This isn’t too surprising, given that the soon to be released Google Pixel Slate will support Google Duo calls and Duo appeared on a few Chrome tablets back in July, but if you have a Chromebook — even a clamshell model — Google Duo may be available for your device.
According to the Google Play Store, the latest release adds Duo support for Android tablets. By extension then, at least some Chromebooks – true tablets and 2-in-1s — can install Google’s video calling app.
Redditor gabriele_tng noticed the updated Duo app and confirmed that it was installable on an Acer Chromebook R 13, which is $100 off at Costco for Black Friday if you need a low-cost 2-in-1 Chromebook.
I was able to install Google Duo on my Pixelbook where it worked like charm, just like it does on my iPhone, Pixel 3XL and Lenovo Smart Display. I initially thought that only Chromebooks which can be used in tablet mode would support the Duo installation, but I don’t have any clamshell Chromebooks to test that theory.
However, I noticed that some of my old clamshell Chromebooks, such as the Toshiba Chromebook 2, appear as valid devices, so even if you don’t have a Chrome tablet or a 2-in-1 Chromebook, your device may be supported.
With Google Hangouts essentially being phased out for consumers — Google is keeping it around for enterprises and G Suite accounts — Duo is basically the default platform choice for Android and Chrome OS video chats.
You can still use any other video chat service on a Chromebook that has a supported Android or web app, but Google would of course prefer you to use Duo. I’m fine with that because there are so many platforms to contact people that I can’t keep track of who is on what these days. I use Duo solely with my family and a few business partners. And now I can do that even when I’m on my Pixelbook.
