As announced at Google I/O last week, the Google Play store is coming to ChromeOS devices and with it a massive injection of apps and services. During the beta, only the ASUS Chromebook Flip, the Acer Chromebook R 11 and the latest Chromebook Pixel will be able to use the update, coming in the Dev Channel M53 build.
But what about long term? What about your Chromebook or Chromebase? Will it ever be graced by Android apps? Well, wonder no more, Google have published a rather extensive list of ChromeOS devices that WILL be getting the Google Play Store when the update rolls out to the stable channel.
We’ve separated the list into the larger OEM vendors the are the most likely to represent the ChromeOS devices locally, but have also included the whole list, partly just to show just how many ChromeOS devices have actually been produced (remembering these are only the devices getting the update!).
First, the ones you can get here:
| Manufacturer | Device |
|---|---|
| Acer | Chromebook 11 C740 Chromebase 24 Chromebook 11 CB3-111 / C730 / CB3-131 Chromebook 15 CB5-571 / C910 Chromebook 15 CB3-531 Chromebox CXI2 Chromebook 14 CB3-431 Chromebook 14 for Work |
| Asus | Chromebook C200 Chromebook C201 Chromebook C202SA Chromebook C300SA Chromebook C300 Chromebox CN62 Chromebit CS10 |
| Dell | Chromebook 11 3120 Chromebook 13 7310 |
| Chromebook Pixel (2015) | |
| HP | Chromebook 11 G3 / G4 / G4 EE Chromebook 14 G4 Chromebook 13 |
| Lenovo | 100S Chromebook N20 / N20P Chromebook N21 Chromebook ThinkCentre Chromebox ThinkPad 11e Chromebook N22 Chromebook Thinkpad 13 Chromebook Thinkpad 11e Chromebook Gen 3 |
| Samsung | Chromebook 2 11″ – XE500C12 Chromebook 3 |
| Toshiba | Chromebook 2 Chromebook 2 (2015) |
Now, the full list:
| Manufacturer | Device |
|---|---|
| AOpen | Chromebox Commercial Chromebase Commercial 22″ |
| Bobicus | Chromebook 11 |
| CDI | eduGear Chromebook M Series eduGear Chromebook K Series |
| CTL | Chromebook J2 / J4 N6 Education Chromebook J5 Convertible Chromebook |
| Edxis | Chromebook Education Chromeboo |
| Haier | Chromebook 11 Chromebook 11e Chromebook 11 G2 |
| Hexa | Chromebook Pi |
| HiSense | Chromebook 11 |
| Lava | Xolo Chromebook |
| Medion | Akoya S2013 Chromebook S2015 |
| M&A | Chromebook |
| NComputing | Chromebook CX100 |
| Nexian | Chromebook 11.6″ |
| PCMerge | Chromebook PCM-116E |
| Poin2 | Chromebook 11 |
| Sector 5 | E1 Rugged Chromebook |
| Senkatel | C1101 Chromebook |
| True IDC | Chromebook 11 |
| Viglen | Chromebook 11 |
If your current ChomeOS device isn’t on the list, it is somewhat unlikely that it will be added. However, Google wanted to reassure you this doesn’t mean you device won’t continue to get the normal ChromeOS updates, just that the Play Store is not coming to your device. Small compensation if you were excited about getting Android apps on your Chrome device and it’s not on the list I know.
It’s going to be an interesting time to see how apps designed to work on Smartphones and tablets will translate to the more traditional laptop form factor, especially considering only a small proportion of current-gen ChromeOS devices have multi-touch touchscreens. As with all major change we should all expect a few teething problems while Google and app developers work out the kinks.
Do you have a Chromebook? Is your device on the list? Let us know in the comments.
I’ve switched my Pixel to the Dev channel in preparation. Surprisingly, it can do that without wiping data. Win!
Getting one of these is so more compelling than getting a new tablet. My concern is that with alot of these devices 16gb is the common storage. I don’t have too much knowledge over Chromebooks, I’m hoping will we have the ability to make use of the micro/sd ports for local storage, or would it require us to work out which devices can have there ssd swapped. or will it be a case of apps being saved into drive?
I’m thinking the HP 13, reviews have been positive.
To be honest, we don’t know the specifics about it all yet, you can use a SC card as local storage however that only helps if you’re going to store a lot of offline content.
If you’re worried about enough space to hold apps and their data we’re going to have to wait and see how it works out. Luckily Dan has a Pixel 2 so we won’t be waiting long for good answers.
Very true indeed still way to early to know anything yet.. I guess I want to pull the trigger early but I need to sit tight and be paitent. It’s a big deal non the less.
I actually asked this of the Chrome Product Manager at Google I/O and he hadn’t actually tried using the SD card to install apps to but did say you had access to the SD Card. Basically he said interesting thought, we should try that.
Fair enough! I’m hoping with development this can be a possibility. Most devices have an sd and micro slot so here’s to hoping
Is the first list intended to have Acer as the heading. Formatting looks funny.
Yes, scripting went a bit funny, fixed thanks