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Just weeks after bringing Windows on Arm runner support to GitHub, which makes it easier for developers to build and test software for Arm natively, Microsoft has announced another significant development for those targeting Arm-powered devices running Windows. Native builds of PyTorch are now officially available for Windows on Arm. If you haven’t heard of it, PyTorch is a go-to open-source machine learning framework that a lot of researchers and developers use to build and train deep neural networks. Before now, getting it to run on Windows devices with Arm chips was a pain since you had to compile the whole thing from source yourself, which takes time and is not beginner-friendly. With the release of PyTorch 2.7, native Arm builds for Windows on Arm are now readily available for Python 3.12. This means developers can simply install PyTorch using a standard package manager like pip. According to Microsoft: The availability of these native builds is expected to boost local development, training, and testing of machine learning models directly on Arm-powered Windows machines. Microsoft specifically mentioned use cases such as image classification, natural language processing, and generative AI like Stable Diffusion. To get started with the native PyTorch binaries on Windows on Arm, developers first need to ensure they have a few key prerequisites installed. This includes obtaining specific components from Visual Studio Build Tools or a full Visual Studio installation. Specifically, you will need the Desktop development with C++ workload and make sure the VS 2022 C++ ARM64/ARM64EC build tools (latest) are selected within the installer. You also need to install Rust and, of course, have Python 3.12 (the Arm64 version) installed on your system. Once those are in place, installing the stable PyTorch build via pip is a straightforward command pointing to the correct download index: pip install --extra-index-url https://download.pytorch.org/whl torch If you are interested in trying out the latest features and are comfortable with less stable builds, you can also install the Nightly or Preview version using this command: pip install --pre torch --index-url https://download.pytorch.org/whl/nightly/cpu Beyond the Python package, native builds for LibTorch, PyTorch's C++ front-end often used for deployment scenarios, are also available. The getting started and installation guide for LibTorch can be accessed directly on PyTorch's website. As is good practice for any Python development, Microsoft also recommends creating a Virtual Environment (venv) for your projects to manage dependencies cleanly and avoid conflicts between different project requirements. Microsoft also provided an example of using the native PyTorch binaries for Stable Diffusion on Windows on Arm, demonstrating how developers can build applications leveraging generative AI. If you're interested, you can find the code in this GitHub repo. It is worth noting that while PyTorch and LibTorch themselves now have native binaries for Windows on Arm, the story is not always so complete for every single dependency you might need. Some additional Python packages developers might use alongside PyTorch, especially those with performance-sensitive code often written in C, C++, or Rust, may not yet have pre-compiled native Arm64 .whl files available on PyPI. This means a simple pip install might not find a ready-to-use native version for every single library in your environment. However, pip does have a capability to automatically install dependencies directly from source code distributions, often provided as .tar.gz files. If the necessary build tools are present on your system, which is why prerequisites like MSVC with the Arm64 toolchain and Rust were mentioned earlier, pip can compile these packages into Windows-compatible .whl files locally. Microsoft pointed out that this method can be used to install specific versions of popular packages like NumPy 2.2.3 and safetensors 0.5.3, and shared the commands to do it: pip install numpy==2.2.3 # and pip install safetensors==0.5.3 as examples of packages that can be installed via compilation from source. You can read the full announcement, with more examples on the Microsoft Windows Blogs. Source Hope you enjoyed this news post. Thank you for appreciating my time and effort posting news every day for many years. News posts... 2023: 5,800+ | 2024: 5,700+ | 2025 (till end of March): 1,357 RIP Matrix | Farewell my friend

