The world's first laptop based on the Qualcomm X Elite ARM processor and Linux OS. What kind of device is this?
The Tuxedo company presented, in its words, the world's first Linux laptop, which is based on the Qualcomm X Elite ARM processor. It is practically not inferior in characteristics to solutions from Intel and AMD. The prototype is equipped with Linux OS, and devices that go on sale will also work with the same operating system. However, when exactly is still unknown.
What kind of laptop is this?
Now more and more laptops are being produced based on ARM chips, and Tuxedo decided to announce its own model at Computex 2024. It differs from all the others in that it has Qualcomm's new Snapdragon X Elite processor.
The chip itself was announced not so long ago, but laptop models from a variety of companies, including Microsoft, Acer, Asus, HP, Lenovo, Samsung and several other laptop manufacturers, are already being assembled on its basis. Previously it was stated that Linux supports only the most basic functions of the new chip. Therefore, many were interested in the announcement from Tuxedo, because, it turns out, the company managed to combine hardware and software.
It uses a special Arm port of Tuxedo OS, KDE's own Plasma distribution based on Ubuntu.
The model is called Drako, but the name will most likely change by the time of the full announcement. The start dates for deliveries of this device are unknown; it is likely that the laptop will go on sale in mid-autumn, and possibly earlier. As for the model itself, it is a laptop with 32 GB of LPDDR5X RAM and a high-speed SSD with an M.2 interface and PCIE4 NMVe support.
The laptop body is a 14-inch aluminum screen. The display has a resolution of 2,560 x 1,600 pixels (2.5K+ or Quad HD+), covers 100% of the sRGB color space and has a brightness of 400 nits. The laptop weighs only 1.36 kg, so you can easily take it with you on a business trip. Another plus is the ability to connect external monitors via HDMI.
What about Windows-based models?
Microsoft is ahead of the curve here. It has stopped using Intel chips in its Surface lineup in favor of ARM. Microsoft's flagship is designed precisely on the basis of Snapdragon X – depending on the configuration, it can be either Snapdragon X Plus or X Elite. The company installed the same processors in its Surface Laptop 13.8 and Surface Laptop 15 models.
The fact that Microsoft is gradually switching to ARM has not become known now. This process has been going on for several years now. The fact is that the corporation added support for this architecture in Windows 10 back in 2015. Compatible with ARM and Windows 11.
By the way, Microsoft did not develop its own processor, but simply entered into an agreement with Qualcomm. Qualcomm partners now counting on the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chip include HP and Dell, as well as Asus, Acer and Samsung. The chip is developed based on technologies from the startup NUVIA, which Qualcomm bought earlier. This processor demonstrated excellent performance, competing with the most modern chips from other companies.
ARM architecture takes over the market
This is true; over the past few years, the number of models of different devices based on ARM chips has increased significantly. Industry players believe that by 2029, chips based on this architecture will account for about half of the global processor market for PCs and laptops. One of the supporters of this opinion is the director of the British holding ARM Holdings Rene Haas. But besides him, similar forecasts were voiced by other experts who were not associated with the holding. For example, Haas's statement was supported by the CEO of Qualcomm, saying that he completely agreed with him.
Both companies announced their intention to take a certain share of the market for consumer devices, rather than enterprise devices. In order not to cause inconvenience to their customers, both AMD and Nvidia ARM chips will support Windows OS, so that buyers of computers and laptops do not experience any difficulties.
By the way, things are likely to get even better for ARM chips with the arrival of the new 64-bit 12-core Snapdragon X Elite processor with Oryon cores for Windows PCs. It was developed based on the technologies of the startup NUVIA, which Qualcomm bought earlier. This processor demonstrated excellent performance, competing with the most modern chips from other companies. But it’s too early to talk about its future, since there are only preliminary test results, and how the chip will perform in “field conditions” is still unclear.
Just the other day, Qualcomm announced that the processor will be used not only in laptops, but also in desktop PCs. Most of these models will be mini PCs and all-in-one PCs. By the way, some OEM computer manufacturers believe that the market share of devices based on ARM architecture can overcome the 50% mark not in five years, but in just three years.
