ASUS Googlebook 14 first impressions: A brand new OS meets some severe {hardware}

I’m tremendous excited to get the ASUS Googlebook 14 in my arms. Setting it up is a brand new laptop computer expertise with some acquainted Android and ChromeOS roots. I’m an Android man, I spend tons of time on my telephone, and I wish to see what Google can do when it brings extra of that have to a correct laptop computer.

Then there’s the {hardware}. The matte OLED show is beautiful. The audio system sound wonderful to me. ASUS has put a big haptic touchpad, a fingerprint reader, and a helpful assortment of ports right into a machine that weighs about 2.18 kilos. The end, keyboard, easy touchpad, and that show make an important first impression earlier than I even get far into the software program.

ASUS supplied this assessment unit, and I’ve unboxed it, set it up, and I’ve began utilizing it. My pattern has 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. These are my first impressions of each the {hardware} and software program. Battery endurance and sustained efficiency nonetheless want extra time.

Worth: $1,299
The place to purchase: Finest Purchase, 512GB | ASUS Retailer, 256GB

A brand new working system with acquainted roots

Googlebook OS brings the Android know-how stack along with desktop foundations from ChromeOS. It has a desktop-class Chrome browser with extensions, Android apps from Google Play, and Gemini options equivalent to Magic Pointer, Rambler, and customized widgets.

I actually like having the browser and controls of a laptop computer alongside extra of the Android expertise I take advantage of every single day on my Fold8. That’s the enchantment for me: acquainted apps, a correct keyboard, a big touchpad, and sufficient display screen to get some work carried out.

I’ve been opening Chrome, Gmail, Lightroom, Proton, ChatGPT, and different apps I take advantage of repeatedly. Transferring between these on a regular basis duties feels actually snappy to date.

I’ve already discovered one small interplay that feels acquainted. Whereas images, I pressed the spacebar and received a fast preview, a lot as I do on my Mac. It was a pleasant little discovery in the midst of studying a special system.

Lots of my regular Chrome extensions work, too. One exception has been the ChatGPT extension I attempted: it put in and opened a immediate, however I couldn’t get it engaged on this unit. That’s separate from utilizing ChatGPT itself, and it’s one of many issues I’m nonetheless finding out.

The telephone connection is one other a part of Google’s pitch, and it’s one thing I’ve been wanting ahead to exploring as an Android consumer. For this primary look, I’m concentrating on the ASUS {hardware} and the issues I’ve truly tried. The telephone options will get their very own consideration as I spend extra time with the platform.

A flagship enterprise chassis in a $1,299 Googlebook

My earlier take a look at the Googlebook 14 requested what the additional cash over Lenovo’s mannequin buys. The supplies, show, controls, and connections give me a lot to have a look at.

ASUS says the Googlebook 14 makes use of the identical chassis as its flagship ExpertBook Extremely enterprise laptop computer, together with the fluid dynamic bearing fan utilized in its enterprise line. That helps clarify the way it combines a lightweight, skinny physique with the show, controls, battery, and connections that make it an important laptop computer to make use of.

The ExpertBook Extremely is severe enterprise {hardware}. Its U.S. Core Extremely X7, 32GB/1TB configuration launched at $3,599.99 and is listed at about $3,000 at B&H as I write this. It has a special processor, extra reminiscence and storage, and a tandem OLED show. The Googlebook’s $1,299 worth buys its personal configuration, however getting that business-laptop chassis and building at this worth is an enormous a part of what appeals to me.

That emphasis on the bodily expertise issues to me. I can take a look at a processor and reminiscence desk all day, however the display screen and touchpad are proper in entrance of me each time I sit down to make use of the laptop computer.

Magnesium-aluminum, a ceramic-like layer, and Nightfall Ash

The chassis is CNC-machined magnesium-aluminum alloy, which helps ASUS maintain the burden down with out giving up rigidity. It’s a part of why this looks like such an interesting package deal: a 14-inch laptop computer with a full set of connections that also is available in at a couple of kilogram.

The end has two phases value separating. Plasma electrolytic oxidation converts the steel’s outer floor right into a ceramic-like protecting layer. ASUS then provides a nano-ceramic coating.

ASUS says the therapy helps resist scratches, stains, and abrasion. I just like the end now; time in my bag will inform me extra about the way it wears.

The colour is Nightfall Ash. I just like the darker look; it suits my style. I’d even be curious to see one thing extra colourful with this end.

ASUS’s dimensions put the physique at 10.9 to 16.45mm thick, roughly 0.43 to 0.65 inches, with a footprint of about 12.24 by 8.38 inches. That 2.18-pound determine is ASUS’s specification, equal to about 0.99kg. There’s fairly a little bit of laptop computer packed into that area.

I’ll take the HDMI, thanks

The connections embrace two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, two USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports, HDMI, and a 3.5mm headset jack. There’s USB-C on either side, and ASUS says both aspect can take charging energy. That’s helpful when the outlet is on the flawed aspect of wherever you’ve ended up working.

