Google Confirms Merger of ChromeOS and Android: A Unified Platform for the Future

Google specifies how it will be the 'ChromeOS experience on top of Android'

In June of 2024, Google said ChromeOS would be built on Android going forward, with an interview last week describing it as a "single platform." We now have a bit more clarity on what's happening to ChromeOS in the future. After his interview about how Google is "going to be combining ChromeOS and Android into a single platform," Sameer Samat, President of the Android Ecosystem, had a follow-up post on social media this morning: Great to see so much interest in this topic! To reiterate what we announced in our 2024 blog post: we're building the ChromeOS experience on top of Android underlying technology to unlock new levels of performance, iterate faster, & make your laptop + phone work better together. Last year's announcement was focused on how ChromeOS would be using the Android Linux kernel, frameworks, and other underlying technical elements. While Google said the move would allow for more AI features in ChromeOS, simplify engineering, and boost Android phone-Chromebook integration, it was vague about what the end user experience would look like: At the same time, we will continue to deliver the unmatched security, consistent look and feel, and extensive management capabilities that ChromeOS users, enterprises, and schools love. -- Google The closest we got last year was a promise about offering a "consistent look and feel," which could have been interpreted as how a hypothetical Android replacement would have a user interface similar to ChromeOS. The pertinent part about Samat's confirmation today is "building the ChromeOS experience on top of Android underlying technology." It's the strongest indication to date that "ChromeOS" will persist as a user interface/experience going forward. Given how Chromebooks are finding market success today in education and enterprise, it's unwise for Google to stop offering that brand schools and companies are familiar with. Last month, Google announced the latest Chromebook Plus features, especially AI-backed capabilities. All this is happening in the context of Android 16 launching "desktop windowing" for apps on tablets later this year, and connected displays support in the future that allows you to connect a phone or tablet to an external monitor. It remains to be seen how this experience will relate to/exist alongside ChromeOS in the future.

Google's 'combining' Chrome OS and Android -- and it's the smartest move it's made in years

Chrome OS is good and all, but it's always felt distant -- on an island of its own away from the might of Android. Well, it turns out Google finally got the memo to send a rescue boat out to said island, as an executive has confirmed the company's plans to combine the two platforms. This comes in an interview with TechRadar, where Sameer Samat, president of Android ecosystem at Google, just dropped this nugget into a conversation about why the interviewer was using a suite of Apple devices. Now, we have heard this before. Back in November, Android Authority reported that a source inside Google had said this was the mission. However, this is the first time Google has confirmed it on-the-record. And honestly? It may be a few years late in my eyes, but I'm glad it's finally happening. Let me explain. This comes off the back of Android bringing some new big screen features to the table, such as a proper desktop mode a la Samsung Dex, improved adaptability of apps, better external display support and windowing within the desktop. Basically, Android is now able to do pretty much everything that a Chromebook could, so why have the two running side by side in isolation of each other? I'll always appreciate what Chrome OS has brought to the table, though. I mean with the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14, Google was able to make low-key one of the best laptops for students, sharpen up the OS with quick shortcuts and add AI features that are logically added rather than clumsily overlaid (looking at you, Microsoft Copilot). But what was learnt in Chrome OS can also come over to Android too, and having it all in one place unlocks a special new perk on the computing skill tree. This is the moniker you hear around a lot of Apple devices. It's one of the reasons why I use them, why Lance who conducted this interview at TechRadar uses them, and hell, it's probably why a lot of you out there use them. The fact that everything just comes together through Continuity features and marries these devices together nicely is always one of Apple's superpowers that Google has been able to do somewhat, but just not to the level of smoothness you'd find in the Cupertino playground. To do it properly, you need real sync up in the operating systems, which for all the heavy lifting Google did with Chrome OS to try and make it talk to Android, it was just not feasible. But now a proper merger is on the cards, this is the answer to all of its problems. And stat-wise it makes sense too. According to most recent data, around 1.25% of the world's computer users are on Chrome OS -- down from nearly 2% last year. With a downward trajectory, change needed to happen, and this might just be the smartest decision the company's made in a decade. As this was a quick quote from a Google exec, there are some questions I have that remain unanswered as of now: We don't have answers to any of these, and it'll be just a case of waiting and seeing what happens (my guess is by the time Android 17 rolls around). But as far as the initial news itself goes, this is an encouraging step in the right direction for Chromebooks.

