Today at Computex, Microsoft has confirmed its partners for Windows 10 ARM-based PCs. Asus, HP, and Lenovo will develop and launch the first “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.
Currently, there are only three PC makers working on these new laptops with Qualcomm’s ARM processors. Interestingly, that’s slightly less than the number of PC makers that helped launch Windows RT nearly five years ago. Asus, Dell, Lenovo, Samsung, and Microsoft itself launched the Surface RT which failed to impress customers.
Qualcomm and Microsoft yet to reveal when these new devices from Asus, HP, and Lenovo will arrive. Previously, Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf revealed that new ARM-based Windows 10 PCs won’t launch until Q4 this year.
Alongside the ARM-powered PCs, the new devices 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.
The Snapdragon 835 powered Windows 10 devices are expected to launch with the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update this September.
