Microsoft 's Windows 10 on ARM is now a reality and the first devices are expected to launch in the coming months and it seems they will not only compete with each other but also with a new line of Chromebooks.
XDA has found evidence that a Chromebook powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon is in the works, making Chrome OS a strong rival to Windows 10 S.
Although there is no further information confirming the existence of a Snapdragon-powered Chromebook yet, we could soon have two Chrome OS and Windows 10 S devices powered by the same Snapdragon 845 processor.
ARM chips have already been used in Chromebooks, but performance has been far below expectations, largely due to the use of Rockchip or similar processors whose specifications are significantly lower than Qualcomm's. On the other hand, Chromebooks powered by Intel Atom or Celeron have performed better, although the ARM architecture could bring more advantages, including support for new features and a larger battery.
Microsoft itself claims that Windows 10 on ARM can last up to a full week, with the majority of devices offering around 20 hours of active use per day.
Although the Snapdragon 845 could be offered in Chromebooks, Google has a lot of work to do on the software side as Chrome OS needs support for all the new features, whether that means biometrics, VR, or AR.
The first Windows 10 on ARM devices, officially referred to by Microsoft as Always Connected PCs, will hit the market in the first quarter of 2018. Devices powered by the Snapdragon 845 will likely launch a year later, as the processor needs several improvements before it can be released in computers.
