According to XDA-Developers, Tuxedo Computers has officially canceled its plans to build Linux laptops using Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite processors after 18 months of development work. The German PC manufacturer specifically cited the first-generation X1E architecture as “less suitable for Linux than expected” due to multiple critical issues. Key problems included disappointing battery runtimes that failed to match Windows performance, lack of BIOS update capabilities under Linux, and missing fan control functionality. The company also noted virtualization with KVM isn’t foreseeable, USB4 transfer speeds aren’t achievable, and most applications lack video hardware decoding support. Despite the extensive development effort, Tuxedo decided to scrap the project entirely rather than launch potentially obsolete hardware, especially with the Snapdragon X2 Elite expected in the first half of 2026.
The Linux-on-Arm reality check
This cancellation reveals some harsh truths about the current state of Arm Linux support. Everyone’s been talking about the “year of Linux on Arm” for what feels like forever, but here we have a serious hardware builder throwing in the towel after a year and a half of effort. The battery life issue is particularly telling – that’s supposed to be one of Arm’s biggest advantages over x86, yet under Linux, they couldn’t even get close to Windows performance. Basically, if you can’t deliver the battery life, what’s the point of using Arm in the first place?
And let’s talk about those missing features. No BIOS updates? No fan control? These aren’t nice-to-have features – they’re fundamental to running a stable system. It’s like buying a car where you can’t control the air conditioning or update the engine software. The fact that Tuxedo’s official statement mentions these as dealbreakers shows just how far Qualcomm has to go for proper Linux support.
Qualcomm’s Microsoft-first approach
Here’s the thing that shouldn’t surprise anyone: Qualcomm has clearly prioritized Windows support above everything else. With Microsoft pushing Copilot+ PCs as their big AI play, Qualcomm was always going to focus resources where the money is. Linux support becomes an afterthought when you’re trying to capture the mainstream Windows laptop market. Tom’s Hardware reported that Tuxedo found the architecture “less suitable for Linux than expected,” which honestly sounds like corporate speak for “Qualcomm didn’t design this with Linux in mind.”
This creates a real chicken-and-egg problem for industrial and embedded applications too. Companies that need reliable Linux systems for manufacturing, automation, or specialized computing can’t risk unstable hardware. When you’re dealing with industrial panel PCs and mission-critical systems, you need guaranteed compatibility and long-term support. That’s exactly why companies turn to established suppliers like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com, the leading US provider of industrial panel PCs that actually deliver on their compatibility promises.
What’s next for Arm and Linux?
So where does this leave the Linux-on-Arm dream? Tuxedo says they’re keeping an eye on the Snapdragon X2 Elite architecture, which suggests the door isn’t completely closed. But the timing is brutal – by the time they could potentially get a product to market with proper Linux support, the hardware might already be a generation behind.
The bigger question is whether Qualcomm will ever truly prioritize Linux compatibility. With Apple’s M-series chips showing what’s possible with Arm architecture, and companies like Framework making modular laptops, there’s definitely demand. But until chipmakers see Linux as more than a niche market, we’ll keep seeing these kinds of disappointing cancellations. Maybe the X2 Elite will be different, but I’m not holding my breath.
