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Leak reveals Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus chipset coming with the Surface Pro 10
We already knew about the Snapdragon X Elite, but it looks like there will be a lower-tier model of the Surface Pro 10, too.
You've already heard a lot about the consumer version of the Surface pro 10 and how it will be one of the showcase devices for the Snapodragon X Elite. However, it looks like there will be more processors as part of the Snapdragon X series, with one of them being the Snapdragon X Plus.
Vivaldi is the latest browser to support Windows on Arm
The productivity-focused Vivaldi browser is ready for the Snapdragon X Elite with its latest snapshot release.
Support for Windows on Arm has been ramping up significantly in the past few months in preparation for the upcoming Snapdragon X Elite. Now, it's time for one of our favorite browsers, Vivaldi, to join the fray with its latest preview release. The news comes shortly after Google Chrome introduced support for Windows on Arm after years of holding back support.
Microsoft is going to reveal the "next generation" of Windows on Arm next month
Get ready for a new era of Windows on Arm and AI — Microsoft has some news to share at this year's Build.
We already know Microsoft is all-in on Windows on Arm this year, and so are other PC manufacturers, based on the excitement that's building up around the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite. But if you weren't convinced yet, Microsoft has just dropped a couple of big hints regarding upcoming changes to Windows, mentioning both Windows on Arm and AI — another major focus for the company.
Upcoming Windows on Arm laptops will outshine M3 MacBook in CPU and AI performance, says Microsoft
Snapdragon X Elite-powered Surface Laptop 10 and Surface Laptop 6 will be superior to the M3 MacBook Air in handling AI acceleration and CPU tasks.
AI PCs are not the thing of a distant future, you'll see them in action when Microsoft launches the Snapdragon X Elite-powered Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 next month. While we wait for that day, Microsoft is confident that a new round of Windows on Arm laptops, powered by Snapdragon X Elite processors, will be capable enough to beat the M3 MacBook Air in CPU and AI performance.
Chrome for Windows on Arm is finally good
Got a Windows on Arm PC? You can finally use Chrome comfortably
After roughly seven years of Windows on Arm PCs being on the market, Google is finally releasing a version of Chrome that's optimized for them. The native browser has been available in the Canary channel since January.
How does x86 translation work on Windows on Arm?
Lots of Windows applications were written for x86, and yet can work on Arm CPUs. Here's how it's possible.
Windows has always been made for x86 CPUs from Intel and AMD, but ever since Windows RT came out a decade ago for smartphones, the operating system has slowly been becoming more friendly to Arm CPUs. Today, both Windows 10 and Windows 11 offer complete support for Arm CPUs, but there's a catch. While the operating system itself runs just fine on these CPUs, most applications haven't launched an Arm-compatible version. Although Windows can run on Arm chips, having few programs to actually use would be a problem.
Best Windows on Arm laptops in 2024
Looking to buy an Arm laptop but you're not sure what your options are? We rounded up the best Windows on ARM laptops you can buy right now.
Microsoft and Qualcomm first introduced Windows on Arm back in 2017, but it took some time for Arm devices to catch on. The ability to run Windows on Arm-based processors is a big deal. Arm processors offer always-on connectivity, instant wake, and many of them come with cellular connectivity without adding a premium to the price. The first few Windows on Arm devices all had the same processors, which weren't very good.
Qualcomm's exclusivity deal is about to end, with some big implications for Windows on Arm
Qualcomm's coveted exclusivity deal with Microsoft is about to run its course. Here's how it might change the Windows on Arm market.
Windows on Arm has indeed come a long way since its inception. With more features being pushed through the pipeline, and more apps gaining native support, Windows on Arm is starting to come into its own. The Snapdragon X Elite has packed enough power under the hood, making it a genuine competitor to Apple’s silicon. There is no denying that Qualcomm has played a key role in the development of Windows on Arm from a mere afterthought to a genuine option. Part of the reason Qualcomm was able to rapidly develop its chips is how closely it works with Microsoft, courtesy of an exclusivity deal. However, that could be about to change soon with news around the imminent expiry of this deal this year spinning the rumor mill.
If you're a big fan of Windows on Arm, you'll know how annoying it can be when your favorite apps don't natively run on your system. However, developers are slowly coming around to Windows on Arm and are releasing special ARM64 versions of their apps that run natively on compatible hardware. Brave is the latest browser developer to announce that its software now uses ARM64 architecture to its maximum potential, and you can get started with it right now.
With Google's support, Windows on Arm is finally ready for success
Google is finally bringing Chrome to Windows on Arm, meaning the pieces are falling into place to make it a true rival to Apple Silicon Macs.
After years of holding back Windows on Arm, Google finally released a version of Chrome built natively for the platform in late January. For now, it's only in the Canary and Dev channels, but you can expect it to trickle down to the stable release in the next couple of months. One could argue it's long overdue, as many smaller developers embraced the platform sooner, but given the current context of Windows on Arm, I don't think it could have happened at a better time.
Windows on Arm will finally run Google Chrome natively
The world's most popular browser is finally adding native support for Windows on Arm, paving the way for its success.
