Chromebook as Android tablet

Last Updated:
Jul 28th, 2021 6:49 pm

Tags:

SCORE

Reply to ThreadReply

Search this thread

Search this thread

Jul 28th, 2021 12:08 pm

Scote64 [OP]: Deal Fanatic; Jan 21, 2018; 8418 posts; 9265 upvotes; Vancouver

Jul 28th, 2021 12:08 pm

Chromebook as Android tablet

I need a new 10"-class Android tablet. There are relatively few choices, and they all have some drawbacks. I have a Fire HD8, so I know all about the compromises with the Amazon choices. What I was wondering is how well Chromebooks work running Android apps. A Chromebook like the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 64 GB comes with a lot of features that 10" Android tablets don't have, and it's on sale at Staples currently for $280.

But ChromeOS isn't Android, to a much greater extent than FireOS. What experience have people had running Android apps on ChromeOS. Do you get app notifications? Do apps like Tasker work?

One concern I've read is that many Chromebooks (including this Lenovo) run a 32-bit Android shell in spite of having a 64-bit CPU. That makes them unable to run 64-bit-only Android apps. How much of a concern is that? Does anyone know of a Chromebook that does run 64-bit Android apps?

4 replies

Jul 28th, 2021 1:33 pm

restartRFD: Member; Mar 27, 2021; 389 posts; 474 upvotes

Jul 28th, 2021 1:33 pm

I have the Duet and it's primarily a ChromeOS that can run Android apps, it is NOT an Android tablet that runs ChromeOS.

The major problem are Android app developers are not particularly focused or aware of optimizing their apps for tablet format, making it a bit of a clunky experience some of the time with apps however everything through the Chrome browser works flawlessly.

If you're adamant about tablets and tablet apps, iPad is the solid choice for performance and value. Android lost the tablet war but Chromebooks and the Duet are awesome.

Long Time RFDer / restarting life

+2

Jul 28th, 2021 1:33 pm

restartRFD: Member; Mar 27, 2021; 389 posts; 474 upvotes

Jul 28th, 2021 1:33 pm

restartRFD wrote: ↑ I have the Duet and it's primarily a ChromeOS Chromebook that can run Android apps, it is NOT an Android tablet that runs ChromeOS.

The major problem are Android app developers are not particularly focused or aware of optimizing their apps for tablet format, making it a bit of a clunky experience some of the time with apps however everything through the Chrome browser works flawlessly.

If you're adamant about tablets and tablet apps, iPad is the solid choice for performance and value. Android lost the tablet war but Chromebooks and the Duet are awesome.

Long Time RFDer / restarting life

+1

Jul 28th, 2021 6:13 pm

Scote64 [OP]: Deal Fanatic; Jan 21, 2018; 8418 posts; 9265 upvotes; Vancouver

Jul 28th, 2021 6:13 pm

restartRFD wrote: ↑ The major problem are Android app developers are not particularly focused or aware of optimizing their apps for tablet format, making it a bit of a clunky experience some of the time with apps however everything through the Chrome browser works flawlessly.

As a long-time user of an Android tablet, and also Android media players that use a tablet version of Android, I'm well aware that many Android apps are not optimized for tablet format. The same can be said of some iOS apps though (I also have an older iPad). I'm not so concerned about clunky interface as I am about whether they will run at all. For example I have a mission-critical function running on Android that relies on a home automation app posting notifications, which are then handled by the Tasker app to send web calls to a Home Assistant server.

Jul 28th, 2021 6:49 pm

restartRFD: Member; Mar 27, 2021; 389 posts; 474 upvotes

Jul 28th, 2021 6:49 pm

Scote64 wrote: ↑ As a long-time user of an Android tablet, and also Android media players that use a tablet version of Android, I'm well aware that many Android apps are not optimized for tablet format. The same can be said of some iOS apps though (I also have an older iPad). I'm not so concerned about clunky interface as I am about whether they will run at all. For example I have a mission-critical function running on Android that relies on a home automation app posting notifications, which are then handled by the Tasker app to send web calls to a Home Assistant server.

I would check reddit under their /r/chromeos subreddit, lots of Duet users there who may have same setup as you with Home Assistant.

Before I buy a game or app, I check to see if others had good experience or not from reddit.

Long Time RFDer / restarting life

Reply to Thread

Top

Thread Information

There is currently 1 user viewing this thread. (0 members and 1 guest)