Drivers and kernel-level software can't be translated automatically by Windows. Using a Windows PC with an Arm-based Snapdragon processor in it feels a lot like using a regular-old Intel or AMD PC these days, thanks to the work developers have put in to get their apps running natively on Arm chips and the work Microsoft has done on Windows' Prism technology for translating x86 apps to run on Arm processors. But some of the old compatibility gaps remain. For example, while many PC games will run well enough on an Arm PC without any changes from the game's developer, online multiplayer games that rely on kernel-level anti-cheat software generally don't work. Drivers and other lower-level Windows software can't be translated by Prism, and in many cases, the Arm PC user base is still small enough that developers haven't put in the work to get Arm versions of their software up and running. Epic Games is taking a step in that direction later this year—today, the company announced that it's bringing its Epic Online Services Easy Anti-Cheat software to Arm PCs, along with official Windows-on-Arm support for Fortnite. Both are coming to Arm PCs "later this year." "In addition to releasing Windows on Snapdragon anti-cheat support for Fortnite, we will bring this support to developers through an Epic Online Services SDK release," the company's blog post says. "This will enable developers using Easy Anti-Cheat to bring this compatibility to their own games." It sounds like game developers who use Epic's anti-cheat software will still need to update their games to make them Arm-compatible, but Epic adding support to its SDK should at least make implementation relatively simple. Microsoft's development tools support running a mix of translated x86 code and native Arm code (called "Arm64EC," this feature was added in Windows 11). We've asked both Epic and Microsoft if a game written for x86 processors could run alongside the Arm-native anti-cheat software or if the game would also need to be ported to Arm—obviously, having to create an Arm-native port would increase the level of effort needed from developers. We'll update the article if we receive a definitive response. Epic's anti-cheat software isn't the only kernel-level anti-cheat software that exists, and it will still probably be a while before all of the different implementations work on Arm PCs. But if Epic thinks it's in the company's interest to bring this software to Windows on Arm, it's an indication that these PCs are doing well enough for an Arm port to be worth the time and effort. Source Hope you enjoyed this news post. Thank you for appreciating my time and effort posting news every day for many years. News posts... 2023: 5,800+ | 2024: 5,700+ | 2025 (till end of February): 874 RIP Matrix | Farewell my friend

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X chips are coming to desktop PC form factors after a 2024 full of Windows on Arm laptops. Qualcomm teased it was about to enter the mini desktop PC space yesterday, and now Lenovo is announcing two mini PCs that cater to consumers and businesses. Both the ThinkCentre neo 50q and IdeaCentre Mini x will include Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X series chips, enabling Copilot Plus PC features in a desktop form factor. The IdeaCentre Mini x is a 1-liter mini PC that’s designed for creatives who want a desktop that’s quiet and capable of productivity tasks. It comes with a built-in power supply and an easy-to-open case so you can swap components. It’s not a fan-less mini PC, though, as it has two fans inside to keep things cool. Lenovo’s IdeaCentre Mini x has Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon X series chips inside. Image: Lenovo At the front, there’s a single USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 port and a single USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port, alongside a headphone jack and a power button. At the rear, Lenovo has equipped its IdeaCentre Mini x PC with two USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports, a single USB-A 2.0 port, a USB-C 4 port, a HDMI 2.1 port, a DisplayPort 1.4 connection, and an ethernet port. The IdeaCentre Mini x can be configured with either a base Snapdragon X chip or the Snapdragon X Plus, up to 32GB of RAM, and up to 1TB of storage. Lenovo is using the latest Wi-Fi 7 connectivity inside the IdeaCentre Mini x, too. Lenovo’s ThinkCentre neo 50q is designed for small and medium businesses. Image: Lenovo Lenovo’s ThinkCentre neo 50q is designed for small and medium businesses, and it has a similar set of specs. The ThinkCentre neo 50q will also be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X chip or the X Plus, with up to 16GB of RAM instead of the 32GB found on the IdeaCentre Mini