A major leak revealed Google's new operating system. Aluminium OS for PCs looks like a child of Android and ChromeOS

After months of receiving incomplete, fragmented information, Google’s new operating system for computers was revealed by a simple bug report. The Californian software giant accidentally published two screen recordings showing Aluminium OS in action as part of a bug report on the Chromium Issue Tracker platform. Although the company quickly restricted access to the report, the materials had already been published by foreign media outlets 9to5Google and Android Authority.

Interface combines the worlds of Android and ChromeOS

At first glance, Aluminium OS appears exactly as you would expect from a hybrid system – as an intersection of Android and ChromeOS. At the top of the screen is an Android-style status bar with time (including seconds), date, and icons for battery, Wi-Fi, and notifications. On the right side, the Gemini icon and a screen recording indicator are also visible.

The bottom part of the screen, conversely, resembles ChromeOS. The taskbar remains visually very similar to the current one, although it is slightly taller and optimized for working with large displays.

Chrome with extensions and windowed multitasking

The videos confirm that Aluminium OS is built on Android 16. This makes sense given that this version brings a number of improvements for larger displays – desktop mode, windowed application display, and better external monitor management.

However, the leak also revealed things you won’t easily find on mobile devices – for example, a button linking to extensions in the Google Chrome browser, which are still a privilege of the desktop version.

Window management is based on ChromeOS – in the top left corner of the window, you’ll find the application name, and on the right, buttons for minimizing, maximizing, and closing. The mouse cursor has undergone a slight modification in the form of a “tail,” which slightly improves orientation on large screens. The Google Play Store also briefly appears in the videos.

Let’s recall that Google officially confirmed the merger of Android and ChromeOS in the summer of 2025, when Sameer Samat, President of the Android ecosystem, mentioned the plans. Later, a job advertisement on LinkedIn revealed the codename Aluminium OS and mentioned that the new system would have artificial intelligence directly at its core.

How did the leak happen?

If you’re interested in the details of the leak itself: The bug report concerned an issue with anonymous tabs in the Chrome browser and contained two screen recordings as evidence. The description indicates that the test device was an HP Elite Dragonfly 13.5 Chromebook with the codename “Brya(Redrix)” and an Intel Core 12th generation processor from 2021. The system build is labeled ALOS: ZL1A.260119.001.A1, with the acronym ALOS corresponding to the internal name Aluminium OS.

It’s interesting that Google is using older hardware for the development of the new system. This could indicate either an effort to validate on existing devices or a plan to allow current Chromebook owners to transition to the new platform.

When can we expect the new system

The launch of the Aluminium OS operating system is expected later this year, but the exact date is not yet known. The current leak suggests that development has progressed to a stage where the system is being tested on real hardware and is likely approaching a closed beta version. Whether the transition from ChromeOS will be voluntary or mandatory is not yet clear.

From earlier information, we know that Google plans several price categories of devices with Aluminium OS – from basic (AL Entry) through mass premium (AL Mass Premium) to premium (AL Premium). In addition to notebooks, tablets, detachable devices, and set-top boxes should also be developed.

What do you think of the first look at Aluminium OS?

Sources: 9to5Google, The Verge, Tom’s Hardware