Why Google's ChromeOS merging with Android make sense

Indian Express

2 days ago

Google announced this week that it will merge ChromeOS with Android in an effort to streamline its operating systems. The confirmation came from Android Ecosystem President Sameer Samat, who first made the announcement in an interview with TechRadar and later posted it on X.
Android and ChromeOS were developed in parallel, but now both operating systems are merging. The merger was originally expected to happen in 2015, so it has been a long time coming. Google had been hinting at the merger for some time, including last year when it announced that ChromeOS would be built on the Android tech stack, including the Android kernel.
For years, ChromeOS has been centered on laptops, while Android has dominated the mobile ecosystem. ChromeOS, for its part, has been a semi-successful operating system, but it has often been described as a 'barebones' OS. Essentially, it's built on Linux and stripped down to the bare essentials. One of ChromeOS's advantages is its ease of use. While it offers a desktop environment similar to what you would find on a Windows laptop or Mac, it mainly includes basic tools like a file browser, video/image viewer, Settings app, and the Chrome web browser. ChromeOS run web apps, Android apps and Linux apps, but not the best-in-class apps.
One of the advantages of ChromeOS is that it can run smoothly on low-end hardware. Google has partnered with major OEMs to launch Chromebooks, and in fact, ChromeOS has received major updates in recent years. These include improved desktop management, Phone Hub integration, AI features, and the Chromebook Plus certification for high-end devices, among others.
Google merging ChromeOS and Android makes a lot of sense. While Chromebooks have been a popular choice for students, these devices have struggled to compete with Apple's iPad and Windows computers, despite improvements in Chromebook hardware in recent years. At the same time, Google has faced an uphill battle in making its Android tablets as capable as the iPad, even though features like multitasking and desktop-like functionality have been added.
To date, despite Google's promises, Android still doesn't feel desktop-ready. Most Android apps don't look great on larger screens. Sure, Android has improved support for keyboards and mice, and even includes features like multiple desktop support, already present in ChromeOS but the operating system still feels best suited for mobile, not for larger-screen devices like tablets and laptops. It's no surprise, then, that Google previously experimented with ChromeOS tablets, an idea that failed to gain traction.
In fact, ChromeOS has started to feel directionless in recent years. Honestly, Android does everything ChromeOS does but much better; meanwhile, ChromeOS can do what Android does, but actually worse.
At one point, ChromeOS was a frequent topic of discussion, but lately, Google has barely mentioned it during its annual developer conferences. Chromebooks have also become less visible in the marketplace, raising questions about the future of ChromeOS.
While Google continues to highlight Android and its new features, ChromeOS has largely been pushed to the sidelines. In fact, Android is becoming more like ChromeOS, thanks to the upcoming addition of desktop multitasking support. With Google turning Android into a more capable desktop operating system while ChromeOS remains largely unchanged, it suggests that Android may eventually take over the role of ChromeOS.
Now that Google is merging ChromeOS and Android into a single unified operating system, although how Google plans to do this still remains unclear, a single platform could bring complete cross-functionality, which would be a major change. In fact, it could be the beginning of Google's personal computing efforts, which the company has struggled to compete with both Apple and Microsoft.
Right now, there is some level of cross-functionality between ChromeOS and Android, but it feels half-baked. ChromeOS already supports Android apps, and the Google Play Store somewhat bridges the gap. A merger between ChromeOS and Android would allow developers to focus on a single platform, enabling consumers to access apps seamlessly whether they are on a phone, tablet, or laptop. A unified operating system could solve this fragmentation, especially if Google develops a desktop version of Android. This would open the door to an Android-based platform that retains the familiarity of Android while offering the flexibility to run just as well on tablets as on laptops.
However, a key challenge for Google is deciding whether to retain Chromebooks or move away from them entirely. Chromebooks run on reference platforms and currently benefit from up to 10 years of software updates, as promised by Google. Achieving that same level of long-term support with a unified operating system may be difficult, especially since traditional laptops typically receive far less software support than Chromebooks.
The US Department of Justice has been calling for Google to divest its Chrome browser, following an August ruling that the company holds a monopoly in the search market. Chrome, the browser Google launched in 2008, is at the center of the controversy. It provides Google with user data that is then used for ad targeting, generating billions in revenue.
With the DOJ now considering the idea of forcing Google to sell Chrome, the outcome could be disastrous for the tech giant. Google will almost certainly fight the case and present counterarguments as to why Chrome should remain under its control. However, one possible way for Google to protect ChromeOS while mitigating the risk of losing both users and revenue could be to merge ChromeOS with Android.
If Google is forced to sell off its Chrome browser, the future of the Chromium codebase becomes uncertain, as Google is its largest financial supporter and technical contributor. This could further complicate the future of ChromeOS. Therefore, merging the two platforms may ultimately be in Google's best interest.
Anuj Bhatia is a personal technology writer at indianexpress.com who has been covering smartphones, personal computers, gaming, apps, and lifestyle tech actively since 2011. He specialises in writing longer-form feature articles and explainers on trending tech topics. His unique interests encompass delving into vintage tech, retro gaming and composing in-depth narratives on the intersection of history, technology, and popular culture. He covers major international tech conferences and product launches from the world's biggest and most valuable tech brands including Apple, Google and others. At the same time, he also extensively covers indie, home-grown tech startups. Prior to joining The Indian Express in late 2016, he served as a senior tech writer at My Mobile magazine and previously held roles as a reviewer and tech writer at Gizbot. Anuj holds a postgraduate degree from Banaras Hindu University. You can find Anuj on Linkedin.
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