HomeWinBuzzer NewsMicrosoft Is Reportedly Toying with a Surface Pro on ARM

Microsoft Is Reportedly Toying with a Surface Pro on ARM

Microsoft reportedly has several Surface Pro on ARM devices floating around as itself and Qualcomm make progress on performance.

-

reportedly has on ARM prototypes “floating around” internally. Previous rumors suggested that the company was thinking very seriously about a Surface Go with a chip, and it seems Surface Pro devices may one day get the same treatment.

The information comes from Thurrott's ever-reliable Brad Sams, who recently published his book on the brand, Beneath a Surface. However, it's clear that though ARM-based Windows devices have made significant progress, they're not yet able to provide the same stability and power as Intel.

“Make no mistake, the days of everyone using an ARM-powered laptop or desktop is still several years, or longer, away,” said Sams. “…but as both Microsoft and Qualcomm continue to push forward, there is no doubt that they're making serious progress in terms of performance at the chip and OS level.”

Slow Progress

Its likely performance was a factor in Microsoft's decision to forgo in the Surface Go, but reports also suggest Intel “petitioned heavily” to get its chips in the device.

Though ARM on has its issues, it can promise close to double the battery life. An ARM-based Surface Pro could one day eliminate the need to carry a charger everywhere you go, with up to 20 hours of life.

So far, there are offerings from Lenovo and soon Huawei, but ARM haven't taken off as quickly as some expected. A commitment from Microsoft may be just what its partners need, with the powerful Snapdragon 8cx chip expected to launch soon.

Last Updated on April 9, 2020 12:06 pm CEST by Ryan Maskell

SourceMicrosoft
Ryan Maskell
Ryan Maskellhttps://ryanmaskell.co.uk
Ryan has had a passion for gaming and technology since early childhood. Fusing the skills from his Creative Writing and Publishing degree with profound technical knowledge, he enjoys covering news about Microsoft. As an avid writer, he is also working on his debut novel.

Recent News