Intel’s 1.24.0 Linux NPU driver adds Android-linked modules, signaling hybrid PCs where Android and ChromeOS coexist. Intel-based devices may arrive in 2026.
© A. Krivonosov
Intel appears to be edging toward a tighter weave between Linux, Android, and ChromeOS. According to IT Home, on October 3 the company released version 1.24.0 of its NPU driver for Linux, where specialists spotted three new components directly linked to Android. It’s a low-level update that points to a broader direction.
The finding sparked debate among analysts and developers. With devices running a pure Android build on Intel x86 still scarce, experts at TechPowerUp and VideoCardz suggest the change could be an opening move toward PCs built on a hybrid Android + ChromeOS setup. That interpretation seems credible given the current trajectory.
The concept is already on the industry’s agenda. At Snapdragon Summit 2025, Google confirmed it is working with Qualcomm on a new platform that blends Android and ChromeOS. The first devices based on MediaTek, AMD, and Intel are expected in 2026, supporting this combined approach.
If those assumptions hold, Intel could be among the first to provide the hardware compatibility for a next generation of hybrid laptops and PCs where Android and ChromeOS run side by side. The company seems intent on having the groundwork ready.