Android laptops aren’t new. Over the years, several brands have tried to stretch Android into a desktop form. But anyone who has used those machines knows the experience has always been limited by lightweight chipsets and apps that weren’t designed for laptop-style work. Now something far more significant may be brewing. References to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite and Snapdragon X chips have been spotted inside Android 16’s private code, and that tiny clue hints at a very different class of Android PC on the way.
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Snapdragon powered Android PCs on the way?
A Korean industry analyst named Jukan discovered that Snapdragon X Elite and Snapdragon X series chips appear in Android 16’s private code list, and Qualcomm has even uploaded related code to the repository. Inside Qualcomm’s internal environment, the codename “purwa” now links to Android 16, which matches the company’s naming scheme for these higher-power PC chips. This isn’t a casual experiment. It suggests Android is being prepared to run on hardware far stronger than what current Android laptops use.
The leak doesn’t stop here. Qualcomm is also reportedly working on a new Windows on Arm chip internally codenamed “mahua.” It is expected to sit alongside the upcoming Snapdragon X2 Elite and come in two variants, one high-performance and one closer to the current Snapdragon X. All of this signals a broader push into PC-class silicon across both Android and Windows platforms.
When do these new Android PCs arrive
Google and Qualcomm haven’t shown hardware yet, but both have confirmed that Android PCs are coming next year. The Android 16 code sightings simply add weight to the idea that development is moving faster than expected.
There is an audience for affordable, easy-to-use Android laptops, especially in education and entry-level computing. The limitation has always been performance. Android is fast and flexible, but the chipsets inside these machines were never designed for heavy workloads, real multitasking or demanding apps. Snapdragon X Elite, on the other hand, already powers Windows laptops with near-desktop responsiveness. Pairing that level of performance with Android means future Android PCs could feel snappy, fluid and genuinely capable, not just functional.
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Divyanshi Sharma
Divyanshi Sharma is a media and communications professional with over 8 years of experience in the industry. With a strong background in tech journalism, she has covered everything from the latest gadgets to gaming trends and brings a sharp editorial lens to every story. She holds a master’s diploma in mass communication and a bachelor’s degree in English literature. Her love for writing and gaming began early—often skipping classes to try out the latest titles—which naturally evolved into a career at the intersection of technology and storytelling. When she’s not working, you’ll likely find her exploring virtual worlds on her console or PC, or testing out a new laptop she managed to get her hands on. View Full Profile
