Tuxedo works on Snapdragon X notebook for Linux users
Qualcomm's ARM CPU Snapdragon X is currently causing a stir with Microsoft's Copilot+. Tuxedo also wants to offer such a notebook for Linux users.
Tuxedo's notebook prototype with Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite
(Image: c't / mue)
- Florian Müssig
In the Windows world, Qualcomm's ARM processors from the Snapdragon X series are currently causing quite a stir because Microsoft is launching its AI-fied Windows Copilot+ exclusively on such hardware. However, the other features that Qualcomm is advertising, such as long battery life, are also likely to appeal to notebook users regardless of AI functions - and among these, there are not only Windows users, but also Linux users.
The German provider Tuxedo is currently validating a 14-inch notebook with a matt IPS panel in 16:10 format (2560 × 1600 pixels) for such people. The cooling system for the twelve-core Snapdragon X Elite is designed for 20 watts of waste heat with two heat pipes and two fans. The LPDDR5X RAM is soldered on due to the design, which is why 32 GB are provided. The SSD, on the other hand, is replaceable and is located in an M.2 slot.
(Image: c't / mue)
Anyone hoping for an early market launch will unfortunately be disappointed: The development status is so early that the device does not even have a working name yet, but is simply referred to as the "Tuxedo Prototype". As usual with Tuxedo, development involves not only hardware, but also software: Linux is already booting with a graphical user interface, but not all components are running yet - among other things, the USB sockets are not yet working. Qualcomm itself holds out the prospect of Linux support - which is hardly surprising, as Qualcomm is heavily involved in the smartphone business and Android can easily be considered the Linux distribution with the highest market share among private users.
Microsoft antics
It is currently unclear whether it makes sense for Tuxedo to offer the ARM notebook as a dual-boot version with Windows alongside Linux as usual. All Windows functions that are docked to the NPU were previously only available to large notebook providers. Tuxedo and its sister company Schenker can therefore currently sell Windows notebooks with processors from AMD and Intel that contain an NPU, but the Windows studio effects around the webcam are not included.
(Image: c't / mue)
It is to be feared that the new AI functions around Copilot+ will be similar. For this reason, the lead for the Snapdragon notebook lies with Tuxedo, as Linux has a better chance of creating a coherent product without disappointing buyers' implicit expectations of a Windows device with Snapdragon X.
If the notebook becomes a reality, four-digit prices can be expected, as with the recently presented Windows notebooks with Snapdragon X and Copilot+. A forecast for a possible launch date was also not yet available - for a very practical reason: the manufacturing partner can only give a delivery date once the device has been successfully validated for Linux compatibility and Tuxedo has placed a binding order for a number of units. (mue)