Google confirms it's combining Chrome OS and Android into a single unified platform

Gugul plans to merge Chrome OS with Android. This aims to create a single platform for phones, tablets, and laptops. Chromebooks and Android tablets will run on a desktop-optimized Android version. This shift simplifies development and enhances AI integration. Users will experience seamless app usage across devices. Developers benefit from fewer compatibility issues. After years of speculation, Google has officially confirmed that it is working to merge Chrome OS into Android, marking a major shift in its operating system strategy. This move aims to consolidate its platforms into a single, unified experience across all types of devices -- phones, tablets, laptops, and beyond. A Unified OS for All Devices Sameer Samat, President of Google's Android Ecosystem, confirmed in a recent interview that Chrome OS will no longer remain a separate operating system. Going forward, devices like Chromebooks and Android tablets are expected to run on a desktop-optimized version of Android. This transition builds upon existing shared infrastructure, as Chrome OS already uses Android's Linux kernel and other core components. The goal is to enhance the Android ecosystem to support not only mobile devices but also offer a more powerful, desktop-like environment -- complete with multi-window interfaces, support for Linux apps, external displays, and browser extensions. Why Google Is Making the Shift Google's decision to consolidate its platforms offers several key advantages: What This Means for Users and Developers For users, this integration could bring: For developers, benefits include: Open Questions Remain While the shift is promising, a few important concerns have yet to be addressed: What Lies Ahead Google is reportedly testing a desktop mode for Android that includes window management tools, multi-window support, and even Linux terminal access. There are also rumors of a new "Pixel Laptop" prototype running this new version of desktop Android instead of Chrome OS. Additionally, Google has noticeably slowed Chromebook releases in 2025, a move that industry watchers see as a sign of preparation for a major operating system transition. Conclusion Google's bold move to unify Android and Chrome OS could redefine how we experience computing across devices. As the lines between mobile and desktop continue to blur, the tech giant appears to be positioning Android as the single ecosystem of the future -- smart, AI-ready, and seamless across screens.

Google Reportedly Melding Chrome OS and Android Into One Platform | PYMNTS.com

By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions. In a conversation with TechRadar published Friday (July 11), Sameer Samat, president of the Android Ecosystem at Google, asked reporter Lance Ulanoff why he was using a MacBook Pro, Apple Watch and iPhone to understand about the apps he uses to manage these devices. "I asked because 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," Samat said. The report notes that this has been a big year for Android, with the ecosystem recently unveiling its Android 16, which Samat says was the platform's "biggest design change in Android in three or four years." As PYMNTS wrote in May, the phone's update includes a design called Material 3 Expressive, phones and watches using Google's operating system will be "more fluid, personal and glanceable," as Mindy Brooks, vice president of product management and user experiences, Android platform, wrote in a company blog post. In addition, the Tech Radar report discussed the combination of Android phones with Google's Gemini artificial intelligence (AI) model. Calling it "that Gemini Experience," Samat says users who switch from other phones are "seeing over and over again what they've been missing." He demonstrated how Gemini could both summarize a long YouTube video and break down its claims (with time stamps) by using in sources from the Web, something Tech Radar described as Gemini "leaning into its Google search roots." "What I'm getting at," Samat said, "is that Gemini integrated in a phone really provides a much more helpful experience. And when consumers do move over from an iPhone, they instantly realize that they've been missing a lot of this." PYMNTS looked at the state of AI-powered search -- as well as the possible future of Google -- in a recent interview with Adam Behrens, CEO of retail AI tech startup New Generation. He argued that in five years, Google won't be "a list of links," but "a service where you get answers, then actions, which changes how people shop and what they expect." "The traditional ad model starts to break down because there's less screen space and fewer choices; you either show up ready to be picked, or you're invisible," Behrens added. "For brands, it means they can't just live behind a website anymore. They need to show up across the entire AI ecosystem so they're shoppable, searchable and ready for whatever agent your customer is using."