There are indications that Google is on a path to integrate Chrome OS with its Android operating system, aiming to enhance the appeal of its software for high-end Android tablets. As discussions about the upcoming Pixel Tablet 2 continue, analysts are exploring how the company might leverage its future offerings to better compete with Apple’s solid position in the tablet sector, particularly with its iPad lineup.
According to sources cited by Android Authority, Google appears to be making strides toward unifying its Android and Chrome OS platforms. This integration could mean that Android will incorporate significant features from Chrome OS while some of the premier Chromebooks might eventually operate on a redesigned Android OS focused more on both entertainment and productivity. It has been suggested that this ambitious initiative could take several years to fully develop.
If this initiative successfully materializes, it could create a class of devices—Android tablets and Chromebooks powered by Android—that might shift market dynamics in Google’s favor. There’s also talk of a Pixel Laptop that may debut with an Android operating system.
Despite enjoying vast success in various tech arenas, Google has struggled to take a substantial bite out of Apple’s tablet market share. Numerous hardware manufacturers like Samsung, Amazon, Lenovo, OnePlus, and Xiaomi collaborate with Google to utilize the Android system on their tablets. Additionally, Google launched its own Pixel Tablet in 2023. Nonetheless, Apple maintains a commanding lead, holding a remarkable 55% of the global tablet market share, while Android devices make up 45%, and Linux claims a mere 0.11% as of October 2024, according to data from StatCounter.
Rumors surrounding the Pixel Tablet 2 indicate a possible release in 2025, potentially disqualifying it from the long-term project. However, future iterations of the Pixel Tablet could indeed incorporate the newly unified Android and Chrome OS, as referenced by Android Headlines.
While official details about merging Chrome OS and Android have yet to be unveiled by Google, the company did discuss in June its intention to integrate aspects of Android’s technology stack into Chrome OS. This stack is noted to include the “Android Linux kernel and Android frameworks,” along with various applications, features, and extensions that could become part of the integration.
It’s worth mentioning that Google isn’t alone in blending operating systems on a single device. An example is the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid, which serves as an Android tablet but transforms into a Windows laptop once attached to a keyboard. Other brands, including HP and Dell, have also put similar devices on the market.
