Asus, HP, and Lenovo will all build ARM-powered Windows 10 PCs
Microsoft has revealing its partners for Windows 10 ARM-powered PCs at Computex. Asus, HP, and Lenovo will be the first PC makers to develop what are described as “mobile PCs” powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 835 processor. Microsoft first revealed its plans to bring Windows desktop apps to mobile ARM processors last year, with laptops as the first devices in the market with a version of Windows 10 that supports ARM.
Microsoft has only managed to convince three PC makers to build these new laptops with Qualcomm’s ARM processors. Unless the software giant signs on more by the end of the year, then that’s slightly less than the number of PC makers that helped launch Windows RT nearly five years ago. The first wave of Windows RT devices included devices from Asus, Dell, Lenovo, Samsung, and Microsoft itself with the Surface RT.
Qualcomm and Microsoft still aren’t revealing exactly when these new devices from Asus, HP, and Lenovo will arrive. Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf previously revealed ARM-powered Windows 10 PCs won’t launch until Q4 this year. Both Microsoft and Qualcomm are marketing these Windows 10 PCs as having better battery life, LTE connectivity, and support for all Windows applications.
Alongside the ARM-powered PCs, Microsoft will also support LTE on other Windows 10 devices. HP, Asus, VAIO, Dell, Xiaomi, Lenovo, and Huawei will all create Windows 10 devices that support LTE. Microsoft is also working with a range of operators to support eSIM, including AT&T, T-Mobile, Vodafone, EE, Three, and BT.
