I would have been using a Chromebook if it weren’t for the storage limits and the lack of highly professional apps. I probably would’ve ditched my MacBook for it a long time ago, as ChromeOS feels more innovative and more efficient in battery and performance
ce. Therefore, the news that Google is officially merging Chrome OS into Android is inevitable. Given how much Android has been improving on tablets and foldables, the merger makes sense. Android offers superior multitasking capabilities, desktop-like modes, and comprehensive external display support. But what would that mean for users?
One big software to birth the next wave of supercomputers
Previously, in June of last year, we reported that Google was beginning to integrate parts of Android into Chrome OS. At the time, they made it clear that ChromeOS would start using Android’s Linux kernel and frameworks because they would bring AI features to Chromebooks faster and improve hardware compatibility. They even started unifying the Bluetooth stacks between Android and ChromeOS in version 122.
Once again, Google confirms its plans in the first explicit, on-the-record confirmation from a top Google executive. What that means for the future of Chromebooks, and possibly even Pixel laptops, is that Android will power them at the core. ChromeOS-like features will be layered on top to create a unified operating system that can adapt to your device's screen size, allowing it to shape-shift.
We’re going to be combining ChromeOS and Android into a single platform, and I am very interested in how people are using their laptops these days and what they’re getting done.
Sameer Samat, President of Android Ecosystem at Google.
It has been brewing for a while, and I've been eager to see it come to life. Now, with Android 16 introducing a more refined desktop mode and Expressive Material 3 design, that eagerness has doubled.
Developers now have a streamlined work process, given that they'll have one platform to target. Additionally, we'll have a more cohesive and seamless synergy with Apple’s synergy between its devices. My only fear is that we'll be losing all that made the software special in the first place. The merger could compromise its lightweightness if not done carefully.
Related: Android Canary Is The Ultimate Early Access Experience For Pixel
Faster updates for the future
Sameer also explained how the new approach to ChromeOS and Android offers a better chance of solving their fragmentation problem. He described Trunk Stable and Android Drops as tools to “make sure that device manufacturers have access to the latest in a way that’s more timely with their big phone releases”.
Previously, their timing was all over the place. You’d see a new Android version announced in May, but Samsung or OnePlus users wouldn’t get it until December or at all. Sameer wants Android to meet users in the moment and transform from a slow-moving platform into a responsive ecosystem.
Among other things, Google is not giving up on its smart glasses. With Samat now leading Android XR, he says the company has learned from Google Glass’ failure and has a new vision that involves making smart glasses with AI that can translate signs or read diagrams. They've fostered fashion-first partnerships with Warby Parker and Gentle Monster to make that vision a reality.
