Chrome OS gives way to Android: here’s what we know about Google’s Aluminum project

We were already talking about it several weeks ago: the Californian company wants to unite its forces around Android instead of offering two distinct operating systems with Chrome OS on one side and Aluminum on the other.

Goodbye Chrome OS, hello Android-based Aluminum

Chrome OS is based on a Linux distribution with the Chrome browser as its centerpiece. Google favors security and lightness, to the detriment of functionality. Aluminum therefore takes Android as a basis to adapt it to laptops, tablets, etc.

Google has a simple goal: to move away from laptops and other cheap products running Chrome OS, which are mainly aimed at professionals and students. Aluminum aims to reach the premium market and the job announcement on LinkedIn explicitly tells us about an upscaling strategy.

The document mentions AL Mass Premium and AL Premium categories, which points to Google’s desire to compete with the MacBook Pro and Surface Pro, instead of limiting itself to entry-level laptops.

Obviously, AI would be one of the main arguments of this offensive, since it is written that Aluminum has this technology at the heart of its design. As you can imagine, we inevitably expect that Gemini 3, which has just been launchedor integrated into Aluminum.

The job posting implies that Google wants to prevent its business customers from switching from Chrome OS to Windows. So the question arises of a possible cohabitation between two operating systems despite the challenges that this poses to the Mountain View firm. It is also possible that a major update will transform its Chromebooks to adopt Android.

Can Aluminum make you forget Chrome OS?

Aluminum remains to be officially discovered, since until now Android has always had difficulty establishing itself on large screens. So of course, there are foldable smartphones and other tablets with large display areas, but the operating system benefits from optimizations on the part of the manufacturers. Natively, Android has a hard time adapting and offering fluidity worthy of Windows or MacOS.

Switching to Android and abandoning Chrome OS would have several advantages, such as much more stable applications since they are already compatible with smartphones and tablets. In short, the best thing to do is wait for Google to tell us more, even if, on paper, maintaining two separate operating systems doesn’t make much sense.

Then, as we know, Google has already launched products before canceling them like Stadia, a cloud gaming platform abandoned very quickly. Nothing says that Aluminum will hold up over time and convince users who are already fans of Windows and MacOS.

As for those running Chrome OS: if the change is too sudden and total, they could flee. The Californian company therefore finds itself in a somewhat complicated position.