Do you remember Windows Phone? One of many expressions to take “Windows everywhere” that Microsoft killed and buried with its own hands in the deepest hole. In Redmond they seem convinced that smartphones and tablets represent radioactive territory (unless it’s their Surface line), but with the arrival of Windows 11, some enthusiasts have managed to run native installations on mobile devices. What can we get from Windows 11 on an Android phone?
Microsoft + smartphones = ?
Several specialized sites reported the possibility of creating a virtual machine in Android 13 compatible with Windows 11 installations, more precisely, on a Google Pixel 6 with the build DP1 installed. But what about its native execution? After all, some mid-range and high-end smartphones have more hardware than a desktop computer, and Microsoft offers builds of Windows 11 for the ARM architecture. The big challenge is that all the necessary elements must be able to talk and understand each other. Windows 11 on ARM has an interesting number of compatible drivers, and there are many smartphones on the market that share the same components, such as the Snapdragon 845 SoC. However, there is the bootloader issue… and to install Windows 11 on an Android phone, you need a bit more than sorcery.
Windows 11 on an Android phone
Despite what certain colleague sites suggest, the idea is not that new. The video above was published by Geekerwan in December 2021, and the Renegade Project, where all the masterminds behind this initiative gather, goes even further back on the calendar. But the Renegade Project seeks not only to run Windows 11 on an Android phone, but any other piece of software, including different flavors of Linux compatible with ARM.
In essence, the work of the Renegade Project is “fake” a UEFI using a Linux kernel so Windows 11 can boot… but it’s much easier said than done. The official tutorial requires downloading multiple files, precise partition editing, and of course, a compatible device. The guide is based on the OnePlus 6T, one of the smartphones with the best compatibility right now, but even so, you won’t have camera, audio, or sensors.
Redmond leaves on read
Now, if we set aside all these technical details, Windows 11 on an Android phone works better than we expected. Touchscreen, locking, swiping, auto-rotation, all of that is there. As if that weren’t enough, Geekerwan’s tests include some x86 benchmarks, and even Crysis 3 running at 10 FPS. Crysis 3 on a smartphone… the simple fact that the game loads is already crazy. His list continues with CS:GO, Euro Truck Simulator, original Skyrim (the screen reports DirectX 9), the first Tomb Raider reboot, and even a ray tracing demo with a framerate of 0.2 FPS.
In summary, Windows 11 on an Android phone would work much better if Microsoft decided to concentrate more firepower on that possibility, but it’s clear that its interests and commitments point in another direction. Without going too far, Redmond already confirmed that it won’t support Apple’s new M1 in the immediate future (apparently there is an exclusivity agreement with Qualcomm), and the only shortcut available for new Mac owners is to use Parallels...
Renegade Project on GitHub: Click here