x. At the front of the ThinkCentre mini PC, there is a single USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 port, a single USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port, and a headphone jack and power button. At the rear, there are two USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a HDMI 2.1 port, a DisplayPort 1.4 connection, and an ethernet port. Lenovo has also equipped the ThinkCentre neo 50q with Wi-Fi 6E connectivity, instead of the Wi-Fi 7 support available on the IdeaCentre Mini x. While the IdeaCentre Mini x looks like the better option both in terms of optional specs and design, it will also be priced lower than the ThinkCentre mini PC. The IdeaCentre Mini x will be available starting in April, with an expected starting price of $659.99. Lenovo’s ThinkCentre neo 50q QC will be available slightly earlier in February, with a starting price expected at $849. Source Hope you enjoyed this news post. Thank you for appreciating my time and effort posting news every day for many years. News posts... 2023: 5,800+ | 2024: 5,700+ RIP Matrix | Farewell my friend

With rumors of Nvidia entering the CPU market, 2025 might be an even bigger year for Microsoft’s Arm efforts. I still can’t quite believe that I’m using an Arm-powered Windows laptop every day. After more than a decade of trying to make Windows on Arm a reality, Microsoft and Qualcomm finally nailed it this year with Copilot Plus PCs. These new laptops have excellent battery life and great performance — and the app compatibility issues that have plagued Windows on Arm are mostly a thing of the past (as long as you’re not a gamer). Microsoft wanted 2024 to be “the year of the AI PC,” but I think it was very much the year of Windows on Arm. If 2024 was anything to go by, 2025 is going to be even bigger for Windows on Arm. Microsoft set the stage for the 2024 year of Windows on Arm announcements in January at CES with promises of AI PCs and the first big change to Windows keyboards in 30 years. Laptop manufacturers started putting a Copilot key on keyboards early this year, providing quick access to Microsoft’s AI assistant. While the Copilot experience on Windows has gone through several confusing revisions, it’s still a key I accidentally press and then get frustrated when a Copilot window appears. After the Copilot key was met with a lukewarm reception, Microsoft reignited the Mac vs. PC war a few months later. Inside Microsoft, confidence had gradually been growing throughout the early months of 2024 that it could finally beat Apple’s MacBook Air after falling behind for years. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella unveiled the company’s new Copilot Plus PC devices at a special event in May, setting the stage for a summer of Windows on Arm laptops from every major OEM. The processor is the key The key to Windows on Arm’s revival this year was Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite processors, which were announced in April. They’ve provided the type of performance and power efficiency only previously available with Apple’s MacBooks and challenged Intel and AMD to do better in the x86 space. After much debate over Microsoft’s MacBook Air-beating benchmarks, the reviews rolled in and showed that Windows on Arm was indeed capable of matching and beating Apple’s MacBook Air. Qualcomm even hired the “I’m a Mac” guy to promote Windows on Arm PCs, showing how confident it was in challenging Apple’s laptop dominance. The Surface Laptop 7 is one of the best Windows laptops available right now. Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge Microsoft and Qualcomm also worked closely with developers to make key apps compatible, and it’s now very rare to run into an app compatibility issue that can’t be solved by a native Arm64 version or Microsoft’s improved emulator. Even Google, which previously shunned Windows Phone, has created Arm64 versions of Chrome and Google Drive to support Microsoft’s efforts. With developers continually providing native versions of their apps, it makes it a lot easier to switch to a Windows on Arm laptop. The only big exception is gaming, where x86 still reigns supreme for compatibility and performance. Intel didn’t sit still while all this Windows on Arm hype was occurring, nor AMD. Intel struck back with Lunar Lake at IFA in September, delivering impressive performance and battery life improvements. AMD’s latest Ryzen AI chips are also competing directly with Qualcomm, and both AMD and Intel have the key advantage of game compatibility that Windows on Arm is definitely not ready for. While we’re still waiting for an M4-powered MacBook