Android was born as an open operating system, available for any manufacturer who wishes to use it. Thanks to this, for almost 17 years, we have seen countless devices with this operating system, many brands. The base is created by Google, the rest benefits and adds its own characteristics and differences through personalization layers.
However, in the past two years, we have seen a fairly special Google approach from Samsung, which has even led to the company led by the Sundar Based on Samsung products to develop new Android functions and tools. This alliance is more defined than ever of the advertisements of the Google I / or 2025, where Samsung has been shown is a key element of the future of Android.
Android XR, fast sharing and more. The future of Android on Google is connected to Samsung
When Google presented the new features of Android XR, the version of the operating system designed for intelligent glasses and “helmets”, Samsung mentioned as one of its partners for the development of these devices, with Qualcomm, another key piece of the Android ecosystem. The “Headset” MOOHAN de Samsung project will be the first with Android XR to be sold this year, “said Google Executive, almost as if it were its own product.
It shouldn't surprise us. Google is one of the most recent announcements in Samsung, especially since in 2024, the South Korean company launched Galaxy Ai, its suite of artificial intelligence functions, and among its characteristics that it offered before anyone who is “ Roda to research '', Even before Google's own pixel at the time. This year, a Google leader was also part of Samsung's Unbacked in which the Galaxy S25 announced to present Gemini news that would arrive for the first time at the new Samsung Galaxy.
Why does Samsung have the first Google products? The answer can be found both in a monetary agreement, as well as something that is also obvious: Samsung is a strategic ally for Google in the Android ecosystem, a “battle horse” to compete with the iPhone, especially in the United States. But the alliance It allowed Google to drink from a user interface to feed Android himselfAnd there are already several examples.
Android, until the beginning of 2024, had a sharing system between devices with the same operating system called “ sharing with nearby '', which worked similar to Apple Airdrop, but between Android devices. Samsung, on the other hand, had its own system: a quick part. In January of last year, Google decided to “kill” sharing with nearby and unifying it with a quick share.
Since then, Quick Share is the new standard for sharing files through AndroidNot only in the Samsung galaxy. The reason for this decision was to unify the products with a better -known brand and system, and to drink some of its functions.
The same thing is now happening with Android Desktop mode. The Mountain View Company announced during the Google I / or 2025 that The new Android 16 desktop mode is directly based on Samsung DexAfter collaboration with the South Korean company for its development. According to Google:
“We collaborated with Samsung, building [el modo escritorio de Android] On the basics of Samsung Dex, to carry an improved office experience in Android 16, and more productive. “”
Samsung Dex has been available for several years on Samsung Galaxy More Premium Devices, depending to transform this device into something similar to a PC, Offer an office experience If we connect the device to an external screen. It is a very interesting and versatile tool, and now Android will be based on it and will add some of its characteristics.
Google has Son Google Pixel, and that will not change in the short term (unless the company has to sell Android for the requests for the United States justice). However, Samsung is a manufacturer with a huge international presence, and the Samsung galaxy is among the best -selling mobiles in the world. An alliance between the two manufacturers is something that should not surprise us.
What seems very interesting to me is the way Android integrates the characteristics and functions that were initially developed by a third party for a layer of personalization; Although normal, the standard so far was only to see the manufacturers drink in the functions of Android, not the other way around. Even new equipment has certain similarities with what we see in the latest versions of a user interface. Samsung, beyond being a socio manufacturer, seems to be A key element of Android's future As an operating system and as a scientist.
Cover photo | Xataka (with edition)
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