San Diego, California – Qualcomm, a leading mobile technology company, is set to launch its Snapdragon X Elite processors in upcoming computers, promising consumers better battery life and performance compared to traditional Intel chips. This new Arm processor is expected to revolutionize the Windows PC market, following the success of Apple’s M-series chips for Macs.
In the history of Arm processors running Windows, the first public version was Windows RT, launched in 2012 with limitations that hindered its success. However, the groundwork laid out by Microsoft during that time remains relevant today, setting the stage for future advancements in Arm-based computing.
With the upcoming release of Microsoft’s flagship Surface tablet exclusively using Qualcomm’s Arm chips, the shift towards Arm processors in Windows devices seems imminent. Early benchmarks for the Snapdragon X Elite show promising results, backed by a team of experts who previously worked on Apple Silicon.
Over the years, Microsoft has made significant progress in bridging the gap between x86 and Arm architectures, with recent developments allowing for 64-bit Intel app translation on Arm PCs. This progress paves the way for greater compatibility, making it easier for developers and users to transition to Arm-based systems seamlessly.
Despite some remaining compatibility gaps, the majority of productivity apps and games now run smoothly on the Arm version of Windows without requiring additional interventions. This signifies a significant milestone in the evolution of Arm-based computing, bringing us closer to a future where Arm processors could dominate the PC market.