Google to combine Android and ChromeOS into one platform

Google is looking to combine Android and ChromeOS into a single operating system.

Sameer Samat, president of Android Ecosystem at Google, revealed the news in an interview with TechRadar's Lance Ulanoff. "We’re going to be combining ChromeOS and Android into a single platform," he said, though Samat didn't say when the change may happen.

In fact, much of the interview revolves around other Android-related topics, including changes Google has made to Android 16, making it more customizable and integrating Gemini throughout many of its features.

Still, the prospect of Android and ChromeOS being combined into one operating system is the biggest news here, as we've heard rumors of it happening for years.

ChromeOS is Google's operating system for Chromebook laptops, and several other devices including an HDMI dongle called Chromebit, and a mini PC called Chromebox. It's designed to be light and fast, and relies heavily on Google's Chrome browser as well as Google's cloud for storage.

While Samat didn't share any details of what this merger may look like once it happens, he did tell TechRadar he's "very interested in how people are using their laptops these days and what they’re getting done."

Notably, Google recently introduced several features into Android that make it a bit more friendly for computers and tablets, including Desktop Mode, which turns a Pixel device into a mini PC of sorts.