The new Android PC OS (Aluminium OS) is being developed with a primary and heavily emphasized focus on the ARM architecture…
However, the complete elimination of x86 support is unlikely, as Google still has a significant legacy to manage. Here is a breakdown of the expected support levels:
1. Primary Focus: ARM Architecture
The core development for the new, converged OS is centered entirely on ARM for several key reasons:
- Efficiency: ARM chips offer the superior power efficiency and integrated AI capabilities (NPUs) that Google is prioritizing for modern laptops and all-in-ones.
- Android Native: Android’s native and optimal runtime is on ARM. Building the new OS on this base ensures the vast Android app ecosystem runs natively and quickly without the performance penalties of translation/emulation.
- Strategic Partnership: Google’s public announcements highlight the collaboration with Qualcomm, making it clear that the future of this platform is tied to the ARM chip ecosystem.
2. Secondary/Legacy Support: x86 (Intel/AMD)
Support for the traditional x86 platform (Intel and AMD chips) will likely fall into two categories:
| Category | Expected Scenario |
| Current ChromeOS Devices | ChromeOS already runs on millions of x86-based Chromebooks. The new Aluminium OS will need to support these existing devices through the operating system’s evolution, likely maintaining an x86 branch for backward compatibility and updates. |
| Android App Compatibility | Android, at its core, is compiled for both ARM and x86 architectures. Apps uploaded to the Google Play Store typically include both ARM and x86 binaries. Therefore, the new x86 version of the OS will run Android apps natively that contain the x86 binary. |
| Long-Term Focus | While support will exist, new features and the highest levels of performance (especially with advanced, low-power AI tasks) are expected to be optimized for and exclusive to the ARM platform. This mimics Apple’s strategy of moving from Intel (x86) to its own ARM-based M-series chips. |
Conclusion
While community projects like Android-x86 have long existed to run Android on x86 hardware, Google’s official new OS will treat ARM as the future and x86 as the legacy platform.
You will almost certainly be able to run the new OS on x86 hardware, but the most innovative devices and the fully optimized experience will be on ARM.