Chromebooks are about to copy one of the things we love most about MacBooks: AirDrop. In fact, it looks like it will make sharing photos between Android phones and Chrome OS laptops even easier.

Announced at Google I/O 2021, Chrome OS' new syncing feature will allow Android users to easily retrieve recent photos from their smartphones without having to explore complex file structures.

Once this upgrade is rolled out, the latest photos taken with the Google Pixel 5 and other devices will appear in the Phone Hub section in the lower left corner of the screen for immediate viewing, editing, and sharing.

The Phone Hub will pop up when the smartphone is connected to the Chromebook, allowing control of notifications, access to recent Chrome tabs, and immediate new photo sharing.

While these tweaks may not seem revolutionary, they introduce a level of integration similar to that enjoyed by Apple product users. This new photo sharing future of the Phone Hub seems likely to be easier to use than the rather slick AirDrop feature between iPhone and MacBook.

For avid bloggers and those who use smartphone photos in a variety of content, this upgrade could be a productivity boon.

Tight integration between Chrome OS and Android has been in the works for some time, especially now that Chrome OS can run Android apps. All of this serves to make it more attractive to fully invest in Google's software and hardware ecosystem. However, it will be some time before it offers the same seamless experience as macOS and iOS devices.

It would not be surprising to see more features like the Google Pixel 6 (recently discovered in the Android 12 beta), which spans Google's wide range of hardware and software products. Interestingly, however, Google seems to be making it easier to get apps for Android outside of the Play Store, bringing tighter integration as well as more flexibility.

We don't know exactly when this new photo sharing feature will be rolled out to Chrome OS, but now is a good time to check out our selection for the Best Chromebooks list.