What Dell is selling
Dell took its sleekest ultraportable design and swapped out Windows entirely, replacing it with Google's new desktop operating system built on the Android stack. Dell's support documentation describes Googlebook OS as a fully functional operating system built on Android. Dell also stresses that it is distinct from a Chromebook.
Dell's listing confirms the core configuration:
- Processor: Snapdragon X Elite, with Qualcomm Adreno graphics.
- Display: a 13.4-inch touch panel at 2560x1600.
- Base model: 16 GB of LPDDR5X memory and a 512 GB SSD, priced at $999.99.
- Upgrades: 32 GB/512 GB at $1,599.99 and 32 GB/1 TB at $1,799.99.
- Size and weight: 12.7 mm thick and 2.2 lb.
- Ports: two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports with DisplayPort and Power Delivery.
- Wireless: Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4.
Dell's launch blog says the machine is the first Dell laptop built for Gemini Intelligence and designed to sync with your Android phone. Dell's September 21 post said it was available on Best Buy and Google Stores at launch, with Dell.com availability following in October.
Where the review is a little shaky
The review contradicts itself on a few specs. Its spec table lists a 52 Wh battery, but its battery section says 55 Wh. Dell's product listing gives 52 Wh, so that is the figure to trust. The review also mentions both a 65 W and a 60 W charger. Treat the bundled adapter's wattage as unconfirmed.
Battery life is a similar story. Dell claims up to 16 hours of Netflix streaming as a target. The reviewer reports 13 to 15 hours of mixed productivity, which is one person's experience and not a benchmark. The review also quotes a Google figure of up to 18 hours. I couldn't verify that figure.
The reviewer's verdict
The review's main point is a trade-off. The hardware is premium and the phone integration is tight. The software is far narrower than a desktop operating system. In the reviewer's words, the machine cannot run native x86 Windows software, full desktop creative suites, or standard PC gaming executables.
The review praises these points:
- The CNC-aluminum build.
- The 30–120 Hz touch display.
- A near-silent Snapdragon X Elite.
- Android phone handoff for files, photos and notifications.
- Gemini features such as Magic Pointer and Rambler.
It criticizes these:
- The $999 starting price.
- The two-port design, with no headphone jack, card reader or USB-A.
- Android apps that scale poorly on a landscape screen.
- An LCD where rivals offer OLED.
- An average webcam, and speaker distortion at high volume.
These are the reviewer's opinions. The review also claims a ten-year update commitment. Google's update page, which I checked, confirms how updates work but doesn't confirm that commitment for this model. Verify it before you count on it.
What IT admins should check
The review says corporate Microsoft 365 work profiles and VPN clients show "stability hiccups." That's a broad claim from one reviewer, and I found no official source confirming it. Dell's own support listing for the DX13267 is more specific:
- Teams and Zoom: Dell lists an advisory, updated October 7, 2026, saying certain meeting features aren't supported on Googlebook OS. It names the Share tab page and camera-source selection.
- Docks: a separate advisory covers Dell Pro Dock functionality limitations. The listing doesn't say what is limited, so don't assume.
- External monitors: an external monitor connected during first-time setup may show no video. That is a setup-stage issue and doesn't mean displays fail afterward.
- File sharing: a Dell knowledge-base article says no SMB file share option is found on this model. The article says Google confirmed this is part of the expected design. Dell's suggested workaround is nearby-device sharing over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. If your office runs on SMB shares, this matters.
Dell does say the platform supports external displays and accessories. The limits above are about particular features, not a blanket ban.
A pre-purchase checklist for work use
- Test Teams and Zoom, including screen sharing and switching cameras, on a demo unit.
- Confirm your Microsoft 365 sign-in and any management profile work as expected. Don't assume either way.
- Check whether your VPN client has an Android version that behaves on this OS.
- Plan for SMB shares, since Dell says the OS doesn't offer them.
- Test your dock and external-display setup, including the first-boot step.
- Count your ports. Two USB-C ports means dongles for everything else.
Keeping updated
Google's support page says to find your OS version and security-update status under Settings, then About device. To check for updates manually, go to Settings, then System, then Software updates, then System update. Google advises connecting to Wi-Fi and charging to at least 75% first. Google also says update checks send details such as version number and language, and that this information isn't associated with you or your Google Account. Wait, that detail comes from Google's update page, not Dell's, so treat it as Google's statement.
Bottom line
Dell's Windows XPS line isn't going anywhere, but the XPS name is now on a machine for Android users. For most Windows-dependent businesses, the Googlebook is a curiosity for now. The Teams limits, the missing SMB option and the dock caveats are small individually. Together they show a platform still catching up to the desktop it wants to replace. Cloud-first, Google-centric users with an Android phone are the people this laptop is aimed at. Everyone else should trial one before committing $1,000.