Thanks to CES 2018, publications got a look at the Always-Connected PCs for the first time, but they all had something in common. Each was running Windows 10 S, an operating system that runs apps exclusively from the Microsoft Store.
By all accounts, everything seemed to run smoothly, with no perceptible lag and great battery life. However, Win32 apps generally use more power than UWP ones, and Always Connected PCs need to emulate them for ARM processors on top of that. Some publications, ourselves included, wondered if that would hold on Windows 10 Pro.
The answer is yes, according to Qualcomm VP representative Pj Jacobwitz. According to Neowin, the employee said the impact from win32 apps will be the same as on a regular PC with an Intel processor.
Always Connected PCs are touted to have 20 hours of active usage, and possibly months on standby. Even the latest laptops tend to last a maximum of 10 hours of video playback, so ARM emulation is a significant breakthrough.
Still, we won't know the true capabilities until the first Windows 10 on ARM PCs release. Undoubtedly, reviewers will run rigorous benchmarks and discover the specifics. It's likely that won't be for at least a few months for devices using the Snapdragon 835, and even later for those powered by the Snapdragon 845.
Among those is the Lenovo Miix 630, HP Envy X2, and Dell Inspiron 5280. There are also reports of PCs coming from Samsung and Xiaomi, so it' clear there's a significant push behind the technology. Now we'll just have to see if consumers are as enthusiastic.
