Qualcomm latest Snapdragon chips are compatible with Android Linux Terminal app

Android’s Linux Terminal app, first introduced on Pixel phones, provides a way to run Linux environments on Android through virtual machines. Its reach has been limited because compatible devices must support Android Virtualization Framework (AVF) and suitable virtual machines. Although the feature has expanded to some devices from other manufacturers, it had not worked on phones with Qualcomm Snapdragon processors, leaving out much of the Android market.

That limitation is beginning to change with Qualcomm’s newest chips. Google has said Snapdragon chipsets will support its AVF-based architecture, and the Linux Terminal has been confirmed working on the REDMAGIC 12 Pro, which uses the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. Support is expected to matter for other phones launching with this and related Snapdragon processors, potentially broadening access as more devices arrive. Older Snapdragon hardware still does not appear to be supported, so the change is not a general fix for existing Qualcomm phones. The Terminal remains a specialized tool unlikely to interest most users, but its arrival on current Snapdragon devices is a significant expansion for Android power users who want Linux capabilities on their phones.