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| HP Googlebook 14c Review - A serious Windows rival or just an expensive Chromebook? |
The first Googlebook has arrived, and it's leaving reviewers scratching their heads. With a Snapdragon X Elite processor, a stunning 2.8K OLED display, and premium build quality, HP's latest creation sounds like a dream machine on paper. But there's a catch – and it's a big one.
The Googlebook Experiment: A New Category or Just Confusion?
When Google announced its Googlebook initiative, the tech world buzzed with questions. Was this the company's long-awaited answer to Windows and macOS? Or was it simply Chrome OS wearing an expensive suit?
The HP Googlebook 14c, priced at $1,299 at Best Buy, attempts to answer those questions. After spending time with this device, the answer is... complicated.
This isn't your typical budget Chromebook. HP has packed serious hardware into this machine, creating a device that feels premium in every way – except when it comes to what actually matters most: the software experience.
HP Googlebook 14c
Design and Build Quality: This Thing Feels Expensive
Let's start with what HP got absolutely right.
The Googlebook 14c features a metal chassis in a gorgeous dark blue finish that could easily be mistaken for one of HP's premium Spectre laptops. The build quality is exceptional – there's no flex, no creaking, and the hinges are perfectly tuned. You get that satisfying, premium feel that justifies at least part of the price tag.
What We Love:
- Premium metal construction that rivals laptops costing hundreds more
- Replaceable M.2-2280 SSD – yes, you can actually upgrade the storage
- User-accessible bottom panel with just four screws, making maintenance easy
- Excellent haptic trackpad with responsive gestures
- Decent 5MP webcam with IR sensor and privacy shutter
- Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 for future-proof connectivity
The keyboard, unfortunately, is a mixed bag. While precise, the keys feel a bit stiff and produce more noise than we'd like. It's not a dealbreaker, but for $1,299, we expected better – especially compared to HP's EliteBook line.
Display: A Beautiful OLED That's Almost Perfect
The 14-inch 2.8K OLED touchscreen (2880 x 1800) with a 120Hz refresh rate is genuinely stunning. Colors pop, blacks are deep, and the contrast ratio of 25,750:1 is outstanding. With brightness exceeding 500 nits, you'll have no trouble using this indoors.
However, there are some significant limitations:
| Feature | Performance |
|---|---|
| P3 Color Gamut | Only 83% coverage |
| HDR Support | ❌ Not available |
| PWM Flickering | Present at 960Hz |
| Reflectivity | Very glossy – poor outdoor visibility |
The lack of HDR support is particularly frustrating because other Googlebooks (from Acer and Asus) do offer this feature. It appears to be a software limitation that HP could potentially fix via update – but as of now, it's missing.
For professional photo or video editing, the incomplete P3 coverage and inability to switch to sRGB gamut make this a non-starter. This is a consumption display, not a creation display.
Performance: Overkill for Android Apps
Here's where things get interesting – and a bit absurd.
The HP Googlebook 14c is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-80-100 processor with 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM. This is a chip designed for serious Windows laptops, packing 12 cores and boosting up to 4GHz.
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| HP Googlebook 14c |
That said, performance is excellent:
- Geekbench 6 Multi-Core: 13,815 (beats Intel Core Ultra 7 256V)
- Geekbench 6 Single-Core: 2,874
- System responsiveness: Snappy and fluid
- Fan noise: Usually silent or very quiet
- Thermals under load: Can exceed 50°C – concerning for lap use
The integrated Adreno X1-85 GPU handles Android games fine, but here's the kicker – popular titles like Fortnite and PUBG aren't supported. Your gaming options are limited to streaming services like GeForce Now.
Googlebook OS: The Elephant in the Room
Now we address the fundamental issue with this entire product category.
Googlebook OS feels like Chrome OS with a fresh coat of paint. It remains heavily dependent on internet connectivity and Google's services, including Gemini AI. Some Android apps simply don't work, and there's no clear timeline for when they might.
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| HP Googlebook 14c |
- No 5G connectivity – for an always-online device, this is a significant oversight
- Only 2x USB-C ports – no USB-A, no HDMI, no card reader
- Rudimentary gesture support – no gesture to switch desktops
- External SSD compatibility issues – some drives simply won't work
- Smartphone handoff requires Android 17 – excludes many potential users
The connectivity situation is particularly disappointing. Competitors like the Asus Googlebook offer USB-A, HDMI, and a card reader. HP's decision to limit ports to just two USB-C connections feels like form over function.
Battery Life: Good, Not Great
With a 70Wh battery, you'd expect impressive endurance. The Googlebook 14c delivers just under 14 hours in Wi-Fi browsing tests at 150 nits – respectable, but not outstanding given the battery capacity.
Charging via the included 65W adapter takes:
- 50% in 41 minutes
- 80% in 1 hour 6 minutes
- 100% in 1 hour 47 minutes
Audio: Surprisingly Excellent
One area where the Googlebook 14c genuinely impresses is its quad-speaker setup. The audio analysis shows balanced mids and highs with linear overall sound – better than both the Microsoft Surface Laptop 8 and Apple MacBook Air 13.
At 82.2 dB maximum volume, these speakers can fill a room, and the clarity is impressive for a laptop this size.
The Verdict: Who Is This For?
After extensive testing, the HP Googlebook 14c leaves us with one burning question: Why does this product exist?
At $1,299 at Best Buy, you have incredible options:
| Alternative | Price | Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Apple MacBook Air 13 M5 | $1,199 | Superior performance, mature ecosystem |
| Dell 14 Plus | $1,100 | Full Windows compatibility, better connectivity |
| Lenovo ThinkBook 14x | $949 | Similar performance, $350 cheaper |
The Googlebook 14c offers premium hardware wrapped around an operating system that isn't ready for prime time. The Snapdragon X Elite is wasted on Android apps. The beautiful OLED lacks HDR. The premium chassis houses limited connectivity.
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| HP Googlebook 14c |
Pros:
- ✅ Premium build quality
- ✅ Gorgeous 120Hz OLED display
- ✅ Excellent speakers
- ✅ Replaceable SSD
- ✅ Quiet operation
Cons:
- ❌ Limited to Android apps (some don't work)
- ❌ No HDR support
- ❌ Only 2x USB-C ports
- ❌ No 5G connectivity
- ❌ Soldered RAM
- ❌ Expensive for what you get
Final Thoughts: Wait for Generation 2
The HP Googlebook 14c represents an ambitious first attempt at creating a new laptop category. The hardware is genuinely impressive, and there's clearly potential here.
But potential doesn't justify a $1,299 purchase – especially when the software experience feels unfinished and the competition offers more mature, versatile alternatives.
Our Recommendation: If you absolutely must have a Googlebook, wait for the second generation. By then, Googlebook OS should be more polished, app compatibility should improve, and HP will hopefully address the connectivity limitations.
For everyone else? A Windows laptop or MacBook Air will serve you better in virtually every scenario.
Where to Buy: The HP Googlebook 14c is available at Best Buy for $1,299 in Atmospheric Blue.
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| HP Googlebook 14c |
