Challenging Intel’s PC dominance, Microsoft has unveiled its first ARM-powered Windows 10 laptops, featuring a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, claimed to boast an ‘all day’ battery life.
The new Windows 10 PCs will be manufactured by HP, Lenovo and Asus, with the first batch of devices being 2-in-1 tablet laptops.
HP and Asus have already announced their new devices, with Lenovo expected to reveal theirs in the forthcoming weeks.
Consensus is, Microsoft is partnering with Qualcomm to release these “always-on” PCS, which offer constant LTE connections similar to an iPad.
The new devices claim to offer significant battery benefits (20 – 22 hours of active use) and LTE connectivity that consumers haven’t seen in Windows laptops to date.
The news follows Microsoft’s failed foray into “connected mobile PCs” about five years ago, where it partnered with Nvidia to release Windows RT tablets that didn’t back up performance and battery claims.
Asus’ new NovaGo 2-in-1 will boast a 13.3-inch HD display, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, with stylus support, HDMI port, and microSD reader – [base models, with lower specs will start from US$599].
[ASUS NovaGo 2-in-1 Device]
HP’s new Envy x2 is a more compact 2-in-1 laptop, featuring a 2.3-inch display, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage and stylus support. The devices is tipped to be available later next year.
The new Windows 10 ARM-powered devices could herald in a new suite of products running on this new software.
Microsoft is reportedly developing its own notepad-like device with an ARM chipset.
[HP Envy x2]
