Googlebook vs Chromebook, Windows laptop and MacBook: which to buy this Christmas as memory prices rise

If a laptop is on this year's Christmas list, there's a new option to weigh up. The first Googlebooks, from Acer, Asus, Dell, HP and Lenovo, went on sale on 5 October at £999 to £1,199. At the same time, a global shortage of memory chips is pushing up the price of almost everything with a screen.

We've compared Googlebooks with Chromebooks, Windows laptops and Apple's MacBooks, using Which?'s Googlebook explainer (updated on 20 October 2026), its 21 October report on tech prices, and Apple's and Google's own websites, checked on 22 October 2026. Currys, Argos, Very, AO, John Lewis and Laptop Outlet blocked our automated checks and Acer's store wouldn't load, so we couldn't confirm their current laptop prices.

At a glance

• Chromebook: usually under £600, according to Which?. Best for browsing, email, homework and streaming.
• Googlebook: £999 to £1,199 at launch, all with 16GB of memory. Runs Android apps and comes packed with Google's Gemini AI features.
• Windows laptop: the widest choice. Which?'s value pick, an Acer Aspire 14 with 16GB of memory, is now under £700, but budget Windows models have seen the biggest price rises.
• MacBook: the MacBook Neo is £699 or £799, and the 13-inch MacBook Air starts at £1,299 on Apple's UK store.

Why laptops are getting dearer

Every computer needs RAM, the memory chips it uses to run apps. Which? says demand from AI companies and data centres has outstripped supply, and memory now makes up about 40% of the cost of building a mobile device, up from about 15% last year. Three companies make more than 90% of the world's memory chips, and new factories from SK Hynix aren't expected to be finished before the end of 2027.

The effect is already showing. Apple has added £100 to the price of its iPhones, and the Xbox Series X went up £170 to £670 in August. For laptops, Which?'s Oliver Trebilcock says budget Windows models have seen the biggest rises, and some premium laptops are now shipping with 8GB of memory instead of 16GB. His advice is not to wait if you need a laptop now, because delaying is likely to cost you more.

What a Googlebook is

Googlebooks run Googlebook OS, Google's new operating system built on Android. Unlike Chromebooks, they run apps from the Play Store directly. They link closely with Android phones, so you can open phone apps on the laptop screen and share files between devices without transferring them manually. A "Magic Pointer" lets you ask Gemini about anything on screen, and "Rambler" turns dictated speech into tidy text.

All five launch models have 16GB of memory, 512GB of storage (the Lenovo also comes with 256GB), a backlit keyboard and a fingerprint reader. Which? lists them as:

• Acer Googlebook 14: £999. A 14-inch OLED touchscreen that folds right back, Intel Core Ultra 5, 1.15kg.
• Dell XPS Googlebook: £1,099. A 13.4-inch touchscreen, Snapdragon X Elite chip, 1.09kg, and no headphone socket.
• Lenovo Googlebook 15: £1,099. The biggest screen, at 15.3 inches, with HDMI and face unlock.
• Asus Googlebook 14: £1,199. Intel Core Ultra 7 and the lightest of the five, at 1kg.
• HP Googlebook 14: £1,199. The longest claimed battery life, 19 hours.

Every Googlebook comes with a 12-month trial of Google AI Pro, including 5TB of cloud storage. After that it costs £18.99 a month, about £228 a year, and you'll need it for some of the AI features, including AI in Gmail, Docs and Sheets. Factor that in if you'd use them.

Chromebooks: cheap, simple, and changing

Chromebooks run ChromeOS, which does most things through the web and stores files in the cloud, so they need little storage and stay cheap. They're easy to share and hard to clog up, which makes them a good fit for children's homework or anyone who mainly browses.

The catch is the future of ChromeOS itself. Which? says Google will end ChromeOS support in 2034, when Googlebook OS replaces it, and that owners of more powerful Chromebooks, such as Chromebook Plus models, will be able to upgrade later. Google's own list gives every model an "automatic updates until" date, and some newer ones stop in June 2034. Check that date before you buy, especially for an older model on clearance.

Windows laptops: most choice, most variation

Windows laptops range from bargain basement to premium, and they run the widest range of software, which matters if someone needs particular programs for school, college or work. Which? suggests the Acer Aspire 14 (model NX.JNQEK.003), which launched in 2025 at under £800 and is now under £700, with an Intel Core 5 processor, 16GB of memory, 512GB of storage and an OLED screen.

To keep the price down, Which? suggests skipping extras you don't need, such as touchscreens and ultra-light designs under 1kg, and looking at older models still in stock or second-hand. Microsoft says Windows 11 can run smoothly on 8GB of memory, but Which? warns heavy multitasking will feel tight.

MacBooks: a cheaper way in

Apple's MacBook Neo costs £699 with 256GB of storage or £799 with 512GB. It has a 13-inch screen, Apple's A18 Pro chip, 8GB of memory, weighs 1.23kg and claims up to 16 hours of video streaming. The 13-inch MacBook Air with Apple's M5 chip starts at £1,299 with 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage. MacBooks make most sense if the family already uses iPhones, as they work closely together.

Where each wins and falls short

• Chromebooks are the cheapest and simplest, and ideal for browsing and homework, but have little storage, can't run full desktop software, and ChromeOS has an end date.
• Googlebooks come with 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage as standard, run Android apps and suit Android families, but they start at £999, they're brand new so there's no track record yet, and the full AI features need a subscription after a year.
• Windows laptops offer the most choice and run almost any software, but cheaper models have risen most in price, so check the memory before you buy.
• MacBooks work closely with iPhones and the Neo brings the price down to £699, but it has 8GB of memory, and the Air jumps to £1,299.

Your questions answered

Is 8GB of memory enough?

For browsing, email, streaming and schoolwork, usually yes. Microsoft says Windows 11 runs smoothly on 8GB, but Which? warns heavy multitasking will feel tight. If you keep lots of tabs and apps open, or want the laptop to last, 16GB gives more room.

Should I wait for prices to fall?

Which?'s experts don't expect tech prices to fall soon, and warn that brands may keep prices high even if memory costs drop. If you need a laptop, buying now is likely to be cheaper than waiting.

Will my Chromebook stop working in 2034?

It will keep working, but it will stop getting updates, including security fixes, on the date Google lists for that model, which may be sooner. Some more powerful models will be able to move to Googlebook OS.

Ways to save

Black Friday falls on 27 November this year, so note today's prices now and you'll be able to tell a real discount when you see one. On 22 October, Currys had £100 off selected Copilot+ PC laptops with the code COPILOT100, and Acer had up to 30% off selected laptops for its 50th anniversary. Laptop Outlet was advertising savings of up to 30% across laptops and tech. John Lewis offers its Price Promise to match cheaper prices, and has extended Christmas returns until 23 January 2027, handy if a laptop turns out to be the wrong choice. It's also worth comparing Argos, Very and AO for the model you've settled on.

Sources: Which?: what are Googlebooks?, Which?: is there still any cheap tech?, Apple: MacBook Neo, Apple: MacBook Neo specs, Apple: 13-inch MacBook Air, Apple: MacBook Air specs, Google: ChromeOS automatic update dates

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