Earlier this month, a version of Windows 10X leaked to the internet, giving the public a chance to get a first look at the upcoming operating system with new Start and Action menus Center.
It took a few days and the developers started testing the upcoming operating system on different Appliances: a Lumia phone, a Surface Go (Intel Core m3) and an Apple MacBook with an M1 ARM processor.
For those who do not follow the news, Microsoft first introduced Windows 10X in the still under development Surface Neo, while it was expected to be released in December 2020.
Surface Neo with Windows 10X for dual screen will be delayed until 2022, but the company confirmed that the Windows 10X operating system will be released first for single-screen devices.
To avoid further delays, Microsoft also removed "VAIL" technology that would allow Windows 10X to run Win32 applications.
This allowed the company to build Windows 10X natively for ARM-based processors such as the Qualcomm Snapdragon and the Apple M1. So some developers managed to run the upcoming OS on an ARM-based MacBook, a Lumia phone and an Intel-based Surface Go.
Independent developer Ben was able to run Windows 10X on the Apple M1 via QEMU virtualization and it seems to be performing surprisingly well. Note that Windows 10 in ARM (Windows 10X) is not designed for the Apple MacBook.
In fact, the operating system was originally intended for Intel hardware.
In addition to the Apple M1, developers have managed to "switch" Windows 10X to Windows Phone (Lumia 950 XL).
It took a few tweaks to run the operating system on the Lumia but it eventually worked with several limitations.
Another developer also managed to switch the version of a Windows 10X screen to a Surface Go.
Windows 10X 20279 running on the original Microsoft Surface Go LTE. Same as last year, unfortunately, no WiFi, no Cameras.
Thanks to @NTAuthority @thebookisclosed @ gus33000 and entire @Inside_Windows Community!
We'll publish new instructions soon on https://t.co/iOPTFVXKvl. Stay tuned! pic.twitter.com/9jYXd5PyjS
- Daniel Kornev (@danielko) January 17, 2021
Windows 10X seems to work fine on these devices. But there are several limitations and problems with Wi-Fi, touch and programs drivers.
Similarly, the installation process is not simple and requires you to know command line tools, such as PowerShell.