shopping, while Googlebooks aim for a premium experience.
During a recent press conference ahead of its I/O developer conference, Google unveiled the Googlebook, a new class of laptops that combines ChromeOS OS and Android into a single operating system.
The arrival of this first system raises an important question: Are Chromebooks going away? According to Google, the answer is “No”. At a spectacular roundtable, Alexander Kuscher, Google’s tablet and laptop leader, clarified that “Chromebooks aren’t dead” — at least not yet.
Why Chromebooks will continue
Even if Google wanted to stop support for the Chromebook tomorrow, it could not, as it is embedded in many consumer sectors. Bryan Lee, VP of ChromeOS Enterprise Go-to-Market, told ZDNET that “Chromebooks have become an invaluable tool for educational institutions, businesses, and consumers… We absolutely intend to continue to invest in that experience and support those users.”
Also, Chromebooks have a 15-year head start on Googlebooks. It will probably take years for the latter to reach the same level of adoption.
Also: The best Chromebooks for students in 2026: Expert tested and reviewed
Another key factor is purpose. Chromebooks are designed mostly for everyday users. Googlebooks, on the other hand, are high-end devices, aimed at professionals and power users — especially with Android smartphones. In fact, one of the defining features of the Googlebook is the integrated OS, which allows seamless access to their Android smartphone on a laptop without any downloads required.
And finally, there’s Google’s long-term commitment to ChromeOS. The company has promised to continue supporting and updating Chromebooks until 2034 so they won’t go extinct anytime soon. Still, that raises another question: What happens after 2034? Will Google finally phase out Chromebooks and ChromeOS in favor of Googlebooks and its own operating system? It is possible.
The future of Chromebooks
Google, as a company, has never been shy about abandoning products and services in favor of new initiatives. Just look at Google Graveyard; there are 300 entries as of this writing.
Remember: Googlebook is called a “premium” machine. Down the line, it’s possible that Google may launch a new line of midrange Googlebooks that directly overlaps with the Chromebook market. Not seeing any point in keeping two affordable lines, one day it may pull the plug on Chromebooks, but the Googlebook market will need to be well established by then.
Also: Windows competitors on the MacBook Neo are here – but I’m very happy with Google’s response
So far, nothing has been confirmed. We’re eight years away from the now-specified end-of-support date for ChromeOS. Lee also told ZDNET that more Chromebooks are currently in development, and the company is restocking the BackMarket with ChromeOS Flex USB drives.
For those who don’t know, these are flash drives preloaded with ChromeOS Flex. It allows users to install Google’s lightweight operating system on older laptops. BackMarket highlights them as a way to breathe new life into aging Windows 10 PCs (or old MacBooks).