Air, Apple did refresh its cheapest MacBooks in October with a surprise upgrade to 16GB of RAM. Apple would probably argue it’s related to Apple Intelligence, but the unusual change came months after Copilot Plus PCs launched, with a minimum of 16GB of RAM at price points that challenge the MacBook Air. Apple did manage to squeeze its new M4 chip into the MacBook Pro recently, though, showing that Qualcomm has some ground to make up in 2025. Apple and Microsoft have both been focusing on AI-powered features for laptops this year, and the end results have been underwhelming on both sides. While a lot of the initial Copilot Plus PC buzz was around Windows on Arm, Microsoft also rolled out some Windows AI features on these devices in June. Incomplete Recall The flagship feature was supposed to be Recall, a feature that snapshots mostly everything you do on a laptop and then lets you recall moments or scroll through a timeline of how you’ve used your PC. But because Recall was met with privacy and security concerns, undermining Microsoft’s entire Copilot Plus PC marketing effort, Microsoft was forced to delay Recall several times to improve its security. In fact, it has only recently appeared in test versions of Windows. However, I don’t think Microsoft’s stumbles with Recall will mean the company slows down with its Windows AI efforts. Windows chief Pavan Davuluri recently told me that the very future of Windows is about cloud and AI, so expect a lot more of this in 2025. Microsoft is increasingly focusing on Windows AI features like Recall. Image: Microsoft Coming in 2025 Next year will also be a fascinating battle between x86 and Windows on Arm. AMD and Intel are teaming up to fend off Arm-based chips from Qualcomm, and Intel is facing a period of turbulence after ejecting its CEO, facing desktop chip issues, and a wave of layoffs earlier this year. It’s hard not to see 2025 as the year that Windows on Arm continues to eat into the laptop space. A Dell leak revealed Qualcomm is preparing new chips for 2025, and the chip maker has also been rolling out cheaper Arm-based chips to bring laptop prices down. I’d expect we’ll see more of those at CES in January, alongside the usual slew of laptops that set the stage for the year. The Dell leak also hinted at Nvidia’s next-gen GPU plans, which now look set for a CES announcement. Leaks suggest we’ll see RTX 50-series desktop GPUs and even the laptop variants, with OEMs rumored to be preparing new models to show at CES. Given the Windows on Arm gaming situation, a new generation of Nvidia’s GPUs could help generate fresh excitement around x86 laptops throughout 2025. Nvidia might also be planning to help the Windows on Arm effort. The chip maker has long been rumored to be planning to launch Arm PC chips as soon as 2025. Nvidia’s expertise in AI chips and gaming could certainly shake up the Windows laptop world and make Windows on Arm even more enticing. Whatever happens to laptops in 2025, you can guarantee that there’s going to be fierce competition between Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm. That should make for an exciting year in the world of Windows laptops. Source Hope you enjoyed this news post. Thank you for appreciating my time and effort posting news every day for many years. 2023: Over 5,800 news posts | 2024 (till end of November): 5,298 news posts RIP Matrix | Farewell my friend

For the handful of people sticking with Signal, rejoice! The latest update, 7.34.0, brings official support for Windows 11 devices powered by ARM-based processors, like the Surface Laptop 7 or the HP Omnibook X. Here’s the changelog straight from the team at Signal: Windows on ARM has been a bit of a wild ride since its introduction. Initially, the experience was plagued with compatibility issues, as many apps and drivers weren't optimized for ARM64. Microsoft and Qualcomm partnered back in 2016 to push ARM support forward, but until recently, many users had to rely on emulation for most applications. Windows 11 has made strides to smooth out these kinks, and now we're seeing more apps (like Signal) step up with native support. The Snapdragon X Elite, Qualcomm’s latest ARM-based processor, powers many of these devices. Built to rival Apple’s M-series chips, it delivers incredible power efficiency and performance. Devices like the Surface Pro X (equipped with SQ1 or SQ2 chips, also built on ARM tech) have been at the forefront of this shift. However, they struggled in the past due to app and performance limitations. Signal's update reflects broader progress, with more developers optimizing for ARM systems. Signal joining the ARM-native app crowd shows how the ecosystem is finally maturing. Other apps, like Zoom, Google Drive Beta, Microsoft Teams, and Adobe Photoshop, already support Windows on ARM natively. This wave of updates signals (pun intended) a future where ARM devices can better compete with traditional x86 laptops, offering longer battery life and quieter, cooler operation. Source Hope you enjoyed this news post. Thank you for appreciating my time and effort posting news every day for many years. 2023: Over 5,800 news posts | 2024 (till end of October): 4,832 news posts RIP Matrix | Farewell my friend

