Google is known for killing products, but is this a form of death for ChromeOS or a transformation? It will depend on if Google actually focuses on making a platform built for the regular laptop user or if it merely paints ChromeOS over with the bold yet all-too-tacky Material 3 Expressive aesthetic.

ChromeOS and Android are merging, and because Android 16's Desktop Mode is so good, I'm perfectly fine with it.

In June 2024, Google announced that it was starting to use parts of the Android stack in ChromeOS, saying at the time that it would "simplify engineering tasks" and "accelerate the pace of AI innovation".

Recent discussions about merging ChromeOS with Android have intensified after a Google executive announced that ChromeOS will transition to an Android-based platform, enhancing cross-device functionality.

Google has officially announced that it will merge Android and ChromeOS into a single unified operating system, confirming long-standing industry leaks.

We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more› By Kimber Streams Kimber Streams is a writer who has been covering laptops and other tech at Wirecutter for more than a decade.

When it comes to gaming laptops, ASUS is easily among the cream of the crop once you start reaching its upper echelon of flagship models, and the 2025 ROG