JANUARY 2022 PCWorld 85tablet-sized window, something Windows 11
does not offer, or resize the app as you wish.
Drag-and-drop does not work with
Android apps on either operating system.
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.
Chrome OS allows the use of the file system,
with Android apps saving files into a folder
called Play Files. However, some Android
apps aren’t designed to use a file system,
which can make moving and sharing files
between apps a bit tricky.
Touch support is a disappointment on
both operating systems. 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. A laptop or
2-in-1 has a larger, less pixel-dense display,
so apps look unimpressive and interface
elements seem too large. Scrolling through
a timeline or selecting multiple photos will
never feel as responsive as it does on a
midrange Android smartphone.
Chrome OS takes another win here, but
it’s nothing to brag about. The peculiarities of
running apps designed for Android
smartphones make for a mediocre
experience. It’s also worth remembering that
while Windows 11’s Android app functionalityAn Android app as seen in Windows 11.