Even though Windows on Arm OS has been available for several years, Microsoft has never offered ISO images for it. Microsoft allowed users to download the latest Windows 11 on Arm build either through Windows Update or via a virtual disk image (VHDX) file. Today, Microsoft has finally released ISO files for Windows 11 on Arm. Like x64 Windows 11 ISO files, users can now use the new Windows 11 Arm64 ISO files to create virtual machines, perform upgrades within a running copy of Windows, or create bootable media for installing Windows on Arm on other PCs. Microsoft is only offering a multi-edition ISO for download. Users need to use their product key to unlock the correct edition for their PCs. Microsoft also noted on the download page that it may be necessary to include drivers from the hardware OEM for the installation media to be successfully bootable. For the latest Windows on Arm devices with a Snapdragon X Series processor, users will be able to use the new ISO to install Windows without additional drivers from OEMs. Even though Windows will install successfully on the devices, they will lack full features until the remaining drivers are installed. Users can use ethernet via a dongle or dock to connect to Windows Update to download the drivers. Devices with previous generations of Snapdragon processors (Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3, Gen 2, etc) must have drivers from the OEM injected into the image. Without the drivers, the device may fail to boot or boot to an unusable state. This release provides greater flexibility for users working with Windows on Arm. The availability of ISO images simplifies installation and management, making Windows on Arm more accessible. Users can download the latest Windows 11 Arm64 ISO here from Microsoft. Source Hope you enjoyed this news post. Thank you for appreciating my time and effort posting news every day for many years. 2023: Over 5,800 news posts | 2024 (till end of October): 4,832 news posts RIP Matrix | Farewell my friend

The official Telegram Desktop app has been available on Windows PCs for several years. Since 2017, it has also been available in the Microsoft Store. Recently, Telegram released the first official builds of the app for Windows on ARM PCs. Telegram began working on a Windows on ARM build based on a feature request on its GitHub page. Due to technical issues, they were unable to proceed further. After a few fixes from Microsoft, they were able to successfully compile their source code for the Windows on ARM platform. As part of the v5.7.2 release, you can now download the initial Telegram for Windows on ARM build here. Slowly but steadily, Microsoft has been working to improve compatibility issues in Windows on ARM for developers. In the latest Canary Channel Insider Preview build, released last night, Microsoft included a major feature update to the Prism emulator for Windows on ARM. This update will allow even more 64-bit x86 (x64) applications to run under emulation. Microsoft already shipped this new Prism update in the recently released Windows 11, version 24H2, to enable Adobe Premiere Pro 25 to run on Windows on ARM PCs. With this new Canary build, Microsoft is extending this capability to any x64 application under emulation. Some games and creative apps that were not working on ARM PCs due to CPU requirements will now work using the latest Prism update. Over the past few months, Windows on ARM has been gaining momentum, with several third-party app developers releasing native apps. Several popular apps, including Chrome, Spotify, Zoom, WhatsApp, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom, Blender, Affinity Suite, DaVinci Resolve, Arc browser, NordVPN, ProtonVPN, and many more, now run natively on ARM. Several other popular apps, including Slack and Google Drive, are also coming soon. The increased availability of native apps and improved emulation capabilities will likely attract more users and developers to the Windows on ARM platform in the future. Source Hope you enjoyed this news post. Thank you for appreciating my time and effort posting news every day for many years. 2023: Over 5,800 news posts | 2024 (till end of October): 4,832 news posts RIP Matrix | Farewell my friend

