Windows 10 in S mode is what Microsoft wants the future of Windows to be. It's a mode that stays fast, secure, and is locked to the Microsoft Store for all your apps and games. There are quite a few Windows 10 S devices on the market today, and more are being added all the time. Most of the Windows 10 S laptops available right now are either low-cost x86 devices, or premium Windows 10 on ARM-based devices. Here are the best.
Premium on a budget
Microsoft is now selling its first tablet with Windows 10 S enabled. The $399 Surface Go features a 10-inch 1800x1200 display with 4GB or 8GB RAM and 64GB eMMC or 128GB SSD storage. It also features an Intel Pentium 4415Y GOLD CPU, a touchscreen, and even pen support. Everything you'd expect from a Surface.
Premium 2-in-1
This 2-in-1 PC is powered by the Snapdragon 850, making it a Windows 10 on ARM device that also comes bundled with Windows 10 S mode. It has always-on capabilities, LTE support, and is a great looking laptop that features a full-size keyboard and a 13-inch display. You can't go wrong with the Lenovo Yoga C630 if you're looking for a great laptop with Windows 10 S mode out of the box.
Surface Pro with ARM
Samsung sells a Surface Pro-like PC that also runs on a Snapdragon 850 with LTE, and comes with Windows 10 S mode out of the box. It's one of the latest Windows 10 on ARM PCs, and features an excellent build quality that feels great to hold. It has Windows Hello in the form of a fingerprint reader and has 4GB RAM and 128GB internal storage. This is a flagship, premium Windows 10 tablet, and S mode is front and center.
The original
The Microsoft Surface Laptop is the OG of the Windows 10 S market. Being the first device to launch with Windows 10 S, the Surface Laptop is a device designed to show the world what a Windows 10 S laptop is supposed to look like. It's a premium, straight-up laptop that has no special 2-in-1 capabilities. It's the MacBook of the Windows 10 S world, and it's great.
Always on, always connected
The HP Envy x2 was the first Windows 10 on ARM device to hit store shelves. Rocking a Snapdragon 835, 4GB or 8GB RAM, LTE capabilities, and a beautiful 12-inch 1080p display, the HP Envy x2 is a premium 2-in-1 with pen support that comes with Windows 10 in S mode enabled. Windows 10 on ARM and Windows 10 S work great together, as most of the apps that are natively compiled for Windows 10 on ARM are already in the Microsoft Store anyway!
ARM-powered fun
The Lenovo Miix 630 is a 2-in-1 tablet that features a kickstand, keyboard cover, pen, and a 12-inch Full HD display. It's rocking a Snapdragon 835 with 4GB RAM and 128GB Storage, LTE capabilities, and 20 hours of battery, which makes it great for taking on the go. It does cost $849 however, which is pretty steep for a device that isn't as premium-built as the HP Envy x2.It does come with Windows 10 S mode enabled, which is great. It's 1.7 pounds, and an Adreno A540 for light mobile gaming.
Budget friendly
The HP Stream 11 G4 is a budget Windows 10 S laptop that costs $275 and features an Intel Pentium N3450 quad-core CPU, 4GB DDR3L SDRAM, 64GB of internal storage, and an 11-inch 1366x768 resolution screen. This laptop is designed primarily for education markets, but looks just like any other HP Stream device on the market.
Laptop and tablet
ASUS was one of the first to get a Windows 10 on ARM device out onto the market. Unlike the HP Envy x2, the $640 ASUS NovaGo is a convertible laptop rather than a 2-in-1, meaning it looks and feels just like a normal laptop except it has a 360 degree hinge that allows it to quickly be turned into a tablet. Featuring a Snapdragon 835, 13.3-inch 1080p display, 8GB RAM and LTE capabilities, this laptop is great for general use using Microsoft's ARM version of Windows 10.
Flip it open
The Asus VivoBook Flip 14 is a relatively low-end 14-inch laptop that's also a 2-in-1. Featuring an Intel Quad-Core Celeron N3450 Processor, 64GB eMMC storage, 4GB RAM, and a 1080p display, the VivoBook is a great offering for casual users who just want to use their PC for Office, email, and web browsing. The device costs $349, much cheaper than the Surface Laptop, but still a little expensive compared to other Windows 10 S devices. Most sub $400 laptops have terrible screens or terrible designs, but the VivoBook features a great full HD screen and a really nice look and feel to the design.
Built to last
The ASUS VivoBook W202NA-YS03 is the rugged version of the 11-inch laptop mentioned above. This model is designed specifically for the K-12 market, and is preloaded with Windows 10 S. It features a bulky but strong build, and is packing a Intel Dual-Core Celeron N3350 processor, 4GB RAM, 64GB eMMC flash storage, an 11.6 inch matte finish HD screen, HDMI, USB, HD webcam, and up to 11 hour battery life. What's great about this laptop is that it's rugged, meaning it's designed to survive a bit of tough love here and there. It has a spill-resistant keyboard, and a body that can survive drops meaning If you're a student looking for a laptop for school, you can't go wrong with this.
Light and cheap
The Acer Aspire One is another low-cost, low-budget Windows 10 S laptop. Featuring a Intel Celeron N3450 Quad-Core Processor, 4GB RAM, 32GB storage, and a 14-inch 1080p display. The Aspire One is yet another device for casual users who might only want to browse the web, check their email or do Office-related work. It also has a wide-array of ports, in case you need to connect a peripheral.
Low end, low power
Just like the Acer Aspire One, the Lenovo Ideapad 130S is a low-end laptop designed for the casual user. Rocking an 11.6-inch HD display, Intel Celeron N4000 Processor, 32GB eMMC storage and 4GB RAM, the Lenovo Ideapad 120S is one of the lower-end offerings on our list. Still, the Ideapad 130S features a nice, streamlined and minimal design that looks great from any angle.
Whether you're looking for a Windows 10 S device for the classroom, or a high-end, premium device for use around the house, there's a choice for everyone here. I'm a use fan of the Surface Go, as it's not expensive, yet still packs the same high-end build quality of the rest of the Surface line, but Windows 10 S installed by default. It's pretty great. Windows 10 S devices continue to show up from hardware makers all the time, so we'll continue to add to this article when we spot any new ones.
