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ZDNET Highlights
- A leaked bug report gives more details about Google’s new OS.
- Aluminum OS will be a merger of Android and ChromeOS.
- The new OS should be released sometime this year.
Google’s plans to merge ChromeOS and Android were raised from rumor status a while back, and a recent bug report from Google (originally spotted by 9to5Google) provides the first leak of any information regarding the new platform.
On Telegram, a tipster named Frost Core shared a link bug report (No longer accessible without permission) Focuses on Chrome incognito tabs, including two screenshots and a description. According to 9to5Google, details reveal that the device used was an HP Elite Dragonfly 13.5 Chromebook with a board/codenamed “Brya(Redrix)”, which runs on 12th generation Intel Core (AlderLake-U) processors.
Also in the description was the build number for ALOS (codename for Aluminum OS, a merger of ChromeOS and Android), which is ZL1A.260119.001.A1, and the version of Android being used is 16.
Also: Your Google Chrome browser just got a useful autopilot feature – here’s how it works
In the 9to5Google post, an attached video shows off the new OS, which looks very similar to ChromeOS. There are some subtle differences, such as a taller status bar (optimized for larger screens) and a slightly modified mouse cursor. Another difference is found in the Chrome browser. In mobile mode, the extension button is unavailable.
I also ran across Youtube video By Shane Craig who discusses Aluminum OS and laptop leaks. In that video, Craig compares the Aluminum OS to what we see on some folding Android phones, where, when the device is opened up, the UI looks a bit desktop-like.
according to Android AuthorityGoogle says Aluminum OS is “built with artificial intelligence (AI),” suggesting significant integration with Gemini. In the same article, Android Authority quotes Rick Osterloh, Google’s SVP of devices and services:
“It’s another way that we’re bringing our AI stack, our full stack, the Gemini model, bringing the Assistant, bringing all of our applications and developer community into the PC domain. And I think it’s another way in which Android will be able to serve everyone in every computing category.”
Also: How to Start Using the New Linux Terminal on Your Android Device
For those who have been anxiously waiting for the release of this new OS, it was rumored to arrive sometime this year (2026), and that time frame has been confirmed. There is currently no specific date available for release.
