In-Depth

Gallery: Windows 10 Takes Spotlight at CES 2016

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Last year's CES event showcased mostly Windows 8.x devices that could be upgraded to Windows 10. This year, Microsoft's hardware partners were all-in on the new OS.

It's been a good winter for Windows 10. Roughly six months after its release, Microsoft's latest operating system has already clocked 200 million licenses, giving it "the fastest growth trajectory of any version of Windows," according to the company. No doubt, a good deal of that adoption is due to the free upgrade offer that Microsoft has extended to existing consumer users of Windows 7 and Windows 8.x. However, strong retail sales over the holiday season have also contributed to Windows 10's fast growth. According to Microsoft, 40 percent of all Windows 10 device activations took place after the critical Black Friday shopping period.

Notably, Microsoft has also reported strong adoption among business users. Over three-quarters of enterprise Windows users are participating in Windows 10 pilot programs, Microsoft said.

Microsoft's OEM partners are hoping to keep that momentum going with a slew of new Windows 10 devices unveiled at this week's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Here's a quick sampling:


Dell Latitude 12 7000 Series 2-in-1

Dell's new detachable tablet device joins the ranks of Microsoft Surface clones aimed at mobility-minded professionals. This 12.5-inch device transitions from tablet to laptop via a detachable keyboard (a stylus is optional).

  • Price: Starts at $1,049
  • Availability: Early February 2016


Samsung Galaxy TabPro S

Another Surface lookalike, the 12-inch Galaxy TabPro S from Samsung promises 10.5 hours of battery life after just 2.5 hours of charging time. Samsung also touts this as the first Windows 10 device to support Category 6 LTE, enabling high-speed Internet connectivity.

  • Price: TBA
  • Availability: February 2016


Acer Aspire V Nitro Black Edition

Acer has beefed up the camera capabilities in the Aspire V Nitro "Black Edition," outfitting the 15- and 17-inch notebooks with Intel's new RealSense short-range camera. Users can log in to Windows Hello from up to five feet away, as well as use the camera for 3-D scanning and printing.

  • Price: Starts at $1,099
  • Availability: February 2016


HP EliteBook Folio

HP says it designed its 12.5-inch EliteBook Folio with an eye toward collaboration. Working in conjunction with Microsoft's Skype for Business team, HP put Skype call and calendar buttons right on the keyboard for quicker navigation. Speakers from Bang & Olufsen mean the sound quality is optimized for voice and video calls.

  • Price: $999
  • Availability: March 2016


Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga

Lenovo's trademark 360-degree-convertible Yoga laptop is back at CES, this time with a slimmer, lighter, 14-inch model (OLED optional). A built-in stylus slips seamlessly into the casing for storage and charging. Battery life can last up to 11 hours.

  • Price: Starting at $1,449
  • Availability: January 2016; OLED models coming April 2016


Dell Latitude 13 7000 Series Ultrabook

Dell touts this as "world's smallest 13-inch business-class Ultrabook." Borrowing design elements from Dell's XPS line, this laptop sports a hardy construction that features 40-ton carbon fiber.

  • Price: Starts at $1,299
  • Availability: March 8, 2016


Alcatel OneTouch PIXI 3

Microsoft says it has been fielding requests from users to expand Windows 10 Mobile's availability to more carriers and hardware partners. The 8-inch PIXI 3 from Alcatel aims to fill that need, featuring 4G LTE and three color options (white, gold and black).

  • Price: TBA
  • Availability: April 2016


Alcatel OneTouch Fierce XL

Alcatel also unveiled its first smartphone running Windows 10 Mobile. Aimed at the midrange market, the 5.5-inch Fierce XL features an 8MP rear-facing camera and a 2MP front-facing camera. It will be available from T-Mobile in early 2016.

  • Price: $139.99 from T-Mobile
  • Availability: Early 2016


Acer Liquid Jade Primo

The 5.5-inch Liquid Jade Primo is a sleek, premium-level Windows smartphone featuring a 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass screen, a 21MP rear-facing camera and an 8MP front-facing camera.

  • Price: Starts at €569
  • Availability: February 2016 (in EMEA)

About the Author

Gladys Rama (@GladysRama3) is the editorial director of Converge360.

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