ARM64 builds of Windows 10 are coming to Windows Update

During WinHEC 2016 (Windows Hardware Engineering Conference), Microsoft made the announcement that they are working together with Qualcomm to bring Windows 10 to Snapdragon ARM mobile processors. It looks like Microsoft has already started uploading ARM64 builds of Windows 10 to Windows Update.

A number of files for Windows 10 ARM64 build 16281 are now available for download from the Windows Update servers, as noticed by users on My Digital Life forums. The ARM64 files also seem to be available for different SKUs such as Windows 10 S, Enterprise, Pro, and more. These files are used by the Unified Update Platform (UUP) in Windows 10. The user has to combine them in order to create the full ISO. These files also suggest that Windows 10 on ARM devices will be supported by the Windows Insider program, just like any other Windows 10 PCs.

In partnership with Qualcomm, Microsoft will bring Windows 10 to Snapdragon CPUs. Those CPUs will be able to run Win32 apps through a special emulation of the x86 platform. Devices using Snapdragon 835 or later CPUs will be able to run classic 32-bit desktop apps but not native 64-bit desktop programs yet.

See Windows 10 comes to ARM CPUs with x86 app support

ARM64 chips are considered more energy efficient compared to x86 CPUs from Intel and AMD. Using the new platform, OEMs will be able to create even smaller, lighter and powerful devices with the power of full Windows 10. You will be able to run many apps you use and love, including some Adobe products like Photoshop.

Microsoft and its OEM partners are expected to reveal the hardware for Windows 10 on ARM in the coming months. This shouldn't be far from the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update release date, which is set to October 17, 2017.

Source: MSPowerUser.

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