Google’s new Googlebook laptops are being marketed as premium alternatives to traditional notebooks, but some early buyers have discovered that their devices are missing support for HDR video playback.

Owners of the HP Googlebook 14 and Dell XPS Googlebook have reported that HDR content is currently unavailable on their laptops, despite the feature being supported on other Googlebook models.

The issue first emerged in a Reddit discussion after an HP Googlebook 14 owner noticed that HDR-compatible videos on YouTube were not displaying the usual HDR indicator. A Dell XPS Googlebook owner subsequently reported experiencing the same problem.

Google has since acknowledged the inconsistency, confirming that HDR playback is currently supported on only selected Googlebook devices.

Responding to the Reddit discussion, Mishaal Rahman explained that HDR support for streaming services such as YouTube and Netflix is limited to certain models. However, Google is working with its hardware partners to expand compatibility across the entire Googlebook lineup.

The problem does not appear to be a limitation of Googlebook OS itself, as the ASUS Googlebook 14 already supports HDR playback.

Instead, the inconsistency suggests that HDR availability depends on individual manufacturers and their implementation of the platform, leaving some users without a feature they might reasonably expect from a premium laptop.

Google has not announced when HDR support will become available on affected devices, meaning HP and Dell owners could face an indefinite wait for the feature to be enabled.

The situation also raises questions about Google’s efforts to establish Googlebook as a consistent premium laptop platform.

When Google introduced the new category, it highlighted a combination of high-end hardware, close Android smartphone integration and Gemini-powered AI features as key selling points.

The company also secured support from major PC manufacturers, including ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo and Acer, with the aim of creating a broader ecosystem of premium devices.

However, differences in basic functionality between manufacturers could make choosing a Googlebook more complicated for consumers, particularly when features such as HDR playback are not guaranteed across the range.

For now, buyers interested in HDR video playback will need to check compatibility on individual models rather than assuming every Googlebook offers the same capabilities.

Google has committed to bringing HDR support to all Googlebooks, but until the necessary updates arrive, the inconsistency remains an early setback for its ambitions to deliver a unified premium laptop experience.