Google is said to be on a multi-year project to merge Chrome OS with Android. (Photo: Google)
Chrome OS, which is designed for laptops, is said to be merging with Android in the next few years.
A source told Android Authority that Google is embarking on "a multi-year project to fully turn Chrome OS into Android".
While the future of Chrome OS or Chromebook brands remains uncertain, the source says Google plans for future "Chromebooks" to ship with Android.
The decision to unify Chrome OS and Android is due to two key reasons. First, Google wants a better platform to compete with the Apple iPad. As it stands, neither Chrome OS nor Android is optimised enough for use on tablets and Google wants to change that.
Second, Google wants to manage engineering resources more effectively. There were hints of such intentions in June this year when the company announced that "Chrome OS will soon be developed on large portions of the Android stack to bring Google AI, innovations, and features faster to users".
Bloomberg reported in 2018 that Google wanted to replace Android and Chrome OS with the Fuchsia OS. Backed by Google CEO Sundar Pichai, the report claimed the Fuchsia OS was meant to power all Google's products including the Pixel phones, smart home gadgets, and Chrome OS devices.
Source: Android Authority
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