Android Devices Could Get Fuchsia OS, But Not In The Way You Expect

Google could integrate Fuchsia OS into Android devices, though. Probably not the way you imagine, but in a more discreet way. It would all revolve around the microfuchsia project.

Fuchsia OS, Google’s Least Known Operating System

In the operating system segment, the Mountain View giant is well-known for Android and Chrome OS. That said, the lesser-known Fuchsia OS has also been around for years. Android and Chrome OS are both built on the Linux kernel. Fuchsia OS, meanwhile, uses Zircon as its core, which has a microkernel-like architecture. In comparison, the HarmonyOS NEXT architecture is also based on a microkernel.

The microkernel architecture means that the entire operating system does not run directly in the kernel. Instead, only the most basic services (such as the stuff needed to boot the system) run. So there is less highly privileged code, which translates into better security and stability. There is a downside to this solution, in that performance is lower because more data is constantly being transferred between different spaces (kernel and user space).

Perhaps the performance issue has delayed (or canceled) Google’s rumored intentions to replace Android with Fuchsia OS. But it’s still possible to implement it on a smaller scale, and that’s what Google could do on smartphones.

Fuchsia OS can be deployed on Android devices for enhanced security

According to Mishaal Rahman, Google has been working on “microfuchsia” since April 2024. It’s a project aimed at running Fuchsia OS on current devices via virtualization. With this, the company would like to implement microfuchsia on Android to run certain types of processes in securely isolated environments. Currently, the Microdroid subsystem takes care of this on Android. So, Google could replace Microdroid with microfuchsia for better security and possibly faster speeds.

The source adds that AOSP has just received patches to prepare for the implementation of microfuchsia. However, Google’s plans in this regard are still not entirely clear. The company has currently implemented Fuchsia OS only on Nest smart home devices. Hopefully, more details about the microfuchsia project will emerge in the coming weeks or months.