Microsoft was pressed not to use ARM on the Surface Go

Aug 27, 2018 05:05 GMT  ·  By

Microsoft launched the Surface Go with an Intel processor, and even though in terms of performance this new model isn’t exactly a workhorse, it could’ve been a lot worse.

The software giant originally planned to equip the Surface Go with an ARM processor in an attempt to support the company’s own Windows 10 on ARM push, but as it turns out, Intel played a key role in bringing its own chips to the device.

A report from Thurrott reveals that Intel has insisted Microsoft must use its processors on the Surface Go instead of ARM chips, a decision that the firm eventually made to offer a more balanced mix of costs and performance.

The Surface Go comes with Pentium Gold processors, and while it doesn’t offer premium performance figures like its more expensive Surface siblings, it does boast excellent value for the money that relies on Surface-branded quality and enough power for the most common tasks.

Windows 10 on ARM

Despite Microsoft struggling to make Windows 10 on ARM a successful project, this idea is yet to gain traction, especially as the first models that launched this year have been widely criticized for their performance.

Windows 10 on ARM chips devices were originally developed to offer an untouched Windows 10 experience without any performance impact due to the choice of processors, but as the first buyers found out, Microsoft still has a long way to go before actually bringing these models in line with their Intel siblings.

But at the same time, Microsoft is still committed to Windows 10 on ARM, though it’s not yet known when the company could bring to the market its own device running this platform. For the time being, however, it’s working with partners on finalizing a new series of laptops running on Snapdragon 850, with the first of them likely to see daylight by the end of the year.