In recent times, I’ve been crossing my fingers in the hope of Google deciding to evolve Android. What was once a primitive mobile OS designedfor low-powered, low-resolution smartphones, has since developed into a powerful platform capable of performing advanced computational tasks. In real time, I’ve quite literally grown up alongside Android, seeing it mature from the standpoints of visual design, feature set, and performance – just as I’ve grown and matured in my personal life.
As a basic smartphone and tablet operating system, today’s Android is a well-oiled machine. But its under-the-hood computing prowess is just begging to be taken advantage of in the form of a full-fledged desktop environment. For years, we’ve heard rumors ofa potential Android and ChromeOS merger, which would marry the mobile and touch-friendly merits of the former with the desktop-class web browser and window management of the latter.
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Google, for its part, has been towing with the idea for years. Going as far back as Android Nougat in 2016, the companyhas been experimenting withfloating and resizable windows, a system taskbar, and other desktop-class UI elements intended for PC-style productivity. More recently, the company has doubled down on its efforts, firstby announcing a collaborative effortto bring the Samsung DeX experience to Android at a platform level, and then by outrightconfirming plans to unifyAndroid and ChromeOS under a single platform umbrella.
With all this in mind, and having convenientaccess to a Pixel 9 Prorunning Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2, I decided to take the new-and-improved desktop mode for a spin, to see just how far it has come, and to see how it compares to the likes of DeX, Windows, macOS, iPadOS, and, of course, Google own ChromeOS.
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Android’s upgraded desktop mode looks promising
While not as feature-rich as Samsung DeX, Google’s desktop mode is coming along well
At its core, Android’s desktop environment as of QPR1 Beta 2 has a lot going for it. All the essential components of a proper PC UI environment are here, including a taskbar, floating windows that can be resized, tiled, and snapped, virtual desktops, and app title bars with close, maximize, and minimize buttons.
Android’s app drawer translates well onto a bigger screen, and it looks and feels a lot like Microsoft’sWindows 11 Start Menu. It’s super easy to launch additional instances of supported apps, and most first-party Google apps take advantage of the big screen thanks toAndroid 12L-era improvementsthat introduced dual-column landscape mode interfaces.
The biggest hurdle still in place boils down to Android’s inadequate Chrome browser.
Of course, there’s still a lot of work to be done, especially if the company plans on replacing ChromeOS with Android on laptop PCs. I was surprised to find that there’s no option to pin app icons directly onto the desktop, nor is there any way to access notifications or quick settings (on Samsung DeX, these interface elements can be invoked via dedicated taskbar flyouts).
The biggest hurdle still in place boils down to Android’s inadequate Chrome browser. Unlike ChromeOS, which ships with the full-fat version of Google’s web browser, the current Android version is comparatively neutered, with no access to plugins or web extensions. I expect this to change in the near future, considering Google’s public roadmap.
Google confirms plans to merge ChromeOS into Android
Sameer Samat, president of the Android Ecosystem at Google, has confirmed the company’s plans to merge ChromeOS with Android.
Android and ChromeOS are joining forces
As far as operating systems go, this is the merger to end all mergers
As mentioned, Google has recently outright confirmed its intent to merge together the Android OS (which primarily runs on smartphones and tablets) and ChromeOS (which primarily runs on laptops, and occasionally on tablets).
Some speculate that this decision has been made as a response to anti-trust cases, in which the US governmentmay soon force Google to sell off Chromeas a web browser. By integrating the ChromeOS experience into Android proper, the company is essentially fortifying its position in the operating system space.
While it’s certainly possible that Google’s moves are motivated by legal and political affairs, I reckon the primary driving force in the company’s decision to accelerate the PCifiscation of Android is actually Apple. With iPadOS, andespecially with its upcoming 26 release, Apple is firing on all cylinders, porting many desktop-class software elements from the Mac over to the iPad. Android, therefore, is in a position of needing to evolve in order to survive a rapidly changing OS landscape.
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How to test out Android’s upgraded desktop mode
If you have the right hardware, you can enjoy a sneak preview of what’s to come
If you’d like to check out Android’s new and improved desktop mode experience right here and right now, you can do so with ease if you have the appropriate hardware. Here’s what you’ll need:
Once you’ve gathered all the necessary pieces, follow these steps to get started:
Android’s dedicated desktop mode is still a work in progress. As such, you might encounter bugs, performance issues, or other unintended behaviors while navigating the interface. Be sure to back up any and all important data prior to running Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2 on your phone.
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