A modder has released the source code for Snapintosh, an experimental project that runs macOS 27 Golden Gate on laptops with Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme processors. The system runs on an ASUS Zenbook A16, and the public GitHub repository contains the tools, drivers and documentation needed to reproduce the setup.
Unlike traditional Intel-based Hackintosh installations, Snapintosh uses an ARM64 compatibility layer built around an EL2 hypervisor. Apple's stock macOS kernel runs while the layer translates hardware interfaces and memory management requirements for the Qualcomm processor. The project also includes custom Metal drivers for the Adreno X2-90 GPU, so the desktop is rendered with hardware acceleration rather than on the CPU alone. According to the developer, keyboard, trackpad gestures and internal NVMe storage work.
Image: Acelogic — https://github.com/Acelogic/Snapintosh
The release is far from a ready-to-use installation. Only the ASUS Zenbook A16 UX3607OA with Snapdragon X2E-96-100 is supported, the implementation uses six virtual CPU cores, and the internal 2880 × 1800 display runs at 60 Hz with uneven interface responsiveness. Wi-Fi works only through a test setup controlled by a Mac, while macOS cannot yet connect through its own Wi-Fi menu. Audio, Bluetooth, cameras, sleep and wake, external displays and the panel's 120 Hz mode do not work.
The most serious limit is booting. Snapintosh cannot start macOS on its own: it needs a second Mac running macOS 27, connected to the laptop over USB-C, which prepares and transfers the boot components. The process must be repeated after every restart. Users must also supply Apple's macOS installation files and development tools, and the software can modify the laptop's internal SSD partitions, potentially destroying an existing Windows installation.
The release comes weeks after Qualcomm outlined broader operating system support for its processors. At the Snapdragon Summit in September the company confirmed Linux support for the Snapdragon X2 series alongside Windows and the new Googlebook devices, with Debian planned for late 2026 and certified Ubuntu support targeted for the first half of 2027. Snapintosh goes beyond these official plans by demonstrating macOS on Qualcomm hardware, although it has no support from Apple, Qualcomm or ASUS.
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