Googlebook laptops have introduced physical navigation buttons on their keyboards, mirroring the interface style of Android smartphones from the 2010s. The F1, F2, and F3 keys now feature the classic triangle, circle, and square symbols.
These keys replicate standard Android navigation functions: F1 acts as the Back button, F2 serves as the Home button, and F3 opens the app switcher. The latter displays all active applications in a single layer, similar to Task View in Windows or Mission Control in macOS.
The symbols were originally introduced in Android 5.0 Lollipop. While Google has since transitioned to gesture-based navigation, these buttons remain an alternative option in Android 17. The physical Back button is intended to improve usability in Android apps that lack full mouse support.