Microsoft will outline its vision for the future of Windows PCs on Monday, and Windows on Arm will be at the center. On Monday, Microsoft will unveil its vision for a new era of the Windows PC, consisting of new Arm silicon from Qualcomm paired with next-gen AI experiences. These will result in new Windows devices that are always aware of what you’re doing, able to translate languages in real-time, improve your webcam with artificial lighting and filters, artificially increase gaming performance, and generate text and images on-device. Microsoft has been working towards this combination of hardware and software since early 2021, after it held an all-hands meeting with leaders across Windows and Surface to discuss how it would respond to Apple Silicon. The company discussed a project called CADMUS, which aimed to bring to market a new era of Windows devices that are performant, efficient, and AI-capable. Microsoft has worked very closely with Qualcomm on its new Snapdragon X chips, resulting in a moment for Windows on Arm that it’s never had before. The next wave of Windows on Arm devices will be the first with true all-day battery life and consistent instant wake without sacrificing performance. These new chips do trade blows with Apple Silicon. A new generation of Windows PCs Windows PCs are about to get good. (Image credit: Ben Wilson | Windows Central) Internally, I'm told Microsoft has described these CADMUS devices as "the next generation of Windows PCs," differentiated by the AI experiences that will be exclusive to them. Microsoft will unveil the first CADMUS PCs in the form of a new Surface Pro and Surface Laptop, powered by Snapdragon X and featuring quality-of-life upgrades such as an OLED display on the Pro and a refreshed design on the Laptop that includes a haptic trackpad. Notably, these devices will only be available with Qualcomm's Arm chip. You won't find Intel variants of Microsoft's latest consumer-facing offerings, and that's a big deal. It shows just how confident Microsoft is about its CADMUS effort, further strengthened by the fact all the big-name OEMs are expected to ship their own Arm-powered devices this summer alongside Microsoft. It's the first time in Windows on Arm's history that this is happening. Microsoft's hardware partners are all coming together for this big Windows on Arm relaunch, and they are all now confident that Windows on Arm is ready for mainstream audiences. The new chips are so powerful that most emulated apps will no longer feel emulated, which was a big hurdle for Windows on Arm to overcome. These new devices will be the first to set 16GB RAM and 256GB storage as a baseline. You won't find a CADMUS device on the market with 8GB RAM, which itself is a big step forward for Windows PCs. People have been asking for this forever, and it seems to be finally happening. Windows on Arm can no longer be ignored App developers and OEMs are finally taking Windows on Arm seriously. (Image credit: Future) Also, app developers seem to be finally taking Windows on Arm seriously. Popular apps such as Chrome, Spotify, and Photoshop are now natively compiled for Windows on Arm, and more apps and developers are always jumping on board. WhatsApp, DaVinci Resolve, and more Adobe apps are expected to join the fray soon. This platform can no longer be ignored. Existing Windows on Arm devices are also benefiting from this. The more apps that are natively compiled for Arm, the less emulation is required, which means better performance and battery life. My Surface Pro X is a better device today than two years ago, thanks to app developers finally adopting Arm for many of my apps. This isn’t just a flash in the pan, either. Microsoft fully intends to offer all its high-end Surface PCs with an Arm chip going forward, including the next Surface Laptop Studio, which I’m told is currently in the works. Still, it likely won’t make an appearance until 2025. Microsoft’s big AI push in Windows will be exclusive to Windows on Arm devices for now, at least until Intel and AMD can cook up NPUs (neural processing units) that can match what Qualcomm is outputting. With that in mind, I expect the ultimate goal is for the platform architecture to be irrelevant to the end user. If a Windows PC with a Qualcomm chip is just as capable as a Windows PC with an Intel chip, why does it matter if it’s x86 or Arm? AIl will be revealed on Monday Microsoft will talk about new hardware and software experiences on Monday. (Image credit: Microsoft) Windows on Arm is finally about to be in the spotlight for all the right reasons. The combination of silicon and AI experiences will be unmatched for quite a while. If you’re in the market for a new PC right now, and your next one isn’t a Windows on Arm device, you’re making a huge mistake. Windows Central will be on the ground at Microsoft’s special Windows and Surface event on Monday, May 20. Please tune in to our live blog at 10 AM PT (1 PM ET, 6 PM BST) for all the news as it happens. Alternatively, check out our detailed post on what to expect for spoilers! Source

