We now know more about Google's upcoming Android PC platform, thanks to a Q&A posted by Lenovo that reveals what Android for PC will be good at, and what it won't be good at.
Will your next PC run Android or Windows?(Image credit: Windows Central)
Lenovo has published an online Q&A that details what Google's upcoming Android PC platform will be good at, while also highlighting potential issues and concerns that customers might want to be wary of as they choose their next computer.
According to Lenovo, Android PCs will be excellent for lightweight and everyday computing tasks such as browsing the web, editing documents, joining meetings, watching media, and even some light photo and video editing.
"The intuitive interface and wide range of apps ensure that users can perform these tasks efficiently" says Lenovo. It also says that Android for PC will be a great choice for low-end or older hardware: "Android OS is designed to be lightweight, which means it can run smoothly on older or less powerful hardware. This makes it an excellent choice for users who want to repurpose older PCs or laptops."
Unfortunately for Google, that's where the good news ends. The rest of the article is about why people might want to avoid Android PCs in favor of a Windows 11 one. Android PCs will have "limited desktop features, app compatibility issues, gaming performance limitations, hardware compatibility concerns, and a learning curve for new users" compared to existing PCs.
Lenovo says that Android PCs will be able to install apps from the Google Play Store, which means the platform won't have many desktop-class apps to use. Most Android apps are mobile apps, and so the Android PC platform will be stuck with using these less-capable alternatives. "Not all apps are optimized for PC use, which can lead to compatibility issues or subpar performance."
When it comes to using Android PCs, Lenovo says there will be a learning curve. "For users accustomed to traditional desktop operating systems, there may be a learning curve ... it lacks some features found in traditional desktop operating systems, such as advanced file management and multitasking capabilities."
Lenovo also highlights gaming as a potential area of concern. While Android PCs will be able to play Android games, it's "not designed for high-performance gaming and may not meet the needs of dedicated gamers." That means it likely won't run PC games available on Windows or Linux.
Get the Windows Central Newsletter
All the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards.
Based on all of this information, it sounds like Google's upcoming Android PC platform is perfectly suited to tackle the low-end PC space. On older hardware, or new hardware with low-powered chips, Android PC will run better and be more energy efficient compared to Windows 11, which is bloated by comparison.
However, that lightweight Android experience comes at the cost of true PC capabilities, according to Lenovo. If you want a computer that can run traditional desktop apps and games, you might want to avoid Android PCs and stick with Windows or even Linux distributions.
With that said, it's still not great for Microsoft that Windows 11 is so bloated that it struggles to perform well on low-end hardware. Android PCs will be great for a lot of people, and so Microsoft should still be feeling the heat from Google. Qualcomm recently said on record that Android PCs will be incredible.
Afterall, Android PCs will only get better and more capable from here. Google hasn't said when the first Android PCs will be available, but rumors suggest the first devices will begin shipping sometime next year.
Zac Bowden is a Senior Editor at Windows Central and has been with the site since 2016. Bringing you exclusive coverage into the world of Windows, Surface, and hardware. He's also an avid collector of rare Microsoft prototype devices! Keep in touch on Twitter and Threads
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
