Qualcomm is taking steps to make Samsung’s Android laptops a reality

Over the past decade, Google launched the Android operating system for phones, smartwatches, tablets, TVs, and even cars. Recently, it announced plans to extend Android's reach to laptops and PCs. Qualcomm has partnered with Google to make this a reality and has now taken steps so that we could see Samsung's Android-powered laptops in the future.

X user @Jukanlosreve has posted screenshots that reveal Qualcomm has added the necessary code to Android 16's private code list. This code allows ‘Purwa' (Snapdragon X series) system-on-chips (SoCs) to run the Android operating system. Earlier, those chips properly supported only Windows 11 (Windows on ARM).

This move suggests that Qualcomm is opening the door for brands (like ASUS, Lenovo, and Samsung) to start making laptops that run Android. If this happens, Samsung could finally build laptops that can truly integrate well with Galaxy smartphones, smartwatches, and tablets.

Only Apple has an ecosystem in which laptops, phones, smartwatches, and tablets run software that has a common codebase. While Samsung makes Android-based phones, tablets, and smartwatches, its laptops run ChromeOS or Windows, and neither of them has the same level of integration as Apple offers.

If Samsung launches Android laptops, it could finally compete with Apple in terms of integration quality and features. However, it remains to be seen what kind of professional apps become optimised for Android laptops, as that will be the thing that dictates whether Android laptops fail or succeed.