Google recently announced that it will officially launch a native version of Chrome browser for Arm64-based Linux devices in the second quarter of 2026, bringing an end to the long-term absence of official browser support for this combination.
Currently, users can already download Chrome on traditional Linux distributions and various Arm devices. However, if the device is running an Arm-based Linux system, they can only resort to alternatives such as Chromium. This situation is expected to change within this year.
According to a description released by Google on the official Chromium blog, the launch of the Arm64 Linux version of Chrome is positioned to respond to the browsing needs of "more and more users who want to enjoy Google ecological applications and functions based on the open source Chromium project."
However, Google did not explain in detail in the announcement whether this "demand growth" mainly comes from current existing users, or whether it is betting on the future expansion of the Arm Linux ecosystem, which also leaves room for imagination by the outside world.
From a desktop perspective, the attention of Linux itself is indeed increasing, and some technology media editors have begun to try to replace Windows with Linux in their daily work, although the actual experience has "varying degrees of success."
But most of these attempts still occur on traditional desktops or notebooks based on x86 architecture. Arm Linux devices that are truly aimed at ordinary consumers are rare, if you do not count the large number of Linux-based Android phones among them.
Most of the laptops currently on the market that come with Linux pre-installed by manufacturers such as Dell, Lenovo, and Framework also use x86 processors. In fields such as servers and development boards, users can often meet their browsing needs through Chromium and other methods.
The industry's focus therefore falls more on the new round of competition that will be launched by Arm processor manufacturers: Qualcomm, Nvidia and MediaTek, the three Arm core suppliers, are all seeking to break the traditional pattern of Windows paired with Intel/AMD, and Linux is regarded as one of their potential breakthroughs in the PC field.
Qualcomm stated in January this year that its Arm chips for PCs "have also seen a lot of interest in other operating systems" in addition to Windows; and Nvidia is expected to officially announce the N1 and N1X processor product lines for Arm notebooks as soon as next week at the GTC 2026 Developers Conference.
In the short term, these new laptops equipped with Arm processors are likely to debut with Windows pre-installed.
However, the industry generally expects that once the basic application experience, including Chrome, is gradually improved, it will not be far away for the same batch of hardware to officially support or focus on Linux.
Among the first target platforms mentioned publicly by Google, Nvidia's DGX Spark is particularly eye-catching - a high-performance "micro AI desktop" that sells for more than $4,000 and is sold by multiple partners. Its system runs on Arm-based Linux.
Google said it will integrate Chrome directly into Nvidia's package manager to facilitate one-click installation; other Arm64 Linux users can obtain the installation package by visiting chrome.com/download after the browser is officially released.
As the intersection between the Arm and Linux camps in the PC and AI terminal fields becomes more frequent, Chrome's official support for Arm64 Linux is regarded as a key step in improving the basic software ecosystem.
As for whether this step is more about catching up with actual demand or preparing for the next wave of hardware, the answer needs to be given by the future market.
learn more:
https://blog.chromium.org/2026/03/bringing-chrome-to-arm64-linux-devices.html