On Monday, Microsoft will unveil its vision for a new era of Windows PCs, consisting of new Arm-based silicon from Qualcomm and combined with next-generation artificial intelligence experiences that will lead to new Windows devices that are always aware of what you are by doing, you can translate languages in real time, enhance your webcam with artificial lighting and filters, artificially increase gaming performance, and generate text and images on the device.
This combination of hardware and software is something Microsoft has been working towards since early 2021, after holding a joint meeting with Windows and Surface leaders to discuss exactly how it will respond to Apple Silicon. The company discussed a project called CADMUS, whose goals were to bring to market a new era of Windows devices that are productive, efficient and AI-capable.
Microsoft has been working very closely with Qualcomm on its new Snapdragon X chips, which has led to this unprecedented moment for Windows on Arm. This next wave of Windows on Arm devices will be the first with true all-day battery life and constant instant wake-up without sacrificing performance. These new chips really trade blows with Apple Silicon.
A new generation of Windows computers
I’m told internally that Microsoft has described these CADMUS devices as “the next generation of Windows PCs,” distinguished by an AI experience that will be exclusive to them. Microsoft will introduce the first CADMUS PCs in the form of new Surface Pro and Surface Laptop powered by Snapdragon X and featuring quality-of-life upgrades such as the Pro’s OLED display and a refreshed laptop design that includes a haptic trackpad.
Remarkably, these devices will only to come with Qualcomm’s Arm chip. You won’t find Intel variants of Microsoft’s latest consumer-facing offerings, and that’s a big deal. This shows how confident Microsoft is in their CADMUS efforts, further reinforced by the fact that all the big name OEMs are expected to ship their own Arm-powered devices this summer alongside Microsoft.
This is the first time in the history of Windows on Arm. All of Microsoft’s hardware partners are coming together for this big reboot of Windows on Arm, all of whom are now confident that Windows on Arm is ready for the mainstream. The new chips are so powerful that most emulated applications will no longer feel emulated, which was a major hurdle for Windows on Arm to overcome.
Windows on Arm can no longer be ignored
Not only that, but it looks like app developers are finally taking Windows on Arm seriously. Popular apps like Chrome, Spotify, and Photoshop are now compiled directly for Windows on Arm, and more apps and developers are getting involved all the time. WhatsApp, DaVinci Resolve and other Adobe apps are expected to join the fray soon. This platform can no longer be ignored.
Existing Windows on Arm devices also benefit from this. The more applications natively compiled for Arm, the less emulation is required, which means better performance and battery life as a result. My Surface Pro X is a better device today than it was two years ago, thanks to app developers finally embracing Arm for many of the apps I use.
It’s not just a flash either. Microsoft fully intends to offer all of its high-end Surface PCs with an Arm chip in the future, including the next Surface Laptop Studio, which I’m told is currently in the works but likely won’t arrive until 2025.
Microsoft’s big AI push in Windows will be exclusive to Windows on Arm devices for now, at least until Intel and AMD can create NPUs (neural processors) to match what Qualcomm is putting out. With that in mind, I expect the ultimate goal is to make the platform architecture irrelevant to the end user. If a Windows PC with a Qualcomm chip is just as capable as a Windows PC with an Intel chip, why does it matter if it’s x86 or Arm?
All will be revealed on Monday
Windows on Arm is finally about to get its moment in the spotlight, and for all the right reasons. The combination of silicon and AI expertise will be unmatched for some time. If you’re currently in the market for a new computer and your next one isn’t a Windows on Arm device, you’re making a huge mistake.
Windows Central will be on site at Microsoft’s special Windows and Surface event on Monday, May 20. Tune in to our live blog at 10am PT (1pm ET, 6pm BST) for all the news as it happens. Alternatively, check out our detailed What to Expect post for spoilers!