I’d fairly commerce one of many two USB-A ports for a 3rd Thunderbolt port. The association feels just a little “un-2027” to me. That’s my choice, although. There are nonetheless loads of equipment that plug straight into USB-A, and I’m glad ASUS saved HDMI.

The Thunderbolt connections additionally help DisplayPort 1.4. ASUS specifies help for as much as three exterior 4K shows by means of the out there show outputs. I haven’t put that association collectively but, nevertheless it’s a helpful functionality to have on the specification sheet if this may spend time at a desk in addition to in a bag.

Wi-fi connectivity contains Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.0.

I’d additionally like the choice of built-in mobile connectivity. For one thing I’d carry in all places, getting on-line with out reaching for my telephone could be helpful. Sharing my telephone’s connection is sensible too, particularly if it avoids one other knowledge plan, however I’d like the selection.

The decrease edge is reduce across the bigger ports, and the physique tapers towards the entrance. That shaping makes the laptop computer feel and look thinner to me. I discover it once I look alongside the aspect and once I’m holding it.

The matte OLED is fairly rattling near what I like on my MacBook Professional

The show was one of many issues I used to be most enthusiastic about earlier than the unit arrived. Now that I’ve seen it, my response is even less complicated: it’s beautiful.

I already use a MacBook Professional with a matte show, and the ASUS is true up there with it for me. It’s fairly rattling shut. Having one in every of my favourite MacBook options on this new platform makes it instantly extra interesting to me.

ASUS makes use of a 14-inch OLED touchscreen with a 2880 × 1800 decision, a 16:10 side ratio, and a 120Hz refresh fee. The taller form provides paperwork and webpages extra vertical room than a comparable 16:9 display screen. ASUS specifies 100% DCI-P3 color-gamut protection and a 91% screen-to-body ratio.

Corning deserves credit score for the glass. This makes use of Gorilla Glass Victus along with Gorilla Matte anti-glare know-how. Victus offers the protecting glass, whereas Gorilla Matte addresses glare. The matte end is Corning’s know-how being utilized by ASUS.

ASUS describes Gorilla Matte as a floor therapy that reduces distracting reflections. That’s significantly interesting to me on a touchscreen, the place I’m interacting immediately with the show in addition to it. I’ll spend extra time with it below totally different lighting, together with exterior, earlier than making stronger claims about these situations.

Brightness is rated at 450 nits for strange use, with HDR highlights reaching as much as 1,000 nits. What has me enthusiastic already is the mixture of OLED, contact, and the matte end I want.

A haptic touchpad must be a part of the deal

The big haptic touchpad feels wonderful. The press has a powerful tactile response, and I can hear it too. I like that constructive suggestions below my fingers, together with the graceful glass floor. That is a kind of options I feel must be commonplace on Home windows laptops as nicely, particularly at this worth.

The pad has a glass floor and measures about 128 by 87mm. ASUS makes use of six power sensors and a centrally positioned vibration mechanism to ship the clicking suggestions. That’s the mechanism behind its objective of constant clicking strain throughout the floor.

There’s helpful customization right here, too. I’ve set a three-finger faucet to go Again. Googlebook additionally presents nook shortcuts: transfer the pointer into one of many 4 corners of the show to set off an assigned motion, equivalent to exhibiting current apps or locking the display screen.

The keyboard is backlit, with 1.5mm of key journey and a shallow 0.2mm dish within the keycaps. ASUS makes use of a UV-cured resin coating on the keys to offer them a easy protecting floor that resists put on.

I additionally arrange the fingerprint reader on the upper-right nook. It’s straightforward to level out within the keyboard images, subsequent to the amount controls. Above the display screen, the Full HD webcam has a bodily privateness shutter. The shutter bodily covers the lens, so I can see when it’s blocked.

There’s a G key down close to the spacebar, too. Google calls it the Motion key. It opens searches for apps, recordsdata, and the net, and serves as a part of shortcuts equivalent to G plus H for the house display screen and G plus slash for the shortcut helper. There’s an intensive set of keyboard shortcuts, which is useful whereas I’m discovering my manner round. The Fast Insert secret’s separate, offering entry to gadgets equivalent to emoji, pictures, hyperlinks, and writing instruments.

ASUS additionally lists a Titan C safety chip, a part of the Googlebook’s {hardware} safety basis.

The audio system sound wonderful

The audio system received my consideration instantly. It’s the readability and constancy that impress me, with a presentation that feels nearly surround-like. They sound wonderful to me, and that’s about greater than merely turning up the amount.

ASUS describes an association of force-cancelling woofers and tweeters, designed to ship bass and a wider soundstage on this slim physique. My early listening response is that the audio belongs alongside the display screen and touchpad as one of many {hardware} highlights.

