"Releasing a new version of Windows that just covers new Arm PCs is another signal of Microsoft's commitment to Arm processors and the Arm version of Windows, after decades of near-exclusive focus on the x86 version of the OS that ran on Intel and AMD's chips. Microsoft offered multiple versions of both Windows 10 and Windows 11 in both x86 and Arm editions, but the 24H2 update was a major milestone for Arm PCs."
"Microsoft's confidence in the Arm version of Windows was so great that the new Surface PCs released in mid-2024 used Qualcomm's processors exclusively, relegating Intel chips to offshoot versions targeted specifically at businesses with strict compatibility requirements. For years previously, Microsoft had treated the Intel- and AMD-based Surfaces as the "main" ones and the Arm-based Surface Pro X as the offshoot."
App developers and IT teams must account for two Windows variants during an overlap: one that runs only on brand-new Arm PCs and one that covers existing devices. Microsoft increased investment in Arm by releasing a Windows version aimed solely at Arm PCs and making major 24H2 changes to the compiler, kernel, scheduler, and the Prism x86-to-Arm translation layer to improve compatibility and performance. The 24H2 update coincided with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X-series launch and wider availability of Arm-native Windows apps. Microsoft shipped new Surface PCs in mid-2024 using Qualcomm processors exclusively, relegating Intel chips to niche business-focused models.
Read at Ars Technica
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