[spcharc]

Yeah, you are right. Android is a variant of Linux.

Just like MacOS and iPadOS, both run Darwin kernel, but they are very different. Even though iPads have very capable hardware, there are a lot you cannot do on iPadOS.

The same applies to Linux. People want a real desktop operating system.

[lcnmrn]

All that iPadOS needs to do is to be able to run macOS apps.

[Dalewyn]

Found the fervent GNU worshipper.

Jokes aside, yes: Android is a Linux.

Just like how Xbox is Windows NT, and MacOS (and iOS?) is(/are?) BSD.

Delineating along kernels is one useful and objective way of describing OS families.

[surajrmal]

Unfortunately, when people call their os Linux, they typically are referring to its kernel. I wish there was a better term to distinguish Linux distros from the kernel.