Google expanding Chrome OS to more form factors, including convertibles & tablets

In addition to the spate of Chromebook news this morning, Google is also reportedly opening Chrome OS to an “even wider variety of form factors.” The Mountain View company alluded yesterday to the possibility of convertibles and tablets running Chrome in the near future…

Chromebooks are the most widely known form factor, but Chrome OS has for years run on Chromeboxes, sticks, and all-in-one desktops. An expansion to other types of devices comes as Google’s director of product for Android and Chrome for education and enterprise Rajen Sheth notes “investment into the touch UI and making touch a great experience.”

So far, the gains in touch are directly benefiting two-in-one Chromebook devices, but Google is also allowing “OEMs to have an even wider variety of form factors.” Some time in the future, the company states (via The Verge) that “partners will be able to build a variety of form factors with Chrome OS including convertibles, detachables and tablets.”

At the moment, the latter two types of devices are entirely new to Chrome OS. Detachable devices are apparently already in the works according to several Chromium commits, thus leaving standalone tablets as an entirely new device category.

Chrome OS on tablets already has a history, however, with 2015’s Pixel C originally designed to be a device that runs Chrome OS. With Android continually failing to be a good tablet OS after several attempts, Google might finally be trying a new approach with Chrome OS tablets.