Bengaluru: Google’s long-rumoured Aluminium OS has surfaced earlier than planned, thanks to an accidental leak. A publicly visible bug report on Google’s Issue Tracker briefly revealed screen recordings of the unreleased Android-ChromeOS hybrid running on an HP Elite Dragonfly 13.5 Chromebook, offering the first real glimpse of Google’s next desktop platform.
The report, spotted by 9to5Google, included two videos showing a system labeled with an ALOS build, confirming Aluminium OS as the internal name. Although Google quickly restricted access, not before the footage was saved and key details verified. The leak strongly suggests Google is testing the new OS on existing ChromeOS hardware.
What’s visible in the videos is a true blend of both worlds. The interface combines ChromeOS’s taskbar-style layout with Android-inspired design choices, including a centered start button and a top status bar showing familiar Android icons. The presence of the Play Store points to full Android app support, while smooth split-screen multitasking hints at a desktop-first experience.
Google has previously hinted at merging its platforms, with Android leadership signaling more clarity around its PC strategy in 2026. This leak effectively moves that conversation forward. Strategically, Aluminium OS aims to unite ChromeOS’s simplicity with Android’s vast app ecosystem, potentially addressing both platforms’ long-standing limitations.
Still, many questions remain unanswered, from app optimisation to upgrade paths for existing Chromebooks. While the software appears functional, it’s clearly unfinished. The leak may have been accidental, but it puts Aluminium OS firmly on the radar, and raises expectations for Google’s next big OS move.
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