With any Windows on ARM PC, you can run native ARM64 apps and emulated 32-bit Intel apps. The Surface Pro X isn't for everyone, and in fact, no single PC is right for everyone. I've always been a fan of Windows on ARM PCs, for their slim and light designs, integrated 4G LTE connectivity, instant-on functionality, and frankly, it's nice to see a little bit of diversity in the processor lineup with Windows PCs. The new chip architecture brings with it a design overhaul from the Intel models, packing a slimmer design that's possible with the smaller chipset and lack of a need for a fan. Microsoft's Surface Pro X legitimizes Windows 10 on ARM, using its custom SQ1 processor. Now, it seems like Windows on ARM is ready for prime time. And then came the Snapdragon 8cx, a chipset built from the ground up for PCs, with Qualcomm promising performance on par with an eighth-generation Intel Core i5.

The first two generations, the Snapdragon 835 and 850, weren't powerful enough for premium PCs. At Snapdragon Technology Summit in 2016, Qualcomm and Microsoft announced their plans to bring full Windows 10 to ARM processors, running native ARM apps like Windows RT did, but filling in a key gap by offering support for x86 apps through emulation. The first Surface PC to use an ARM processor was actually the original Surface, but things have changed a lot since then.

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