Google May Reveal the Successor to the Chromebook in 2026

"Google talked about interoperability improvements between ChromeOS and Android at Google I/O 2025. In the past decade, Google has made small moves toward integrating these two operating systems, but it has been incremental, starting with bringing Android apps to Chromebooks, and then with smaller features that make them feel like a single ecosystem of products. It's not dissimilar to Apple's approach. So far, both companies have resisted completely unifying mobile and desktop computing, and Apple has denied plans to merge macOS and iPadOS."

"More recently, at Qualcomm's Snapdragon Summit in September, Google confirmed that ChromeOS and Android will merge; Google's hardware chief, Rick Osterloh, took to the stage to provide some details. He referred to the operating system as "bringing Android to the PC market" and confirmed a partnership with Qualcomm on this new platform. It's a fitting partner, considering the chipmaker's experience in powering phones, tablets, and laptops."

Google will combine ChromeOS and Android into a single operating system tentatively called Aluminium OS. The integration follows years of incremental steps such as running Android apps on Chromebooks and adding interoperability features across devices. The Pixel Slate failure in 2018 marked an early attempt at convergence, and recent announcements at Google I/O 2025 and Qualcomm's Snapdragon Summit confirmed renewed commitment. Google described the effort as bringing Android to the PC market and disclosed a partnership with Qualcomm to leverage its experience across phones, tablets, and laptops. The initiative aims to create a more unified ecosystem between mobile and desktop platforms.

Read at WIRED