The move Low Pass the move is part of a growing trend where big tech names are trying to escape Google's ecosystem and stand on their own feet, according to industry analysts.
Amazon has been quietly building Vega OS, which is a full-on proprietary Linux system, to replace Android across its device lineup. The Seattle-based outfit is finally cutting ties with Google's Android Open Source Project (AOSP), which has powered its Fire gadgets for years. The shift is about more than just control, it is about getting away from a competitor’s leash.
For nearly a decade, Amazon flogged Fire OS, a mangled version of Android designed to strip out Google's services and make punters use Amazon’s app store instead. Fire TV sticks, Fire tablets, and Echo Show devices have all run on this Frankenstein’s monster of an operating system.
Reports from Ars Technica in late 2024 claimed Amazon had been working behind the scenes on Vega OS, which completely bins off Google's code while still managing to run popular apps through compatibility layers and cosy partnerships with key developers.
The Amazon-Google relationship has always been about as friendly as a wasps' nest. Amazon used Google's open-source bits but binned the services, making what insiders politely called a “forked” Android. It gave Amazon control but kept it shackled to Android’s limits.
This mess meant Amazon had to deal with Google's development whims, wasted engineering hours keeping up with changes, and always risked Google pulling the rug. It was hardly sustainable.
Vega OS ditches all that baggage. Built properly from the Linux kernel, it lets Amazon own the whole stack, tune performance, boost security, and design it all specifically for its own hardware.
Rather than clinging to outdated Android frameworks, Amazon is betting on modern development tools like Flutter to make it easier for app developers to port their stuff to Vega OS.
But the switch to Vega OS is not just a technical housecleaning. It is a massive strategic land grab. Amazon wants to follow the lead of others like Huawei with HarmonyOS and Samsung’s once-loved Tizen, creating independence from Google’s sticky fingers.
By controlling the entire hardware and software ecosystem, Amazon can tweak its devices for faster interfaces, longer battery life, and better performance, not to mention pushing punters deeper into Prime Video, Alexa, Amazon Music, and its shopping empire.
Most importantly, it gets long-term independence. As tech world punch-ups grow nastier, owning the entire platform becomes essential.
Amazon is reportedly lining up major streaming players to make sure their apps are ready for Vega OS launch. It will first hit Fire TV devices and later roll out to tablets, Echo Shows, and possibly even third-party kit.
This cautious launch lets Amazon polish the system and grease the wheels for developers.
The wider tech world is clearly moving towards companies locking down their software to avoid relying on flaky outsiders. Job’s Mob has shown how profitable total control can be, even if Google’s Android and Microsoft’s Windows still dominate through sheer size.
Amazon is betting the farm that controlling the full stack will beat the headaches of maintaining its own OS. If Vega OS takes off, it could change the way punters interact with Amazon hardware — and encourage others to follow suit.
