Tech companies like Microsoft often try to hype up the latest innovations every couple of years. Their goal? To persuade us to buy new computers or gadgets. Maybe it’s a screen with a smoother picture, a new operating system that won’t work on older machines or faster internet connectivity. Their most recent buzzword is AI and special chips to run artificial intelligence programs more efficiently on your device.
But what if I told you there might be a really big reason to upgrade your computer in 2024 – and it has nothing to do with AI? Hear me out on this one.
The next revolution in computers is all about ARM processors
ARM (Advanced RISC Machine) is a processor architecture commonly found in smartphones, tablets, and handheld gaming devices. While they’ve been around for a while in these gadgets, ARM chips are now making serious waves in the computer world too.
The key selling point of ARM processors is that they are incredibly tiny and power-efficient compared to the processors found in most traditional desktop and laptop computers you’re likely familiar with. This allows ARM-based devices to run much longer on a single battery charge.
Despite these power-sipping advantages, major computer makers largely ignored ARM chips until recently. It was Apple that kicked off this “ARM revolution” back in 2020 when they launched their own custom M-series ARM processors.
Over the past 4 years, we’ve seen Apple’s ARM-based computers dominate in balancing raw performance with superior energy efficiency and battery life. Other companies are finally taking note.
Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite
But get ready because this year is going to shake things up! Qualcomm has developed a new chip called the Snapdragon X Elite that seems as powerful as Apple’s latest M3 processor. Qualcomm claims this Snapdragon chip is 28% faster than the M3 in some tests. It also blows past Intel and AMD’s latest laptop processors for single-core performance.
And it looks like Qualcomm isn’t stopping there. Leaks suggest they are already working on more affordable ARM chips beyond the high-end X Elite model, though these cheaper options likely won’t arrive until 2025.
Microsoft has seen this ARM revolution coming. With the next major Windows 11 update (version 24H2), they’ve added a ton of under-the-hood optimizations for ARM-based computers, so much so that Qualcomm’s new processors will only be compatible with this new Windows 11 version.
The key points I’ve covered are Qualcomm’s new powerful ARM chip challenging Apple’s M3, hints at more ARM options from Qualcomm in the future, and Microsoft’s preparing Windows 11 to optimize for these new ARM processors. Let me know if any part needs further clarification!
Why do we recommend it?
It seems ARM processors are currently way ahead of the competition. So much so that by 2025, we expect to see new ARM chips from significant players like Nvidia and AMD. Qualcomm shook things up with their Snapdragon X Elite, proving you can get insane performance without guzzling power like traditional chips.
If you’ve been considering upgrading your computer for a while now, I advise you to hold off until the second half of this year. That’s when we’ll start seeing interesting new devices powered by the Snapdragon X Elite hit the market. The rumored next Surface Pro 10 with its OLED screen could be a fantastic showcase of this new ARM tech.
Laptops and 2-in-1 devices have desperately needed a revolution like this for years. I’ve always felt the battery life on most laptops was pretty lacking. It’s nearly impossible to do a full day of serious work without being tethered to a charger. These new ARM chips will allow marathon battery life while offering top-notch performance.
Plus, running so calmly and efficiently minimizes performance throttling and overheating issues that can degrade a laptop over time. These ARM computers could become more durable and longer-lasting as a result.
