First Look: Android for PC Revealed in Google Leak

After months of anticipation, we finally got a glimpse of Android on a PC through Google’s upcoming ChromeOS/Android hybrid platform, codenamed Aluminium OS. Thanks to a recent leak, we can see it in action.

A bug report related to Chrome Incognito tabs was spotted on the Google Issue Tracker, which included two screen recordings from a device running Aluminium OS. Although Google has since restricted access to the report, the recordings were captured by an outlet before the lockout. The bug tracker also referenced an ALOS software version, confirming it as the abbreviation for Aluminium OS, and the recordings originated from an HP Elite Dragonfly 13.5 Chromebook.

The videos, shared on YouTube, further validate that this is indeed Aluminium OS, identifying it as Android 16, with a build number that aligns with the one mentioned in the bug report. It appears that an existing Chromebook is being utilized to test the forthcoming ALOS experience, which Android head Sameer Samat indicated we should hear more about this year.

What we see of Aluminium OS is a blend of both worlds. The taskbar resembles that of ChromeOS but positions the start button in the center, reminiscent of Android. The status bar at the top leans more towards Android aesthetics, featuring familiar icons for battery life, Wi-Fi, and more. The video offers a quick peek at the Play Store and some split-screen multitasking, but it doesn’t provide an in-depth look at the new OS. For that, we may have to wait for an official video release from Google.