Google planning to merge Chrome OS into Android: Report

Google is reportedly planning to merge its desktop-based Chrome OS completely into its Android OS. The move is aimed at helping the company compete with Apple's iPad and offer a better experience to Android tablet users.

Google, earlier this year, said that it would start using parts of Android's code in its Chrome OS. The company specifically mentioned that it will use parts of Android Linux kernel and Android frameworks in Chrome OS. "To continue rolling out new Google AI features to users at a faster and even larger scale, we’ll be embracing portions of the Android stack, like the Android Linux kernel and Android frameworks, as part of the foundation of ChromeOS," Google had written in its post while adding that it had starting unifying Android's Bluetooth stack in Chrome OS.

Now, a report by Android Authority says that the company is working on a multi-year project to merge Chrome OS into Android.

Google hasn't commented on the matter yet, however, the report suggests that the move is aimed at helping the company compete better against Apple's iPads, which has been leading global markets in the tablet segment. For reference, Apple held a 31.7 percent market share in the global tablet segment in the third quarter of 2024 despite a year-on-year decline of around six percent, as per a recent report by IDC Global.

Google merging Chrome OS into Android OS: What this means for users?

At this point, it remains unclear what this integration would mean for Chromebooks, it is expected to give tablet and laptop users access to more apps and features. It is also likely to make it easier for developers to concentrate their efforts and offer better features and functionalities to the users. On Google's part, the change is expected to accelerate the 'pace of AI innovation' and simplify engineering efforts, something that Google had mentioned earlier this year.

“Bringing the Android-based tech stack into ChromeOS will allow us to accelerate the pace of AI innovation at the core of ChromeOS, simplify engineering efforts, and help different devices like phones and accessories work better together with Chromebooks,” Google had written in a developer post earlier this year.