Asus Googlebook spotted in Canadian retail for ~$1,400 — cheap Chromebooks are dead

Google has confirmed it is abandoning affordable Chromebooks in favor of a new lineup called Googlebook, which shifts the focus toward on-device AI processing. Now, a leaked listing suggests just how far the company is moving away from its budget-friendly roots.

As spotted by VideoCardz, a new laptop has appeared on the Canadian retailer PC-Canada's website under the model number "Asus Nb Cx9406caa-dsu51t-cb." This identifier is believed to correspond to the upcoming Asus Googlebook CX9406. The listed price is approximately CA$1,900, which converts to roughly US$1,400.

The product title reveals key specifications: an Intel Core Ultra 5 Processor 325, 16 GB of RAM, and a 512 GB SSD. If accurate, these components confirm that Google is no longer interested in offering hardware-light laptops for budget-conscious buyers. Instead, the Googlebook is designed to deliver enough performance for local AI workloads, which explains the significant price jump compared to previous Chromebook models.

While the listing could still contain placeholder details, the direction is clear: Google is betting on premium hardware and on-device AI, leaving the affordable Chromebook segment behind.