The Windows PC is about to get GOOD, and you can thank Windows on Arm for that

On Monday, Microsoft will unveil its vision for a new era of Windows PCs, comprised of Qualcomm’s new Arm-based silicon and combined with next-generation AI experiences that will give rise to new Windows devices that are always aware of what you’re doing . do, capable of translating languages ​​in real time, enhancing your webcam with artificial lighting and filters, artificially increasing gaming performance, and generating text and images on the device.

This combination of hardware and software is something Microsoft has been working on since early 2021, after holding an all-hands meeting with Windows and Surface executives to discuss how it was going to respond to Apple Silicon. The company discussed a project called CADMUS, the goals of which were to bring to market a new era of high-performance, efficient, AI-capable Windows devices.

Microsoft has worked closely with Qualcomm on its new Snapdragon X chips, resulting in this moment for Windows on Arm that it’s never had before. This next wave of Windows on Arm devices will be the first to offer true all-day battery life and constant instant wake-up, without sacrificing performance. These new chips are really trading blows with Apple Silicon.

A new generation of Windows PCs

Internally, I’m told that Microsoft has described these CADMUS devices as “the next generation of Windows PCs,” differentiated by the AI ​​experiences that will be exclusive to them. Microsoft will unveil the first CADMUS PCs in the form of a new Surface Pro and Surface Laptop, powered by Snapdragon the laptop that includes a haptic trackpad.

What is remarkable is that these devices only be available with Qualcomm’s Arm chip. You won’t find Intel variants of Microsoft’s latest mainstream offerings, and that’s a big problem. This shows how confident Microsoft is in its CADMUS efforts, further bolstered by the fact that all major OEMs are expected to ship their own Arm-powered devices this summer alongside Microsoft.

This is the first time in Windows on Arm history that this has happened. Microsoft’s hardware partners are all coming together for this big Windows on Arm relaunch, and everyone is now convinced that Windows on Arm is ready for the masses. 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 app developers finally seem to be taking Windows on Arm seriously. Popular apps like Chrome, Spotify, and Photoshop are now all compiled natively for Windows on Arm, and more apps and developers are joining in 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. The more apps compiled natively for Arm, the less emulation is needed, which means better performance and battery life. My Surface Pro X is a better device today than it was two years ago, thanks to app developers finally switching to Arm for most of the apps I use.

This is not a flash in the pan either. Microsoft has every intention of offering all of its high-end Surface PCs with an Arm chip in the future, including the upcoming Surface Laptop Studio, which I’m told is currently in the works but won’t probably not appear before 2025.

Microsoft’s big AI breakthrough in Windows will be exclusive to Windows on Arm devices for now, at least until Intel and AMD are able to create NPUs (neural processing units) that can match to what Qualcomm produces. With this in mind, I think the ultimate goal is for the platform architecture to be irrelevant to the end user. If a Windows PC with a Qualcomm chip is just as good as a Windows PC with an Intel chip, why does it matter whether it’s x86 or Arm?

All will be revealed on Monday

Windows on Arm is finally about to be in the spotlight, and for all the right reasons. The combination of silicon and AI experiences will remain unmatched for some time. If you’re currently in the market for a new PC and your next one isn’t a Windows on Arm device, you’re making a huge mistake.

Windows Central will be on the ground at Microsoft’s special Windows and Surface event on Monday, May 20. Tune in to our live blog at 10am (1pm ET, 6pm BST) for all the news as it happens. You can also check out our detailed What to Expect article for spoilers!