After checking out what companies were showing off during CES 2026, we noticed one common trend: a ton of Snapdragon devices. Companies were keen to hop onto the Copilot+ train, so they adopted the Snapdragon architecture to give their devices the AI chops to meet the system requirements.

Now, it seems that Microsoft is cooking up a new version of Windows 11, titled 26H1. Strangely, this version will only be released for devices with Snapdragon chips in them, leaving people using Intel and AMD chips in the dark. However, Microsoft has a good excuse as to why the Snapdragon devices are seemingly getting the favored treatment.

Windows 11's 26H1 will be a Snapdragon-exclusive version

But don't get too jealous just yet

The news comes to us via Windows Central after they suspected that Microsoft would have a special Windows update schedule for Snapdragon devices. Sure enough, they got talking with the good folk at Asus, and the company confirmed that its ZenBook A14 and A16 devices, which have Snapdragon chips, will ship with Windows 11 version 26H1. Meanwhile, its AMD and Intel devices will ship with 25H2.

If you're currently not on a Snapdragon device, there's some good news and bad news. The bad news is that Windows 11 26H1 does contain some improvements that 25H2 doesn't have, including some tweaks under the hood that improve performance. The good news is, the update doesn't introduce any new features, so it's not like 26H1 users will get new, amazing apps before anyone else. Also, everyone else should get all the relevant non-Snapdragon tweaks with 26H2.

So, why the mismatch? Well, Windows Central believes the underlying reason relates to how both Microsoft and Qualcomm handle things. Qualcomm releases updates at a different time than Microsoft, so Microsoft needs to change its own plans to keep up with what the Snapdragon manufacturer is doing.

Microsoft also has a huge incentive to match Qualcomm's rhythm. While Snapdragon chips don't rule the AI PC roost like they did last year, companies still adopt the technology to ensure their computers meet the Copilot+ standards. On paper, Microsoft giving Snapdragon devices preferential treatment may work as a marketing tool to get people to use Copilot+ devices. Said users would, in turn, check out all the AI stuff they can do with their new device.

26H1 may not contain new features, but if Microsoft does release a 27H1, I wouldn't be surprised if Microsoft added new features into the mix that Snapdragon adopters get to use early. I also wouldn't be shocked if Microsoft advertised this as a feature for purchasing a Snapdragon device to increase sales of Copilot+ devices. However, this is just speculation; after all, we're seeing Copilot+ PCs running Intel and AMD chips too, so who knows where things go from here?