Devs Start Bringing Windows 10 to Android Phones From Samsung, OnePlus
The OS has already been installed on a OnePlus 6.
Some developers are bringing Windows 10 on Arm (the processor architecture, not the appendage) to flagship Android smartphones, as reported by Windows Latest this week.
These efforts are in their early stages. A developer called "Lemon1Ice" told Windows Latest that Windows 10 on Arm can be installed on the OnePlus 6 and is being ported to Xiaomi's Mi Mix 2S, but much of the operating system (OS) is unusable. Another developer called "Enviso0n" is attempting to bring the OS to Samsung's Galaxy S8.
Windows 10 on Arm enables this kind of tinkering because smartphones and so-called always connected PCs use many of the same chips (often from Qualcomm). Microsoft didn't intend for the desktop version of Windows 10 to reach smartphones, but the shared Arm architecture makes it possible, at least in theory.
Like other projects, these efforts might serve little practical purpose. Microsoft announced in January that it would end support for Windows 10 Mobile at the end of the year, indicating that people don't even want to use a mobile-optimized version of Windows on their smartphones. Who'd want to use the full desktop version?
The real value in these projects comes from demonstrating the power of the Arm architecture and the value in supporting it. Microsoft brought Windows 10 to Arm, so it could make PCs with Qualcomm chips that never have to go without Internet access, and in doing so, it opened up a world of possibility for many other devices.
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Nathaniel Mott is a freelance news and features writer for Tom's Hardware US, covering breaking news, security, and the silliest aspects of the tech industry.
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bwohl I’m so glad I kept the Surface2 with a Tegra chip on the garage shelf. Will it finally get Win10? 😭😂🤣Reply -
djayjp No, the real power of this is that you'll only have one device and you'll hook your phone up (or wirelessly) to a monitor, keyboard, and mouse or to something like the Mirabook. I can't wait for this to happen.Reply -
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that would be cool. i would get an andriod just for that, my notebook is so horrible and crappy next to my phone.djayjp said:No, the real power of this is that you'll only have one device and you'll hook your phone up (or wirelessly) to a monitor, keyboard, and mouse or to something like the Mirabook. I can't wait for this to happen.