ARM Processors in Laptops Promise to Revolutionise Battery Life
We’ve been waiting for the latest development in the world of laptops, and it looks like Microsoft, along with several partners, are leading the way by reviving its vision of using the ARM processors that we normally associate with smartphones. The first laptops to feature these chips are the HP Envy X2 and ASUS NovaGo with Lenovo expecting to unveil more new machines at CES 2018. The biggest advantage of these new laptops will be an extended battery life, but what else do we know about laptops using ARM processors?
What benefits will ARM processors bring to laptops?
The performance of microprocessors used in smartphones has been steadily rising for some time. The latest proof being the A11 Bionic processors used in the iPhone 8 and iPhone X which are strong enough to handle standard programmes and have some parameters that are catching up with the ubiquitous Intel processors. Microsoft is looking to use their expertise, and that of several other leading brands, to revive the idea of a using mobile ARM architecture to power fully-fledged Windows 10 operating system on laptops. The introduction of this miniature hardware opens up a whole world of possibilities for both the user and the manufacturer attractive.
According to preliminary tests, the stamina of notebooks with ARM processors has been staggering - batteries were predicted to last for several days on a single charge. But, how do they perform in reality? The first ARM-equipped laptop to put their claims onto paper has announced a lifespan of 20 hours of full operation and a month in sleep mode. Presently, the best ultrabooks can last for around fifteen hours. Mobile processors will not just bring a longer lasting battery and energy savings to your workstation. ARM-equipped laptops allow you to emulate the behaviour of smartphones by utilising LTE to be constantly online, and you won't have to wait for your laptop to boot up as they can use a standby mode with an instant wakeup feature.
ARM processors mean a significant reduction in hardware - ideal for thin ultrabooks and 2 in 1 tablets.
The first ARM processor is the Snapdragon 835. How will it perform?
Many of your questions about ARM processors will be answered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835, which has already passed initial performance tests when used in laptops. It did score around a third fewer points than when used as a smartphone processor, but these can be clawed back after further optimalisation. Currently, the Snapdragon 835 is not performing up to the standards of traditional processors. However, this is the model and there is evidence that there is more to come from mobile processors. Laptops with ARM processors should be more suitable for multimedia and regular office work, but there are more hurdles to overcome such as dealing with program emulation.
ASUS NovaGo and HP Envy X2
The first models were announced by HP and ASUS at the end of 2017. The ASUS NovaGo is a large ultrabook with a non-removable but rotational 13.3" touch screen with a 1920x1080 pixel resolution and stylish support. You can choose from 4 or 8 GB of RAM and an internal storage of 64GB or 256GB respectively. It has connectivity similar to classic ultrabooks, with a pair of USB connectors, HDMI and a card reader. The laptop should have a 15mm and weigh 1.39kg.
With the NovaGo model, ASUS has released a classic keyboard design with a non-removable touchscreen that turns the ultrabook into a tablet.
The HP Envy X2 is a tablet with a keyboard connector. It offers a 12.3" display with a resolution of 1920×1280 pixels with similar parameters to the ASUS NovaGo. In its strongest configuration, 8 GB of RAM and 256GB of storage should be assisted by the mobile processor. The tablet will be 6.9mm thin and weigh just 700g. As a result of the slim profile, it will only have USB-C ports available.
HP bets on a tablet with a thin removable keyboard to target more compact devices though you have to deal with less connectors.
Windows S and upgrade to full version
At the moment, ARM-equipped laptops will not be available for sale with a full version of Windows 10. As it has done for some time, pre-installed Windows 10 S will only allow you to install applications from the Microsoft Store. Although it is possible, for an extra charge, to upgrade the system to a full-featured version that some standard programmes will run on.
