Android 16's new Linux Terminal feature allows running desktop Linux apps on mobile devices, but Qualcomm's Snapdragon chips, including the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, do not support it due to lacking non-protected virtual machine capabilities. Users must opt for devices with chips from Google, MediaTek, or Samsung to access this functionality. The limitation stems from hardware design choices prioritizing security over broader virtualization access.
Qualcomm unveiled its Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip last month, earning praise for its benchmark performance and efficiency in mobile processing. However, this high-end processor falls short in supporting one of Android 16's standout features: the Linux Terminal, which enables running full desktop Linux applications like GIMP and LibreOffice on Android devices.
The Linux Terminal relies on the Android Virtualization Framework (AVF), part of the Android Open Source Project, to create a Debian virtual machine. AVF support is widespread among devices launching or upgrading to Android 16, thanks to collaborations between Google and silicon vendors, including Qualcomm, for hypervisor implementations. Yet, a key requirement for the Linux Terminal is support for "non-protected" virtual machines, where the host OS can broadly access VM memory. Snapdragon chips only support "protected" VMs, which isolate memory for security purposes, such as Play Protect's threat detection, but block the Linux Terminal's needs.
This discrepancy is evident in real devices. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7, powered by the Exynos 2500 chip, runs the Linux Terminal successfully, while the Galaxy Z Fold 7 with Snapdragon 8 Elite does not. Similarly, on the Xiaomi 17 Pro with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, the app fails with the error: "non-protected VMs are not supported on this device." Verification via system properties shows 'ro.boot.hypervisor.vm.supported' as empty and 'ro.boot.hypervisor.protected_vm.supported' as 'true'. In contrast, the MediaTek-powered Xiaomi 15T Pro handles it without issues.
Compatible chipsets include Google's Tensor G1 or later, MediaTek's Dimensity 9400+ or later, and Samsung's Exynos 2500. Qualcomm's stance, as indicated in communications with the publication, suggests no immediate plans to add non-protected VM support, potentially limiting access to this developer-friendly feature on Snapdragon devices.