When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works .
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware) Share Share by: Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 3 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Google has reportedly been working on folding ChromeOS into Android since 2015 , but its efforts appear to have stalled in recent years. However, we’ve just seen some evidence of the company’s work on this project through a bug report on the Chromium Issue Tracker. The company has since made the report private, but not before 9to5Google shared the screen captures. The device involved was reportedly an HP Elite Dragonfly 13.5-inch Chromebook running build ALOS: ZL1A.260119.001.A1. “ALOS” supposedly refers to Aluminum OS, which is the codename for the Android desktop that’s being developed to replace ChromeOS.
The most obvious difference between ChromeOS and Aluminum OS is that the taskbar is slightly taller, making it more suitable for devices with larger screens. Google also moved the date and time from the lower right to the upper left corner of the screen, while the status settings seem to have been moved to the upper right corner, making it look a bit more similar to macOS. Google Chrome browser also remains mostly similar to what you get on Android but now comes with Extensions, and we also see an example of side-by-side multitasking on the large screen. But aside from that, we don’t see any other major differences or features, especially given that it’s just screen recording for a bug report.
Another tidbit of information we can garner from this is that the Android desktop version is seemingly running on old hardware — the HP Elite Dragonfly 13.5-inch Chromebook mentioned in the report launched in early 2022 , featuring a 12th-generation Intel processor. Although it could be that Google is just using existing hardware to validate the operating system, it could also mean that it’s planning to allow (or even force) existing ChromeOS users to update to Aluminum OS once it officially comes out.
Windows Phone makes a spiritual comeback thanks to NexPhone, which can triple-boot Windows, Android, and Linux
Nvidia's Arm-based N1X-equipped gaming laptops are reportedly set to debut this quarter, with N2 series chips planned for 2027
Nvidia's elusive N1X SoC leaks out again
Key considerations
- Investor positioning can change fast
- Volatility remains possible near catalysts
- Macro rates and liquidity can dominate flows
Reference reading
- https://www.tomshardware.com/software/chromeos/SPONSORED_LINK_URL
- https://www.tomshardware.com/software/chromeos/leaked-images-showcase-androids-new-aluminum-os-desktop-interface-googles-nascent-windows-rival-spotted-in-screen-recording-of-a-chromebook-bug#main
- https://www.tomshardware.com
- AMD CES 2026 gaming trends press Q&A roundtable transcript — 'we see a little bit of an uptick in the percentage of AM4 versus AM5 platforms'
- Save big on an AM5 bundle perfect for AMD's imminent Ryzen 7 9850X3D — $499 Newegg X870 motherboard and 32GB DDR5 RAM bundle is the ideal start for your build
- SoftBank pauses $50bn AI data center operator acquisition talks — move plunges Stargate data center plans into uncertainty as regulatory roadblocks pose signifi
- Lenovo's original Z1 Extreme Legion Go drops to just $437.75 with coupon code — $112 less than the cheapest Steam Deck available
- Into the Omniverse: Physical AI Open Models and Frameworks Advance Robots and Autonomous Systems
Informational only. No financial advice. Do your own research.