Microsoft last year announced a partnership with Qualcomm to bring Windows 10 to devices powered by ARM processors, more specifically with the Snapdragon 835 processor. The company also promised that unlike Windows RT, this time around, Windows 10 will support traditional desktop apps using emulation.
Lenovo, Asus, and HP are among the first companies to use ARM processors to build Windows 10 devices, and while we’re still waiting to see these devices, it appears that battery life will be the best feature.
According to a report from Trusted Reviews, during Qualcomm’s annual summit in Hong Kong, both companies confirmed that these devices will start appearing by the end of December. Furthermore, Microsoft also said that ARM devices running Windows 10 can expect “multi-day battery life.”
“It’s actually beyond our expectations,” program manager at Microsoft, Pete Bernard says. “We set a high bar for [our developers], and we’re now beyond that. It’s the kind of battery life where I use it on a daily basis. I don’t take my charger with me. I may charge it every couple of days or so. It’s that kind of battery life.”
Microsoft previously went through the same road with Windows RT running on ARM with an experience that offered a desktop environment, but without support for desktop apps, and turned out to be a platform that never took off.
Although battery life claims can always vary depending on the workload and configuration, if Bernard’s comments are legit, it could truly change the way we use mobile devices.
The company has been testing and demonstrating the capabilities of Windows 10, such as Office apps, Adobe Photoshop, and video playback, for months, and now it seems that we’re getting closer to finally start seeing these ARM-based devices running Windows 10.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].