The Nintendo Switch is a tablet made primarily for gaming, and not much else. To that end, some hackers have tried to run different operating systems on the tablet, with one hacker successfully turning it into a Linux-based tablet early last year. Now, it seems that someone else has to install the Android OS on it, albeit an unofficial version.
The Android build for the Switch was created by the programmer ByLaws, and was tested by the good people at XDA. According to them, the Switch running on Android functions just as you’d expect it to; as a tablet running on the Android OS.
As an “Android tablet”, the hacked Switch performs as well as any Android-based tablet, able to execute certain apps and programs that the original Switch OS is unable to. Case in point; running the Netflix app freely and unhindered. Additionally, the OS also runs other media apps, such as YouTube, Spotify, and Twitch without any issue.
That’s not all to it either; XDA explains that the unofficial Android OS for the Switch allows users to have as much storage as the SD Card inserted. Simply put, the larger the SD Card, the more storage you have access to.
Gaming is reported to be a non-issue with the console and its Android OS, with the developers have run PUBG Mobile on the device. It should be pointed out that Joycon controllers didn’t work, but the game did run fairly smooth. They also managed to run a couple of emulators on it, such as RetroArch and Snes9x.
At the time of writing, there’s still no word as to when this Android OS for the Switch will be released, but ByLaws is apparently working hard to get it released soon.
(Source: XDA)
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