This week we started talking about a topic that will cause a stir: after many years flirting with the desktop with Chrome OS, Google has confirmed its plans to bring Android to desktops.. Android on PC will be a reality, thanks in part to Android 16. The future is uncertain, and anything we say will be mere speculation, but does Microsoft have reason to be concerned?
To answer this question, we need to look at the past, present, and future of desktop operating systems. Since the 80s, Windows has always been the favorite operating system for users, partly because it's always come pre-installed on every PC. Surely, if Linux were what we saw after turning on any computer, things would be very different, and that may start to happen in the coming months or years.
Android on PC could change the rules
In the US, the most popular tablet operating system is iPadOS, and nearly 50% of phones use iOS. In the rest of the world, where prices are a bit more painful, Android dominates both mobile phones and tabletsWhat I'm trying to explain here is that we tend to use what's familiar to us without overthinking it.
As we've already explained, Windows is what most people are familiar with because they've known it all their lives; it's what they've used without giving it much thought. But what will happen when Google starts releasing computers with Android? Well, I think so. will depend on the final approach.
According to latest data from StatCounterChromeOS holds a 1.35% market share on the desktop market. This low percentage is explained by analyzing what Chrome OS offers and where. Chrome OS is compatible with Android apps, although we may encounter some minor glitches. Furthermore, to officially obtain this compatibility, we must own a Chromebook, a Google computer that is neither the most powerful nor the cheapest. There is a Flex version, but it doesn't support Android apps.
The last point is what's holding Chrome OS back: it could be used on at least limited-resource computers, but if the system is also limited, it's better to recycle the computer or install Linux.
What would be the secret of the success of this system, according to the editor?
Google has only confirmed that Android on PC will be a reality, but has not given many details of how the deployment will be. Although it's expected to be installable on any PC, it's not 100% confirmed. That leaves us with two scenarios:
- Android on PC will only be available on proprietary devices. This would help them grow, but to a lesser extent.
- They'll release a version for any PC. If they do the latter, Android on PC would gain significant ground.
It's important to keep in mind that Android isn't a desktop operating system, and it has its weaknesses. Its strengths lie in its mobile apps, of which there's a wide variety, and its compatibility with Linux applications. It only needs to be compatible with desktop applications like Photoshop, but not everyone needs that.
Why Microsoft shouldn't worry... much
Microsoft shouldn't worry... not much. At least currently, Windows is the most widely used operating system and the one most closely monitored by developers. The aforementioned Photoshop and games will continue to prioritize Windows systems. Unless the Android landscape on PC changes significantly.
It can't be completely ruled out that Android on the desktop will grow so much that developers will eventually turn their attention to Google's operating system, also offering desktop or more advanced apps. Furthermore, there are already "light" applications for many important apps, such as Photoshop It's in beta. Browsing is possible, document editing is also possible, and streaming content is better than on Windows.
Microsoft will continue to be the king of the desktop, but it's possible, and perhaps even likely, that the desktop of the future will be different. Who knows? Although Google isn't promoting it as such, 2026 or 2027 may finally be the year of Linux on the desktop.