Googlebook phone setup gets easier; Samsung support starts rolling out
An update trims the first-time setup for phone-and-laptop features and fixes a repeating pairing QR code. Samsung phones need One UI 9.
Google made it easier to connect a Googlebook laptop to an Android phone. A bug is fixed too. Some Samsung phones can now use it as well.
Hype check
Quieter than it deserves. This one matters more than the coverage suggests.
Our editorial opinion, based on the sources below. How we score
Your call: hype or real?
Real = it will matter in daily use. Hype = louder than it is. One vote, and it can’t be changed.
Our view and readers’ views are opinions, not statements of fact about a product.
Why it matters
If you own a Googlebook, linking it to your phone should now take fewer steps.
Skip: nothing changes for you.
The details
- Better Together covers app streaming, notification sync, Continue On and Instant Hotspot.
- Google is rolling out a smoother first-time setup and fixed a QR code that kept appearing after pairing.
- The phone needs Android 17, Google Play services 26.37 or higher and cross-device services 1.0.1346 or higher.
- Both devices need the same Google Account, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on, and a private home network.
- Samsung support seems to be arriving; Samsung phones need One UI 9, which is on few models so far.
Receipts
One trusted outlet reports it. Not confirmed yet. Open the sources and check us.
Written with the help of AI tools and checked against the sources above. How we work
See a mistake? Tell us and we’ll fix it.