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Qualcomm Announces Ubuntu Certification for Snapdragon X2 Elite

The planned certification requires driver and firmware validation before OEMs such as ASUS can ship X2 laptops with Linux.

Overview

  • Qualcomm said it will support Linux on the Snapdragon X2 Elite and is pursuing formal Ubuntu certification targeted for the first half of 2027.
  • ASUS was named as the first partner planning to ship X2 Series hardware with Ubuntu once certification and validation are complete.
  • Ubuntu certification will require Qualcomm and Canonical to complete driver, firmware and system validation, so laptops with Ubuntu preinstalled will not arrive until after that work finishes.
  • The X2 Elite launched in 2025 with Windows-only support, while Microsoft has introduced Surface devices using the related Snapdragon X2 Plus, showing Qualcomm’s push into mainstream PC form factors.
  • If completed, Ubuntu certification could widen ARM laptop choices for developers and enterprise users and follow earlier reports that Debian support may appear by the end of 2026.