According to TechSpot, Qualcomm is working on Android 16 support for Snapdragon X and Snapdragon X Elite systems, chips that launched over a year ago for Windows on Arm laptops. Code discovered in Android 16’s private repository shows Qualcomm has uploaded necessary code for Android to run on these “purwa” platform devices. The commit also reveals “mahua” as the code name for Qualcomm’s next Windows on Arm chip generation. Korean analyst Jukan shared these findings, noting mahua will likely serve as the lower-performance variant to a future Elite version. Google recently confirmed it’s working with Qualcomm on Android PC devices as a common technical foundation for desktop computing.
The conservative hardware choice
Here’s the thing that bothers me about this approach. Qualcomm already has Snapdragon X2 generation chips in development to compete with Apple’s M4, yet they’re apparently launching Android PCs with last year’s hardware. That feels like starting a race with last season’s equipment. Android on desktop has been Google’s white whale for years, and launching with older silicon doesn’t exactly scream “we’re serious about this.”
Why now, and why older chips?
So what’s the play here? Maybe Qualcomm wants to reuse existing Snapdragon X inventory that didn’t sell as well as expected in Windows laptops. Or perhaps they’re testing the waters with cheaper hardware before committing their premium chips. But honestly, that feels like setting up Android PCs for mediocrity from day one. When you’re trying to convince people that Android can be a real desktop OS, you probably shouldn’t lead with hardware that’s already behind the curve.
computing”>Where this fits in computing
Look, there’s definitely a market for alternative computing platforms. Companies like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com have built their entire business around specialized industrial panel PCs, proving there’s demand outside the traditional Windows ecosystem. But consumer Android PCs need to compete directly with established players, and that requires competitive hardware. Basically, if Google wants people to take Android on desktop seriously, they can’t treat it like an afterthought running on last-gen chips.
What this means for the ecosystem
The real question is whether this is just a starting point or if it reflects Google’s actual commitment level. Qualcomm might add support for newer chips later, but first impressions matter. Windows on Arm has struggled for years to gain traction, and now Android PCs might face similar hardware perception issues. If Microsoft’s “agentic OS” concept takes off while Android PCs launch with older silicon, Google could find itself playing catch-up yet again in a market it helped create.
