Scrolling through a timeline or selecting multiple photos will never feel as responsive as on a mid-range Android smartphone.Ĭhrome OS takes another win here, but it’s nothing to brag about.
A laptop or 2-in-1 has a larger, less pixel dense display, so apps look unimpressive and interface elements seem too large. A touchscreen is arguably the preferred way to use Android apps on Windows 11 and Chrome OS, but it’s still not a great experience. Touch support is a disappointment on both operating systems. However, some Android apps aren’t designed to use a file system, which can make moving and sharing files between apps a bit tricky.įiles can be downloaded and accessed from Android apps in Chrome OS, via the Play Files folder. Chrome OS allows the use of the file system, with Android apps saving files into a folder called Play Files. None of the apps I tested on Windows 11 had access to the Windows file system, though this could be a limitation of the apps I tested. Some apps will let you switch to a tablet-sized window, something Windows 11 does not offer, or resize the app as you desire.ĭrag-and-drop does not work with Android apps on either operating system. Unlike Windows 11, Chrome OS locks applications to smartphone orientation by default and the window can’t be resized. This can lead to weird results when using Windows 11 features designed for resizable apps, such as Windows Snap, as the Android app won’t resize to fit the available space and instead be surrounded by transparent borders.Ĭhrome OS also opens Android apps in a standard app window, and apps can be used like any other Chrome OS app. They work in Windows 11’s various interface features, including tab previews and Windows Snaps.Īpps can be resized and most scale well, though 3D games stick to a smartphone orientation. Android apps function like Windows UWP apps from the Windows Store. Launching an Android app on Windows 11 will open the app in a standard app window.