Last updated: September 2026.
Googlebook, Google's new family of Gemini laptops from Acer, Dell, HP, ASUS and Lenovo, goes on sale in the US on October 4, 2026. Japan is not a launch country. ITmedia and Gizmodo Japan have both confirmed it isn't in the first wave, and Google has announced no Japanese price or date.
For English speakers in Japan, the US model has one real advantage: it comes with a US keyboard layout. Laptops sold in Japan normally use the JIS layout. This guide covers what a US Googlebook costs to bring in, what to know about warranty and power, and how to order one.
See the Googlebooks we ship to Japan
Why the US model suits English speakers
If you learned to type on a US keyboard, a JIS keyboard gets in the way. The Enter key is a different shape, symbols sit in different places, and there are extra keys for switching between Japanese and English input. A US Googlebook has the layout you already know.
HelenTech, a Japanese site that follows Google closely, reports that preparations for a Japanese Googlebook are underway, though nothing has been announced. A Japanese release would very likely use JIS. So if you want a US layout, the US model is the one to get, launch or no launch.
What it costs to import
Laptops pay no customs duty in Japan. What you pay is consumption tax, and for goods an individual imports for personal use, Japan Customs charges the 10% tax on 60% of the overseas retail price. That works out at about 6% of the price.
| Model | US price from | Consumption tax, roughly |
|---|---|---|
| Acer Googlebook 14 | $899 | about $55 |
| Dell XPS Googlebook | $999 | about $60 |
| Lenovo Googlebook 15 | about $1,100 | about $65 |
| HP Googlebook 14 | about $1,300 | about $80 |
| ASUS Googlebook 14 | $1,299 | about $80 |
Your courier may add a clearance fee. The 60% rule is scheduled to end in April 2028, so imports after that will be taxed on the full price. For now, it's one of the cheapest places in the world to bring a laptop into.
Warranty
A US Googlebook comes with a US warranty, and none of the five models is sold in Japan yet. How much help you get here depends on the brand:
- Dell offers limited travel support, and none where the system isn't sold.
- HP honours its warranty only where it services the same model number.
- Lenovo's international warranty applies where the product is sold and serviced.
- ASUS runs an international warranty across a list of countries, with possible fees. Check whether Japan is covered for this model.
- Acer is listed on Google Store with a one-year International Travelers Limited Warranty.
If after-sales service matters to you, start with the Acer or the ASUS and read their terms.
Power, plugs and typing Japanese
Japan uses 100V with two-pin sockets that look like American ones, so most US plugs fit without an adapter. Some US plugs have one wider pin, which may not fit older Japanese sockets. Googlebooks charge over USB-C. ASUS rates its charger for 100 to 240V, and USB-C laptop chargers are normally universal, but check the label on yours.
Google hasn't yet documented Japanese input on the new Googlebook software. ChromeOS, which Googlebook's software builds on, supports Japanese input on a US keyboard.
Gemini and the free AI Pro year
The Gemini app is available in Japan. Google says some of the newest Googlebook features, such as Magic Pointer and Rambler, are "available for select countries and languages", without saying which. The free year of Google AI Pro that Google bundles in the US is limited to Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK and the US, so buyers in Japan should not count on it.
How to order
- Choose a model on our Googlebook page and check out with your Japanese address. Shipping is shown at checkout.
- We buy it from a US retailer. Pre-orders ship after the US release on October 4.
- Pay the consumption tax when your courier asks for it.
Compare all five models in our guide to Googlebook outside the US. 日本語版はこちら。