I additionally used the Googlebook for a voice name with assa, my AI assistant, whereas working by means of these first impressions. I requested how my voice was coming by means of, and its response was “sounds clear.”

Rambler is nice, however I miss my dictation security internet

I speak by means of a whole lot of my work. I’ve been utilizing Wispr Circulation on my Mac and Fold8, and I feel it’s wonderful. I haven’t been capable of apply it to this Googlebook, so I attempted Google’s built-in Rambler.

My first response to Rambler was that it’s actually good. I’m impressed with it.

I additionally managed to lose some phrases whereas attempting it. I clicked out of the textual content subject and saved speaking, then realized the phrases hadn’t been saved. There went my practice of thought. With Wispr Circulation, I’ve been capable of recuperate dictated textual content, and I missed having that fallback right here.

What I’m nonetheless lacking is consistency throughout my gadgets. I need the identical voice-typing system on my Mac, Fold8, and Googlebook, so I don’t have to change instruments relying on which display screen I’m utilizing.

The Voice Typing settings supply two approaches: Rambler for polished textual content that you may edit with your personal phrases, and Commonplace for word-for-word dictation. Google’s directions allow you to invoke Rambler in a textual content subject with the dictation button or Alt plus D, converse naturally, and have it clear up the ensuing textual content. It additionally presents methods to edit the wording and return to the unique transcript. The excellence is beneficial for somebody like me who talks by means of concepts: generally I need the precise phrases, and generally I need assist turning them into readable copy.

What occurred once I switched assistants

Magic Pointer brings Gemini to the cursor once you wiggle it, providing contextual assist for issues on the display screen. Google’s examples embrace turning a date right into a calendar occasion and mixing pictures.

I discovered one setting value taking note of. Magic Pointer was working with Gemini chosen because the assistant. I modified the assistant to ChatGPT, and Magic Pointer stopped working in my setup. Switching again to Gemini introduced it again. Apparently, I used to be getting just a little forward of myself with that expectation. I’ll discover the person instruments extra as I take advantage of them for precise work.

A 70Wh battery, with precise battery monitoring nonetheless forward

There’s a 70Wh battery inside. ASUS charges it for as much as 18 hours of 1080p local-video playback with the display screen at 50% brightness and wired headphones. That’s a managed playback determine, and it doesn’t inform me how lengthy my very own mixture of writing, calls, looking, and media work will final.

I’ll be monitoring my use individually, together with cost proportion, whether or not it’s plugged in, show settings, and what I’m doing. I don’t have a measured endurance end result to share but. I additionally wish to see how rapidly it might recharge between work classes. The U.S. specification lists a 65W USB-C adapter.

The cooling system makes use of a fluid dynamic bearing fan, the kind ASUS additionally makes use of in its enterprise mannequin. An oil movie helps the rotating shaft, decreasing metal-to-metal contact. ASUS says that decrease friction is meant to assist noise and longevity. Skinny aluminum fins and rear exhausts assist transfer warmth out of the compact physique.

It’s been quiet in my use to date, although the laptop computer felt heat to the contact later within the session. I’ll take a more in-depth look with a thermal digital camera throughout additional testing; I don’t have temperature measurements but.

The U.S. storage decisions nonetheless go away me wanting extra

ASUS has introduced two U.S. configurations on the similar $1,299 MSRP. Each use Intel’s Core Extremely 5 325 processor, 16GB of onboard LPDDR5X reminiscence, built-in Intel graphics, and a PCIe 4.0 SSD.

The Finest Purchase model, mannequin CX9406CAA-U5_16.512, has 512GB. The ASUS Retailer model, CX9406CAA-DH566T, has 256GB. At these introduced costs, I’d take note of which one is within the cart. My assessment unit has the 16GB and 512GB mixture.

Even 512GB feels chintzy to me in a premium $1,299 laptop computer. I’d like the choice to pay for 1TB or extra, particularly for images and video. It isn’t a dealbreaker, however I’d fortunately have one other field to tick for a bigger SSD. My frustration is with the U.S. choices being provided; I’d like extra room to decide on the next configuration.

Vincent’s fast take

I’ve solely simply set this factor up, and I’m already making a want listing for a much bigger SSD. Apparently, that a part of being a gadget reviewer transfers to a brand new working system with none bother.

The ASUS Googlebook 14 has made an important first impression the place I contact it, take a look at it, and hearken to it. The matte OLED, haptic touchpad, audio system, and lightweight business-laptop chassis give me so much to love at $1,299. The software program is giving me acquainted instruments and new issues to determine, with just a few classes already discovered alongside the way in which.

Worth: $1,299
The place to purchase: Finest Purchase, 512GB | ASUS Retailer, 256GB

Now I wish to spend extra time doing my precise work on it, monitor the battery, and see how efficiency and temperatures maintain up. Examine again for the complete assessment, or subscribe to The Gadgeteer publication to maintain up with what we’re testing.