There is no definitive answer to this question as it depends on personal preferences and needs. However, if you’re looking for a Windows 11-based device that can run Android apps, then Chrome OS is the best option. Chrome OS is designed specifically for web browsing and app use, so it offers a more lightweight experience than Windows 11. Additionally, Chrome OS has been known to be more reliable and secure than Windows 11 when it comes to online security.
One of the most exciting features of Windows 11 is support for Android apps. However, it’s not the first desktop operating system to do it. Chrome OS has included the Google Play Store for years. Which platform does it better?
Technically, Windows 11 isn’t even the first version of Windows that can run Android apps. Emulators such as Bluestacks have made it possible for a while. Windows 11’s implementation is much better, though, and it’s more similar to how Chrome OS does it.
RELATED: Why Windows 11’s Android Apps Are Better Than BlueStacks
How It Works
There’s a lot of technical stuff going on behind the scenes to allow Android apps to run on Windows and Chrome OS. After all, these apps were never designed for other operating systems. So how do Windows 11 and Chrome OS do it?
Windows 11 is using the Intel Bridge Technology (IBT) to make it happen. The technical term for IBT is a “runtime post-compiler.” Essentially, a compiler tells your computer how to use the code in the app. A post-compiler takes that code and translates it.
So what’s happening is Android apps are recompiled by IBT with everything they need to run on Windows 11. At the core, it is still a form of emulation, but it’s a much more native experience.
Things are a bit easier on the Chrome OS side. Both Chrome OS and Android are based on the Linux kernel. The Android Runtime is deeply integrated with Chrome OS. This is what translates the app’s code into native instructions for Chrome OS to understand.
Chrome OS essentially has a full Android environment running in a container. Android apps are isolated from the rest of the OS—Windows 11 is the same way. But it’s not really emulation. Chromebooks simply have two operating systems onboard.
RELATED: Here’s How Android Apps Work on Windows 11
If you’re buying a computer based solely on where it can easily get Android apps from, Chrome OS is the clear winner. That being said, running Android apps should not be the primary use of either Windows 11 or Chrome OS. They’re not something you’d want to use exclusively.
RELATED: How to Install Android Apps on Windows 11
Sideloading
On Chromebooks, you have to switch over to the Developer Channel to sideload Android APKs. This completely wipes your Chromebook’s storage and takes it back to factory settings. Chrome OS syncs most stuff, so it’s not a huge deal, but it is a bit annoying.
The Windows 11 process for setting up sideloading is lengthy, but it only needs to be done once. After the initial setup, sideloading APKs is as easy as typing a couple of lines of text at the command line.
RELATED: How to Sideload Android Apps on Windows 11
The important thing to know is it’s possible to run Android apps on both platforms. One way or another, you can get pretty much any Android app or game up and running in Windows 11 and Chrome OS. That doesn’t mean every app will run well, however.
Android has come to the desktop. It’s up to you to decide if that matters or not.
