Google Accidentally Leaked “Aluminum OS”, Android’s Desktop-Native Interface

Google inadvertently leaked its upcoming desktop Android interface through Chromium Issue Tracker, which shows several screenshots of a slightly different interface than what was seen in ChromeOS or Android 16’s desktop mode. According to 9to5Google, it’s called Aluminum OS, with several references in the code, plus previously-known clues.

Aluminum OS Accidentally Revealed

Unsurprisingly, the bug report has been removed from public viewing – though the leak has already happened, so here’s the deal. The screen capture originated from a HP Elite Dragonfly 13.5 Chromebook, a 2021 model powered by Intel 12th Gen Core (Alder Lake-U) processor. Its operating system reports the build number “ALOS:  ZL1A.260119.001.A1”, under the “Android 16” (codename Baklava) moniker.

The interface differs slightly from Android 16 desktop mode or ChromeOS, with the difference between Aluminum OS and current Android 16 implementation coming down to the lack of navigation buttons (since you’ll be using mouse for controls), taller status bar on top, with some relocated icons like the recording indicator now on the right side instead of left, as well as the inclusion of input language ‘EN’, along with a dedicated Gemini button.

Compared to ChromeOS though, and you’ll see a lot more differences. ChromeOS puts everything at the bottom a la Windows, and the app windows lacked app titles, whereas it is now present and interactable on the new OS. It’s not entirely clear that whether Aluminum OS will ultimately replace ChromeOS in the long run, though with the new operating system having more resemblance to Android 16’s desktop mode, it’s perhaps not too unlikely – especially when the company has said that merging Android and ChromeOS into one is on the plans.

Pokdepinion: By the looks of it, it doesn’t seem to be too different from Android 16.