ASUS Googlebook CX9406 leaks with 64GB RAM and a ceramic-alloy chassis
ASUS's first Googlebook — the laptop format that replaces Chromebook — has leaked online, and it looks like a serious push at the premium end of the market. The model, CX9406 (internally codenamed 'Lapis'), surfaced via an iF Design listing and confirms specs that put it well above any Chromebook you've seen before. An official reveal is expected at IFA Berlin, which opens September 4, 2026.
Not a Chromebook
The biggest distinction here is the operating system. The CX9406 runs Aluminium OS, a hybrid that merges Android and ChromeOS into a single platform — confirmed by 9to5Google (Aug 4, 2026). This is what separates every Googlebook from the Chromebooks they're replacing. The hardware underneath is equally ambitious: an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor and 64GB of RAM, verified through an Energy Star certification database by GbookHub. That configuration puts it in MacBook Pro and Copilot+ PC territory, not budget laptop land.
The chassis is made from what ASUS calls an "ultra-ceramic light alloy," claimed to be 34% lighter and 13% stronger than standard materials. The iF Design listing flags the description as unfinished, so treat the sub-1kg weight figure as unconfirmed for now. Display size and resolution haven't been disclosed.
The Googlebook look
Two design details stand out. Above the ASUS logo sits a Glowbar — an LED strip Google has confirmed as a signature feature across the entire Googlebook line, similar to the strip seen on the Lenovo models that leaked earlier. On the keyboard, a new "G" key launches the Gemini AI assistant directly.
The competition — and the unknowns
Google named ASUS as an official Googlebook partner back in May 2026, alongside Lenovo, Acer, Dell, and HP. The appearance of renders for both ASUS and Lenovo devices points to a coordinated first-wave launch this autumn. IFA Berlin is the most likely stage, with retail availability expected between September and November 2026 in the US and UK.
Pricing is the one thing nobody knows yet. Based on where Chromebook Plus currently sits, a range somewhere between $999 and $1,499 seems plausible for a Core Ultra 7 / 64GB configuration — but that's educated guesswork until ASUS makes it official. No Snapdragon-based ASUS Googlebook has been confirmed; Dell and HP are the partners pursuing ARM silicon for now.
