Googlebook is pitched as the laptop for Android users but, at launch, the vast majority of Android users can’t use the platform’s best features.
Built on top of Android, Googlebook’s core pitch is to be the laptop for Android users, with deep integration between your smartphone and laptop. This includes a host of features such as instant hotspot, notification sync, phone file access, and the ability to continue tasks started on your phone from your Googlebook laptop. You can also stream apps from your phone’s display to your Googlebook directly.
In terms of deep integration, is a good pitch, but it won’t work for a lot of users at launch.
On asupport page, Google confirms that Googlebook’s suite of Android integrations won’t work with any device running Android 16 or prior – Android 17 is the minimum requirement.
Beyond that, Google also confirmed that Samsung devices are not supported at launch. Rather, support is rolling out “over the coming weeks.” It’s not mentioned whether Google or Samsung needs to push an update here, but it stands to reason that an update on Samsung’s end might be needed.
Support for Better Together features will be rolling out across all Android 17-supported Samsung devices over the coming weeks. Sorry for the inconvenience!
Meanwhile, Googlebook faces some other early hiccups, such as lacking support for Slack at launch, a key workplace app, as well as some apparent optimization issues for apps running on Intel hardware.
More on Googlebook:
- The first thing you should do on Googlebook is fix the trackpad
- Googlebook gets Luminar photo editing app with ‘Continue On’ support
- Fantastical’s long-awaited Android debut begins today on Googlebook
Follow Ben: Twitter/X, Threads, Bluesky, and Instagram
You’re reading 9to5Google — experts who break news about Google and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Google on Twitter, <a href="http://facebook.com/9to5google” rel=”nofollow noopener” target=”_blank”>Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel
