- Windows 11 26H1 will be for Snapdragon X2 laptops only
- Those Snapdragon X2 PCs won’t get the 26H2 update, which will be kept separate for other Windows 11 devices
- This is seemingly part of Microsoft’s plan to avoid the scenario seen with the 24H2 update, where changes for Arm PCs caused chaos on other devices
We already knew Windows 11‘s 26H1 update wouldn’t be coming to most PCs – and was for Arm laptops only – but Microsoft has now confirmed that it’s just for Snapdragon X2 devices, while providing some more details on the upgrade.
This includes the fact that these Arm PCs – which aren’t on sale just yet, but are imminent – won’t receive the 26H2 update later this year.
VideoCardz noticed Microsoft‘s confirmation in a blog post which stated: “Windows 11, version 26H1 is a targeted release that supports some of the new device innovations coming in 2026.
“That means that this release is not being made available through broad channels but is only intended for those who purchase these new devices. At this time, devices with Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Series processors will come with Windows 11, version 26H1.”
Microsoft clarifies that 26H1 is based on a different underlying core codebase than the current version of Windows 11, which is 25H2, and that as a result, 25H2 users won’t get an upgrade to 26H1.
In the same vein, those who buy a Snapdragon X2 laptop this year with 26H1 on board will not get the 26H2 update later on – this will be for 25H2 PCs only.
Analysis: a somewhat confusing twist, but a prudent one
This means Microsoft is keeping existing Windows 11 PCs on a completely different track for new OS builds to the new incoming Arm-based Snapdragon X2 laptops. These separate builds will not be merged in the update for later in the year (26H2).
This is quite different to the tack Microsoft took with the original Snapdragon X PCs, where a version of Windows 11 24H2 was floated early, specifically for those laptops only, but later became the full 24H2 update for all machines.
If you recall, that famously led to 24H2 being seriously buggy, and a real headache for non-Arm PCs, and so this is what has presumably led to Microsoft’s decision here. It’s keeping the new underlying platform Windows 11 needs for Snapdragon X2 – this is called ‘Bromine’ – completely separate on 26H1, while the current ‘Germanium’ platform, as seen with Windows 11 25H2 (and first introduced with 24H2), will be where the 26H2 update lands.
Given that, you might be wondering: when will Windows 11 26H1 Snapdragon X2 PCs get their next update, then? It won’t be until next year, and maybe not until the second half of 2027 (with 27H2), if Microsoft is going to unify these separate builds at that point – which is seemingly the case.
Essentially, the idea is to keep the ‘Bromine’-powered Windows 11 builds distinct from the existing incarnation of the OS until Microsoft has had a whole lot more time to fix any bugs the new platform might cause with AMD and Intel (non-Arm) CPUs. This should avoid a repeat of the bug-fest that was 24H2, and Microsoft appears to have learned its lesson from that disastrous run of glitches.
The downside is that it’s admittedly confusing for consumers to have these separate Windows 11 releases, and it might leave Snapdragon X2 laptop owners a bit miffed as to why they are missing out on the 26H2 update later this year. (Note that they shouldn’t be out in the cold with new features, mind, which can still be delivered with monthly cumulative updates).
Also noteworthy here is that Snapdragon X2 chips are singled out in Microsoft’s blog post, but only that silicon – there’s no mention of Nvidia‘s N1X chip. This rival Arm CPU was rumored to be arriving in Q1 2026, meaning by next month, but with nothing said about Nvidia’s processors in this clarification post about 26H1, that’s looking a shakier idea now.
Maybe we shouldn’t read too much into that, but still – it certainly casts a shadow of doubt for the time being.
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