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| HP sells the Googlebook 14 in a single colour option. |
The Googlebook era is barely a week old, and we're already seeing aggressive price drops across the board.
Earlier this week, Google unveiled five new Googlebooks designed to take on premium ultrabooks like the MacBook Air (currently $1,254 on Amazon). The Acer Googlebook 14 emerged as the budget champion at $899, while three other models initially launched with price tags exceeding 40% more than Acer's offering. For a closer look at what Google's new laptop platform brings to the table, check out our coverage of the Googlebook launch.
OEMs Are Already Slashing Prices
It didn't take long for manufacturers to start undercutting their own MSRPs. Lenovo wasted no time, dropping the Googlebook 15 to $1,149 directly through its website — and that's with double the storage originally advertised. Best Buy followed suit, listing the same machine for $1,099 with identical specs.
Now HP is joining the party.
The HP Googlebook 14 contains a 3.5 mm jack and dual USB Type-C (10 Gbps) ports.
HP Googlebook 14 Gets More Affordable
The HP Googlebook 14 originally carried a $1,299 MSRP, and Best Buy still shows that starting price for the 16 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD configuration. However, HP has quietly introduced a more budget-friendly option at $1,199 by scaling back to a 256 GB SSD.
If you're looking to configure your own, the HP Googlebook 14 offers several upgrade paths. Pairing the Snapdragon X Elite X1E-80-100 with 32 GB of RAM brings the price to $1,589, while storage upgrades include $80 for a 512 GB SSD or $280 for 1 TB. Fully maxed out, the HP Googlebook 14 reaches $1,869.
What You Get Across All Configurations
Every HP Googlebook 14 ships with impressive hardware regardless of which trim you choose:
- Display: 14-inch 2.8K OLED with 120 Hz refresh rate and 1,100 nits peak brightness in HDR
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
- Battery: 70 Wh with 65 W USB-C GaN charging
- Build: 2.74 lbs with recycled aluminum and ocean-bound plastic materials
One thing to note — despite pre-orders being live, HP says shipments won't begin until early November.
The Competition Heats Up
For those weighing their options, Apple's latest MacBook Air M5 recently saw a massive $450 discount on Amazon, bringing the 13-inch model with 16 GB RAM and 1 TB storage down to $1,149. That's a compelling alternative for anyone who prefers macOS over Google's new Android-based platform. You can read more about that deal right here.
Bottom Line
The Googlebook market is clearly still finding its footing, and early buyers are being rewarded with rapidly declining prices. HP's $1,199 configuration makes the Googlebook 14 more accessible than ever, though the upcoming November shipping date means you'll need to exercise some patience.
For those who want the best value right now, the Acer Googlebook 14 at $899 remains the most affordable entry point into Google's new ecosystem.
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| The HP Googlebook 14 also features a haptic trackpad and a rear-facing Glowbar. |
