Microsoft has revealed a Windows 10 version that is able to run on ARM CPUs and which can run x86 applications through emulation. The ARM version of Windows 10 will run on an upcoming Qualcomm SnapDragon chip.
The announcement was made during Intel Developers Conference in Shenzhen where Microsoft today will demonstrate an x86 version of Adobe's Photoshop running on an ARM CPU powered device. Running Windows 10 on ARM CPUs should make very energy efficient ARM powered laptops possible that can run longer on a single charge than currently possible with x86 based laptops.
The video above shows a preview of Windows 10 (Enterprise edition) running on a Qualcomm Snapdragon Processor, complete with x86 Win32 and UWP apps such as Adobe PhotoShop, Microsoft Office and popular Windows 10 games and videos.
Microsoft will first target laptops with the new ARM Windows 10 version with x86 emulation. Later also Windows 10 Mobile smartphones might follow, they can currently already run Continuum, a feature that makes it possible to use Windows 10 Mobile as a desktop.
The ARM version of Windows 10 will run on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC which was announced in November this year. This chip is baked using a 10nm FinFET process and in collaboration with Samsung. Qualcomm claims it provides a 27 percent improvement in performance or up to 40 percent less power consumption compared to the previous Snapdragon chips.
