Last month, Microsoft announced its first new ARM-based Surface PC since the ill-fated Surface RT lineup. The company has come a long way since the Windows RT days though, as Windows 10 on ARM processors can run 32-bit Intel apps in emulation now. In other words, it"s not a hobbled version of the OS, unless you"re trying to use something that"s exclusive to AMD64.
The Surface Pro X uses a custom version of Qualcomm"s Snapdragon 8cx chipset, called the Microsoft SQ-1. Microsoft says that it"s optimized for Surface hardware, with a higher clock speed than the 8cx and a slightly different GPU, the Adreno 685. It also comes with up to 16GB RAM, a first for Windows on ARM.
The Pro X doesn"t share the same design as the Intel Pro series though, with narrow bezels and a slimmer chassis. Naturally, it can be as thin and light as it is because ARM chipsets allow for the PC to be fanless. There"s also a new Slim Pen, which has a garage right inside of the Type Cover; the pen charges in its garage as well.
The Surface Pro X is available beginning today, starting at $999, which will get you 8GB RAM and a 28GB SSD. It maxes out at $1,799 for 16GB RAM and a 512GB SSD; none of these prices include the Slim Pen or the Type Cover. If you want to check out the Surface Pro X, you can find it on the Microsoft Store here.