Google has spent years telling buyers that the Googlebooks give them full access to the Play Store, and now it has finally admitted that some Intel-based models may struggle with certain Android apps. The company made the admission on the very day its new laptops went on sale.
The Full Library Promise
Before today, Google emphasized that the Android-based Googlebooks offered access to the “entire Play Store library” of apps. The company also pointed to clever interactions with Android phones and tablets as a key feature. Now, in a statement to Android Authority, it has admitted that while every app is available, some may not offer smooth performance on every Googlebook.
The Tuning Problem
The issue, Google says, comes down to chip architecture. Many Android apps were originally designed for Arm chips, which power the Qualcomm-based models. A small handful of complex apps or games need some developer tuning to run their best on Intel-based platforms.
“Because many Android apps were originally designed for Arm chips, a small handful of complex apps or games need some developer tuning to run their best on Intel-based platforms.”
Who Makes What
Of the five Googlebook laptops that have gone on sale today, three run on x86 Intel chips. Those are models from Acer, Asus, and Lenovo. The Dell and HP models instead run on Qualcomm’s Arm-based Snapdragon processors, and so should have greater compatibility with every Android app.
What Google Promises
Google says it is working hand-in-hand with app developers, Intel, and Qualcomm to continuously optimize performance and expand compatibility across the entire portfolio. The company has not said how many apps will have performance issues, nor has it named any specific apps that may have problems.
The Verge Test
We will be testing all five Googlebooks across the Verge team, and will report back on specific issues we find. That testing will cover both Intel and Qualcomm models, giving readers a sense of how the performance gap plays out in practice.
The Delayed Admission
Google’s timing is notable. The company waited until the laptops were on sale to address the issue publicly. For years, it had emphasized the full Play Store library without hedging on performance. Now that the devices are shipping, the caveat is out.
What This Means for Buyers
If you are buying a Googlebook today, the takeaway is simple: Intel-based models may require some developer tuning for certain apps. That means some complex apps or games might not run as smoothly as they do on Arm-based systems. The Dell and HP models, which run on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processors, should avoid that problem.
The company’s promise of continuous optimization suggests this is a work-in-progress, not a permanent state. But for a buyer looking at the Acer, Asus, or Lenovo models, the warning is real.
Our View
Google’s admission is honest, but it is also late. The company spent years telling buyers they could run every Play Store app, then waited until launch day to acknowledge that Intel models need developer work on a small handful of titles. That sequence reads as a delay rather than a revelation.
The statement itself is measured. Google says the vast majority of apps run smoothly across both Intel and Qualcomm models right out of the box. It frames the issue as a small handful of complex apps or games, not as a systemic failure.
But the fact remains that Google waited until the laptops were on sale to say anything about it. That is a strange way to handle a product launch, especially when the company has spent years promoting the full Play Store experience.
For buyers, the advice is straightforward. If you want the broadest possible app compatibility, the Dell and HP models are the safer bet. If you are attached to an Intel-based brand, you should expect some apps to need tuning and be prepared for less-than-smooth performance.
The Verge testing will provide more concrete answers. Until then, the official word is that Intel-based Googlebooks are capable of running everything in the Play Store, but not every app will run great out of the box.
Source material: “Google admits not every Android app runs great on Intel Googlebooks,” The Verge.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.