In context: Microsoft's Arm-based laptops and portable computers starting time launched in 2022 and accept mysteriously run only Qualcomm SoCs always since. Since Microsoft never announced any official exclusivity bargain with Qualcomm, many consumers have wondered why we haven't seen other brands, such every bit Samsung, develop processors for Windows on Arm machines. Now, it looks like we finally take answers.

According to a new study from XDA Developers, Microsoft does take an exclusivity deal with Qualcomm. The site says this is the primary reason competitors similar Samsung and MediaTek have been unable to integrate their SoCs into Windows on Arm laptops and foldables.

There's a silvery lining for those companies, though: apparently, Qualcomm'southward jackpot of a deal is set to expire "soon." Neither we nor XDA have a specific cease date, unfortunately. It'south unclear whether the site's sources were unable or unwilling to provide one. Even so, competition is about certainly on the way -- assuming those sources' definition of 'soon' isn't "several years," we could first to come across Windows on Arm machines running alternate processors in 2022.

The HP Elite Page, a Windows on Arm machine.

Windows on Arm launched in late 2022, so it would make some caste of sense for the deal to finish up five years later, in late 2022. We already know that some other companies are developing chipsets for Windows on Arm: MediaTek appear every bit much recently, and we doubt the company would exist so bold if Qualcomm'southward authorisation is set in stone.

Still, to be clear, that's pure speculation on our part. Only Microsoft and Qualcomm could give us a definitive end engagement for their alleged deal, and given how tight-lipped they've remained and then far, nosotros doubt that information will be forthcoming.

Regardless, we look forward to seeing what the future of Arm-based Windows machines will wait like. The benefits of the Arm architecture are numerous (20+ hr battery life beingness one of them), so nosotros'd love to see more companies compete in this space and offer their own SoCs for Windows.