Qualcomm fixed a major bootloader exploit in Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chips, but it's also struggling with Linux support on its X Elite processors while competing against Apple, Intel, and AMD.

Security Vulnerability Addressed

The chip giant provided security patches to Android device manufacturers in early March 2026, targeting a GBL exploit discovered by the Xiaomi ShadowBlade Security Lab. This vulnerability was a key component in unlocking bootloaders on several high-end smartphones powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.

A bootloader loads your OS when you start the device. Unlock it and you can install custom Android versions (custom ROMs) with better features, different interfaces, or faster performance than what manufacturers ship.

Qualcomm issued a statement commending the Xiaomi researchers for their 'coordinated disclosure practices' and reiterated its commitment to developing technologies that support robust security and privacy. The company strongly encourages end users to apply security updates as soon as they become available from device makers.

But here's the catch: those same security patches will kill the bootloader unlock loophole. So Android enthusiasts face a choice—update now and stay secure, or wait and risk getting hacked just to unlock their phones.

Every Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 flagship except Samsung's can be bootloader-unlocked with this exploit—Xiaomi phones have already been cracked. But the exact exploits needed differ by brand, so the hack's usefulness varies.

Linux Compatibility Woes for Snapdragon X Elite

Meanwhile, Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite is a mess on Linux. Testing Ubuntu 26.04 on an Acer Swift 14 AI laptop showed serious problems.

Mastheads

Phoronix has been testing the X Elite for a year and it keeps getting worse. December's tests were already bad, and now Ubuntu 26.04 brings fresh firmware headaches.

The qcom-firmware-extract tool that used to grab firmware from Windows 11 now throws an error: 'Device is currently not supported.' Without that firmware, Linux can't run properly.

Without firmware, the Linux 6.19 kernel can't enable 3D graphics or show battery status—basically useless for a laptop.

Firmware's been a nightmare for Snapdragon X Linux users. Only Lenovo's ThinkPad got official firmware support. Even with backups and Canonical's special kernel, nothing worked—Linux on ARM Snapdragon is still broken.

Fierce Competition in the Chip Market

Qualcomm's Snapdragon X2 is up against Apple, Intel, and AMD in a tight race.

Tom's Guide ran Geekbench 6 on Apple M5, Intel Panther Lake, AMD Strix Halo, and Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 to see how they handle everyday work.

Apple's M5 crushed single-core tests with 4,200+ points, but Qualcomm's Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme came close at 4,070—fast enough for everyday work.

The cheaper Snapdragon X2 models (18-core and 12-core) hit 3,800-3,846, beating Intel's Panther Lake (2,938-3,031) and AMD's Strix Halo (2,904-2,932).

In multi-core performance, which measures a chip's ability to handle multiple tasks At the same time, the M5 Max led with 29,430, followed closely by the M5 Pro at 28,586. The Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme achieved 23,407, demonstrating strong parallel processing capabilities. The 18-core X2 Elite reached 20,301, while the 12-core model scored 16,253. These multi-core figures generally positioned the Snapdragon X2 chips ahead of Intel and AMD's offerings in the benchmarks, though not quite matching Apple's top-tier M5 variants.

The results highlight Apple's continued dominance in raw performance and efficiency with its M5 chips, which are described as 'powerhouses.' Yet, Qualcomm's Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme demonstrates a strong showing, particularly in single-core performance, positioning it as a potent contender in how things are changing in high-performance computing, even as it navigates ongoing software and security challenges.

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The current Linux 6.19 kernel on Ubuntu 26.04 ARM64, even with a Qualcomm-catered build, still fails to provide 3D acceleration or battery reporting for the Snapdragon X Elite, suggesting the firmware situation remains a big obstacle for open-source operating systems.

This article was created with AI assistance.