Support our independent tech coverage. Chrome Unboxed is written by real people, for real people—not search algorithms. Join Chrome Unboxed Plus for just $2 a month to get an ad-free experience, access to our private Discord, and more. Learn more about membership here.
START FREE TRIAL (MONTHLY)START FREE TRIAL (ANNUAL)
In case you missed it, we just got back from attending the initial Googlebook press event in NYC a couple of days ago and we will be able to share more on September 21st when these devices will become available for pre-order. But it looks like that initial press briefing was only part of the rollout strategy, because Google is gearing up for an even bigger celebration.
We received a fresh email from Google inviting us back out for another event called “Opening Night” on October 5th. The invitation says, “Join us for interactive showcases and the debut of the first laptop designed for Gemini Intelligence.” A short GIF was also included in the email, which I’ve shared below.
I will point out, though, that the timing of this event might seem a bit strange at first glance. We already know that the official embargo lifts and pre-orders go live on the morning of September 21st. So, hosting another event on October 5—two full weeks after pre-orders begin—feels a little backward for a traditional tech rollout.
But reading between the lines of the invitation and the “hype” video above, I don’t think this is going to be a traditional keynote or standard press event. Between the 7 p.m. ET start time and the fact that Google is explicitly billing it as a “celebration” with “interactive showcases,” this feels much more like a launch party.
And because it is a party rather than a keynote presentation, I’m expecting this invite list to extend far beyond the traditional tech media. It is highly likely Google is going to bring in a wave of creators, influencers, and other outlets to get hands-on time with these devices in a more stylized and energetic environment. I’d say you can expect a flood of content and social media coverage to hit the web as the event unfolds.
Honestly, I think it is incredible to see Google spending the time and money to make this launch feel so special. As we’ve said for months, this launch is unprecedented for the company. Seeing them make a big deal out of it and actively invite some press and creators to a secondary celebration proves that they are putting some serious marketing muscle behind the Googlebook platform.
SUBSCRIBE TO UPSTREAM
Get Chrome Unboxed delivered straight to your inbox
Upstream is our flagship, curated newsletter with the top stories, most click-worthy deals, giveaways, and trending articles from Chrome Unboxed sent directly to your inbox a few times a week. Join 31,000+ subscribers.