Google Chrome, the most popular browser in the world, is finally adding native support for Arm-based Windows devices. A recently-released Canary build of Chrome has been compiled for Windows on Arm, meaning it will run with native performance on devices like the Surface Pro 9 with 5G, Surface Pro X, and Lenovo ThinkPad X13s.
How Windows 12 could improve Android apps on Windows on Arm
Windows 12 is shaping up to be a substantial update, and it can even make Windows on Arm more viable to use
It’s been almost two years since Microsoft added support for Android apps on Windows to the joy of many enthusiasts, taking a big step toward cross-platform compatibility and opening a myriad of possibilities. Slowly but surely, Android apps on Windows have evolved from being a mere novelty to a genuinely useful feature as more apps get supported. Of course, the experience is far from flawless still, as Microsoft continues to push updates to its Windows Subsystem for Android to further improve the experience and add more features.
4 reasons 2024 will be an exciting year for PCs
2023 may have been a slow year for laptops, but things are looking way up for 2024 thanks largely to brand new hardware
Just a few days ago, I wrote about how 2023 was a pretty boring year for laptops, with most options keeping the same designs as last year while offering iterative performance upgrades. But things are set to be very different in 2024. With brand-new laptop designs, potentially revolutionary processors, and a big Windows update, it looks like it could be one of the best years for laptops in quite some time. Here are a few reasons I'm very excited about what's coming next year.
Despite looking promising, the Snapdragon X Elite still has a long way to go
For Qualcomm to truly succeed, Microsoft has to step up its game and take Windows on Arm seriously
Recently, Qualcomm unveiled the Snapdragon X Elite, its latest SoC for laptops, with some impressive performance claims in tow. The company is aiming to breathe new life into Windows on Arm with custom Arm64 Oryon CPU cores. Despite being marketed as a direct competitor to Apple’s M2 chip, the X Elite’s performance comparisons suggest that it can at least give the recently announced M3 chip a good run for its money. Hearing this will be music to the ears of many people, and rightly so, since Windows on Arm has struggled for years. However, when looking at the grand scheme of things, Qualcomm still has a longer way to go than many people think.
Hear me out: Apple should bring back Boot Camp for Arm Macs
It's high time to get Windows running natively on Apple Silicon, and Boot Camp is the best way to do it.
When Apple announced the transition plan from Intel CPUs to custom Arm processors for its Mac lineup at WWDC 2020, it brought to an end to the long-standing rumor mill. Undoubtedly, the move to the in-house solution also gave us what is sure to be the best Mac for a whole lot of people, especially when you consider the performance vs. efficiency factor.
DaVinci Resolve is adding native support for Windows on Arm
You'll be able to use the full power of the Snapdragon X Elite for video editing.
The Windows PC market is set to see a huge shift with the introduction of the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite, the most powerful Arm chipset for Windows PCs. And to make use of that power, Qualcomm has announced that DaVinci Resolve is adding native support for Arm processors on Windows next year.
How to use UUP dump to create an updated Windows ISO for any channel
Microsoft doesn’t offer most of them, but you can create your own in a few simple steps.
Unlike older versions of Windows, Microsoft makes it rather easy to download Windows 11 installation media, if you know where to look. However, both the Media Creation Tool and the ISO files offered by Microsoft to regular users usually contain outdated builds, which means you have to download the latest monthly updates during/after the installation phase. In case you need to service more than one PC, this design only exacerbates the problem.
Microsoft fixes camera problems on Arm-based Windows devices
If you use an Arm-based Windows device and are running into camera issues, keep an eye out on Windows Update.
Microsoft releases Windows updates on a monthly basis bringing new features, improvements, and bug fixes. In fact, updates for supported versions of Windows are expected today as well, as the firm initiates these rollouts on the second Tuesday of each month, known as "Patch Tuesday". However, sometimes, its releases cause unforeseen issues that are usually patched in the subsequent monthly update or through out-of-band updates. Now, Microsoft has announced that it has resolved one such niggling issue affecting Arm-based Windows devices.
Luminar Neo and Node now natively support Windows on Arm
Microsoft has worked with its partners to have more apps natively support its Windows on Arm platform, a notable addition being Luminar Neo.
Build 2023 is a flagship event that Microsoft holds primarily for developers and enterprise customers on an annual basis. Although the Windows on Arm development community isn't particularly huge, Microsoft continues to add new features to entice more developers to build native apps for the platform. This has resulted in some stellar apps over the years, with the Redmond tech giant even implementing the ability to run a Hyper-V virtual machine with Windows 11 directly on Arm-based devices just yesterday. At its Build conference starting today, the firm has introduced the arrival of lots of native apps to Windows on Arm.
Qualcomm has a name for its custom Windows on Arm silicon: Oryon
Qualcomm has announced that its upcoming custom Windows on Arm silicon cores will be called Oryon. There were no other details.
At Snapdragon Technology Summit 2022 in Maui today, Qualcomm announced a name for its custom Arm cores: Oryon. These are going to be included in the chips that are designed to take on Apple's M-series custom Arm processors. The company didn't offer any further details.