Google is preparing to launch a new category of personal computers that run on Android, marking a significant shift in its software strategy. For months, speculation has circulated about Google merging Android and ChromeOS into a single platform. In July, the company confirmed that it was indeed working on a unified operating system project. Now, Android will form the basis of this initiative, with laptops expected to arrive as early as next year.
The development was highlighted during Qualcomm’s annual event, where the chipmaker unveiled its latest Snapdragon X2 Elite processors for Windows PCs and the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip for smartphones. In an unexpected announcement, Google executives shared further details about the Android-based computing project.
“So what we’re doing is we’re basically taking the ChromeOS experience and re-baselining the technology underneath it on Android. So that combination is something we’re super excited about for next year,” explained Sameer Samat, head of the Android ecosystem at Google.
Google is working with Qualcomm and other partners on the project. This suggests Qualcomm will likely provide the processors for these upcoming machines. If so, users can expect laptops with stronger battery life, advanced processing power, improved AI performance, and even the possibility of built-in cellular connectivity.
Building on the ChromeOS legacy
Despite these new plans, Google has made it clear that ChromeOS is not being discontinued. Nor does the company plan to phase out Android tablets. “We’re super committed to that platform,” Samat reassured.
Instead, the focus is on enabling more seamless cross-device connectivity within the Android ecosystem. The concept resembles Apple’s ecosystem, where devices interact closely, but Google is aiming for deeper integration across different form factors.
Whereas Apple maintains separate operating systems for its devices, Google intends to keep Android running on phones and tablets while also adapting it for laptops. This approach is expected to make app compatibility smoother and allow users to switch tasks easily between devices without interruption.
Rick Osterloh, senior vice-president at Google, emphasised the long-term vision during the event. “We’ve embarked on a project to combine that. We are building together a common technical foundation for our products on PCs and desktop computing systems,” he said.
What users can expect
By extending Android to laptops, Google aims to create an experience where smartphones, tablets, and PCs operate as part of a unified system. This would allow users to begin an activity on one device and continue seamlessly on another, while still benefiting from the familiar Android environment.
If successful, the project could reshape how Android users interact with their devices, offering a blend of mobility, connectivity, and desktop-class performance. With Qualcomm’s chips promising efficiency and power, the upcoming laptops could provide an alternative to both traditional Windows machines and Apple’s MacBooks.
Although an exact release date has not been announced, Google has indicated that consumers can expect the first wave of Android-powered laptops to appear sometime next year. The move reflects Google’s ambition to strengthen its ecosystem and expand Android’s role beyond smartphones and tablets into mainstream computing.
