What you need to know
- Gemini Notebooks are now accessible on mobile, with Google offering the feature without a paywall.
- This functionality transforms Gemini into a centralized project hub, allowing users to organize chats and files rather than managing disparate threads.
- Your existing NotebookLM notebooks will sync seamlessly to mobile, enabling direct saving of chats as sources.
Notebooks, which initially emerged as a web-based research tool, have now made their debut on mobile devices through Google Gemini. In a refreshing move, both free and paid users can access this feature directly within the app, free from any paywalls. For those who may have missed the initial launch, Google began integrating Gemini with NotebookLM back in December. Initially available only on the web, this integration allowed the chatbot to utilize your research sources. Recently, Google enhanced the Gemini experience by embedding notebooks directly into the app, providing a dedicated space to organize files and chats by project. This update was shared on X, confirming its availability to all users of the Gemini mobile app.
With the Gemini app, users can now save their mobile chats directly into these notebooks as sources. While the feature is accessible to everyone, the number of sources that can be added to each notebook varies based on the subscription plan:
- Free users: 50 sources
- AI Plus users: 100 sources
- Pro users: 300 sources
- Ultra users: 600 sources
The rollout is currently live for most users globally on the Gemini app. For those in Europe, updates are on the horizon, with Google indicating that more countries will gain access soon, although specific dates remain undisclosed.
Android Central’s Take
This development represents a notable victory for users who prefer not to pay a monthly subscription just to leverage Google’s services. Having a research assistant readily available on my phone proves to be beneficial beyond merely summarizing emails. However, this “gift” also serves as a strategic maneuver by Google to encourage continued engagement with their platform. With a limit of 50 sources per free notebook, Google seems to be banking on the idea that users will eventually find these restrictions frustrating enough to consider upgrading to a premium plan.
