Microsoft Launches News Windows Dev Kit 2023 for Developers

Microsoft launches a new ARM-based computer for developers, the Windows Dev Kit 2023, powered by the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 SoC and utilising the Qualcomm Neural Processing SDK.

FREMONT, CA:Microsoft launched the Windows Dev Kit 2023, a new personal computer designed for developers using the ARM chip design. The Windows Dev Kit 2023 is delivered in eight countries, including Canada, the UK, the US, China, France, Germany, and Japan. It is a part of Project Volterra, which helps developers build, run, and test Windows apps from Arm on a single compact device.

The Windows Dev Kit 2023 is powered by the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 SoC and uses the Qualcomm Neural Processing SDK. This device supports 32 GB of RAM and 512 GB of high-speed NVMe storage with multiple ports such as built-in Wi-Fi six, physical ethernet, three USB-A and two USB-C, and a Mini Display port for connectivity. Dev Kit 2023 drives up to three external monitors simultaneously, including two at 4K 60Hz.

Windows Dev Kit 2023 facilitates developers' ability to build apps using NPU hardware to accelerate AI and ML workloads, delivering AI-powered features and experiences. This will get access to ARM-compatible versions of Microsoft’s core productivity apps and selected third-party programs. Furthermore, it runs many software development tools.

This Microsoft device is aimed at developers interested in building, testing, and running native Windows apps on Arm. To encourage more developers to focus on the Windows on Arm platform, Microsoft has released previews of various tools ported to Arm, including Visual Studio 2022, the Windows App SDK, and libraries including VC++ Runtimes and NET 7. The company also ported Teams, Arm 64 Office, Edge, Defender for Endpoint, and OneDrive Sync to work on Arm natively.

In addition, Microsoft offers developers access to its App Assure app compatibility service, another attractive feature of the solution. Devs encountering app-compatibility issues or technical blockers when porting their apps using the Windows Dev Kit 2023 will get assistance from Microsoft engineers to fix the problems.

Although non-developers are encouraged to buy Windows Dev Kit 2023 devices, there is no reason for normal users to be running Windows on Arm. Microsoft is working on making Windows on Arm work comparably to Windows on other platforms. The kinds of battery life and performance promised by Arm have not materialised for most in real-world use, despite OEMs citing pretty impressive numbers.

Arm devices can run x86, x64, and Arm 64 apps simultaneously. Currently, in-market and upcoming devices are significantly rapid and will get quicker as more apps are ported. There are millions of works carried out today to analyse and improve power consumption. However, the CPU is rarely the largest power consumer in a laptop or tablet, with the screen or wireless communications taking the lead. With Surface Pro 9 and the new Windows Dev Kit 2023, there will be more investments made in Windows on Arm, ultimately benefiting customers and the entire Windows ecosystem.