14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has released a new update to Windows 10 Mobile devices in the Fast and Slow rings of the Windows Insider program, and while this isn’t necessarily coming out of the blue given that it landed on Patch Tuesday, there is something that took everyone by surprise: the name of the update.
The update is called “April 2017 update for Windows 10 Version 15063.138 for arm-based Phone Devices” and is available in the Phone update section of your device, but only if you are part of the Windows Insider program in the aforementioned rings.
As you can see, Microsoft gave up on the traditional naming system for updates and this change makes many hardcore Windows phone fans dream about something big for their platform.
Fixes and improvements
First and foremost, there’s nothing new with this update beside its name. Windows phones are ARM devices in the first place, as they use processors developed by Qualcomm, and the update is just a typical Patch Tuesday release that brings security fixes and improvements, while also bumping OS version to 15063.138.
As you probably know already, build 15063 is the RTM version of the Creators Update, and with the Windows phone rollout scheduled to start on April 25, this update probably paves the way for this important release. Unfortunately, only some devices are getting it, like the Lumia 950 and 950 XL, but insiders should install the update on their phones anyway.
Given that Microsoft is specifically calling this update as developed for ARM-based phones, the most optimistic fans claim this is a change made in anticipation of the debut of a x86 device, though this is very unlikely. Microsoft is committed to bringing the full version of Windows 10 on ARM chips, and the company has already presented a demo on the Snapdragon 820 with help from Qualcomm, and there’s a good chance that the Surface Phone, if it ever sees daylight, is based on this approach.