Intel confirms collaboration on Googlebook laptops, with Wildcat Lake the likely driving force

Google recently announced Googlebook, a series of laptops designed around the Gemini AI model. This new laptop series is supposed to fall somewhere between a Chromebook and a traditional Windows laptop. Information surrounding the Googlebook is pretty vague right now, except for a few nifty features such as the Magic Pointer, Widget Creator, and general Gemini integration.

However, now it seems like we are getting more clarity about the hardware side of Googlebook. Intel has announced that it is the official CPU partner for Googlebook, providing processors for the upcoming series of laptops from various manufacturers. The company took to X (formerly Twitter) to announce that it is prepping "premium, powerful devices designed for intelligence." Google has previously confirmed that Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, and Lenovo are the official launch partners for this laptop series.

Intel has not yet confirmed which CPU lineup will power Googlebooks, but the most optimal candidate has to be the Core 300 "Wildcat Lake" processors. These processors are a perfect match for these laptops since they are built on Intel's 18A process node, and offer 2 "Cougar Cove" P-cores and 4 "Darkmont" LPE cores, with no traditional E-cores. The models come with a 15W TDP and a maximum power package of 35W, and include an NPU 5 with 40 TOPs, as well as an Xe display and media engine.

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While Wildcat Lake CPUs might be Intel's best bet, they will not be the only CPUs powering the Googlebook. Intel does not have an exclusivity deal with Google, and other CPU partners can also provide their SKUs to Google, provided they meet strict criteria. Google's launch partners for the Googlebook include Qualcomm and MediaTek, meaning ARM-based processors will be available in Googlebooks soon.

If Intel's Wildcat Lake processors power the Googlebook, the laptops might fall into the same performance category as the new MacBook Neo. Google might have a competing product on its hands, which is very similar, focusing on AI, battery life, and cost-effectiveness. We will reportedly see Googlebook devices starting this fall, with ASUS, Acer, Dell, HP, and Lenovo participating with their models.