Chrome OS Flex can be a great way to revive an old Windows or macOS device, but users who want to run Android apps on it will be disappointed.
Google recently launched Chrome OS Flex as a new version of Chrome OS, but can it work android apps? As a reminder, Chrome OS is a Chromium-based operating system that runs Chromebooks, a relatively new class of device that shares the qualities of an Android tablet and the form factor of a laptop. Some Chromebooks also come with touchscreens, offering multiple input methods.
With the help of Chrome OS Flex, users will be able to revive their outdated Windows or macOS devices by turning them into Chromebooks. Although previously possible with CloudReady as well, Chrome OS Flex does not require any third-party platform and can be easily installed by a user by following a few simple steps. However, it is essential to note that Chrome OS Flex is still in development and is currently only available to developers.
It might surprise most users, but Chrome OS Flex does not support Android apps. On the official support page that compares Chrome OS and Chrome OS Flex, Google mentions that “Chrome OS Flex does not support Android or Google Play apps.This implies that users will not be able to access, download or sideload any Android apps on devices with Chrome OS Flex, which limits its functionality. Other than that, the operating system does not support running machines Windows virtual.
Limitations of Chrome OS Flex
One of the biggest advantages of Chromebooks running Chrome OS is that users can download and access almost any app released on the Google Play Store. This opens up many use cases for Chromebook users, including using photo-editing apps like Canva, playing non-demanding video games like Angry Birds, and downloading other utility apps. Unfortunately, Chrome OS Flex does not support these apps. On the bright side, users can still access web apps such as Gmail, YouTube, Google Docs, Netflix, Microsoft Teams and more.
Google may have intentionally removed Play Store support to place Chrome OS and Chrome OS Flex as different products. Since Chrome OS Flex can be installed on both Windows and macOS devices, support for Android apps with the capability of consumer device specifications will negatively affect the growing market for Chromebooks, which are entry devices of profitable range. However, the unavailability of android apps on Chrome OS Flex can be disappointing for some users.
Source: Google Support
