Microsoft closed out 2016 by confirming a new alliance with Qualcomm, with the goal of bringing a full version of Windows 10 to ARM platforms. The Redmond giant learned a lot after the Windows RT fiasco, and this time it has the Snapdragon 835 SoC as its backbone, with performance high enough to run an x86 emulation layer. Of course, none of that can materialize without the support of manufacturers, but Qualcomm made its presence felt at Computex 2017 and announced that HP, Lenovo and Asus are already on board.
The hardware landscape
Whenever we talk about the possibility of running an unrestricted edition of Windows on ARM, it's necessary to stop and consider the current state of hardware. The failure of x86 in the mobile space and the rise of smartphones have put Microsoft and Intel in a tricky position. For better or worse, Android is already the most widely used operating system in the world, and while we're glad to see some general revitalization on the desktop with new high-performance processors, productivity parameters have changed, and there are many people out there convinced that the future of computers is going to be carried in their pocket. Needless to say, Windows needs to adapt, but any transition process must be implemented very carefully. Win32 applications are not going to disappear, and every time Microsoft tried to leave them aside, it paid dearly.
Snapdragon 835: the key piece
Now, we find in the equation Qualcomm with its Snapdragon 835, a fundamental piece for the successful deployment of Windows 10 on ARM. The Snapdragon 835 is a big.LITTLE SoC with a total of eight cores based on Qualcomm's Kryo microarchitecture, four of them at 2.45 GHz, and the other four at 1.9 GHz. It's a 10-nanometer design that includes an Adreno 540 graphics module, H.265 support and 4K 60 FPS decoding, but there's another very important aspect here: LTE connectivity. Qualcomm took advantage of its participation in Computex 2017 to announce that HP, Lenovo and Asus will launch products with Windows 10 and the Snapdragon 835 integrated. In theory, the battery of these computers will last 50 percent longer compared to equivalent x86 products, and LTE connectivity should help cover WiFi gaps.
Obviously, Qualcomm didn't hesitate to highlight the full compatibility of its Snapdragon 835 with Win32 applications, courtesy of the emulation layer included in Windows 10. It doesn't matter if the software was downloaded from the store, converted with the Centennial system, or downloaded from another site, the SoC will have sufficient performance. The first products will hit shelves before the end of the year.
