Max 16 Plus laptop with a Qualcomm discrete NPU is now shipping… That is if you are running Ubuntu Linux while the Windows 11 pre-load option is expected in early 2026. An exciting twist with the Linux version of the Dell Pro Max 16 Plus shipping before Microsoft Windows.
The new Dell Pro Max 16 Plus features a Qualcomm AI 100 PC inference accelerator. The Dell Pro Max 16 Plus makes it the first mobile workstation with such an “enterprise grade” discrete NPu.
Probably because they are still making their proprietary drivers for Windows. I dunno how programs interface with NPUs but there must be some type of API which talks to it thru a driver.
I bet in the Ubuntu version is all up to upstream, so not Dell.
Remember, Michael Dell (CEO of Dell) was at Trump’s recent dinner for the Saudi Royal Prince (Mohammed bin Salman) who probably ordered the brutal killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
In short, Dell is a MAGA company that is pro authoritarian.
If I’m doing Dell vs FrameWork, then the latter has the winning argument.
Of course, neither of those models are available to me (with FrameWork wholly not available in my country), but the Dell thing is going to be more expensive, both in the short and long term.
Very inclined on going with 2nd hand.
For anyone wondering, the cpu is an intel one.
