Rumor has it that Google is testing Chrome OS running on Android

Google held a special demonstration where it was possible to run Chrome OS from an Android mobile phone. The testing was conducted with a device from the Pixel 8 series during a recent presentation to representatives of other companies.

Information taken from the site Android AuthorityA report from “reliable” sources reveals that the company is testing a custom build of Chromium OS (codenamed “ferrochrome”) running in a virtual machine.

Check it out: Learn all about Google’s operating system, Chrome OS

The show was projected onto an external display, as a recent update to the Pixel 8 series added video output capability.

Why should you run Chrome OS in a virtual machine?

Google has already tried to integrate Android and Chrome OS into a single operating system called Andromeda OS. The project was announced in 2016 with the aim of combining the best of the company’s two operating systems, allowing different devices to run applications on mobile phones, tablets and laptops.

The idea was later abandoned as the Mountain View giant decided to focus on developing the two systems separately.

The big tech then implemented a feature in Chrome OS that allowed Android apps to be run in compatibility mode on PCs and laptops. However, the opposite is not yet possible because Android cannot offer an experience close to Chrome OS.

Starting with Android 13, Google has released the Android Virtualization Framework (AVF) feature, which provides a secure and private execution environment for sensitive codes. Until then, the functionality was used to execute simple tasks separately from the system.

However, in 2022, a developer was able to use this feature to run Windows 11 on an Android phone. It looks like Google used AVF in its custom demo to run Chrome OS inside Android.

Future Samsung DeX rival?

Judging from the so-called testing of Chrome OS running via AVF, we can imagine that it will soon be possible to use Android mobiles as laptops with the addition of keyboard and mouse. To do this, the feature simply needs to be made available by Google (or other manufacturers) on mobile phones with compatible hardware.

Theoretically, the functionality will rival Samsung DeX, which allows One UI to take on a PC interface on Galaxy handsets when a monitor is connected to the device.