Why the timing is perfect for Android on PCs (but it might still fail)

Finally, Google’s project to merge ChromeOS and Android into a next-gen PC platform has a name (or at least a codename) — Aluminium OS. I’m cautiously excited about the prospects of my favourite mobile OS on bigger screens, though we won’t see it in consumers’ hands until sometime in 2026, and there’s still a lot we don’t know.

Building a great modern laptop OS isn’t easy. Google will need to get the UI right, ensure excellent driver and peripheral support, make software easy to find and install (including tools outside its ecosystem), and work with reliable hardware partners. That’s a lengthy checklist — and we won’t know how well it’s been met until products hit the shelves.