Brave, a relatively popular privacy-focused browser based on Chromium, has launched a native version for Windows on ARM. It is now available in the stable channel, giving users a non-mainstream alternative to Chrome and Edge with all the necessary optimizations. Windows computers with ARM chips can run any modern browser, even if it does not support ARM natively. However, emulation comes with some notable downsides, such as worse performance, inferior compatibility, and higher energy consumption. Developers can get rid of all that nastiness by optimizing their projects for ARM. That is just what Brave developers did. With the latest release for Windows on ARM, the Brave browser joined Mozilla and Microsoft in the list of browsers offering native versions for ARM. Chrome will follow suit soon. Google recently released the first ARM version of Chrome Canary, finally making ARM-friendly the most popular browser in the world. You can download Brave from its official website. The browser is also available in the Microsoft Store and on GitHub. For those tired of mainstream browsers and their questionable practices, Brave offers the same level of compatibility paired with improved privacy controls and advanced built-in features, such as ad-blocker, VPN, private search, and more. There are even additional services and apps that let you make free video calls, create customizable news feeds, and more. With Qualcomm planning to launch its new Snapdragon X Elite platform for Windows PCs, it is great to see more developers joining the ranks of apps optimized for ARM64. Windows on ARM is not a new thing (it was announced almost eight years ago), but it seems like it is just about to get some notable traction. Source

Quietly and without much fanfare, Google launched a native Chrome version for Windows on ARM. Users noticed that the latest Canary release is now running natively on Windows 10 and 11 computers with Qualcomm chips inside. Google has yet to make an official announcement or indicate specific timeframes on when it plans to release Chrome for Windows on ARM in the Stable Channel. As of right now, the only way to make Chrome run natively on your Surface Pro 9 5G, Surface Pro X, or another ARM-powered Windows computer is to download Chrome Canary from its official website. Note that nightly builds are unstable, and they are often packed with bugs or instabilities, so you better wait a bit more before making ARM64-version of Google Chrome your main browser. As a reminder, Firefox and Edge already support Windows on ARM, so there are alternatives for those not wanting to use Chrome. Google making its browser ARM-friendly on Windows is a big deal, considering the browser's dominant position in the desktop market. Although it can run "as-is" on Windows computers with ARM processors, emulated apps deliver inferior performance and energy efficiency. And with Microsoft, Qualcomm, and other manufacturers planning to push Windows on ARM to more devices, thanks to the recent Snapdragon X Elite announcement, Chrome optimized for ARM on Windows cannot come soon enough. Here is how you can check whether you are running a native or emulated app on your computer: Open Task Manager (you can right-click the taskbar in Windows 11). On the Processes tab, right-click the app you want to check and select Go to details. Check the Architecture column. Native apps will show up as Arm64. Windows was the only ARM-supported platform without native Google Chrome. The company optimized Chrome for Apple Silicon Macs a long time ago, and it also has a dedicated ARM version for its Chromebooks. Source

2024 is a big year for Microsoft and Windows 11. In the coming months, Microsoft and its partners will launch the first wave of the next-generation Windows on ARM PCs. The company will lead the way with its Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6, which are expected at a special Surface event next month. Even though Windows on ARM is far from being new (in fact, Microsoft announced the initiative almost eight years ago), Microsoft is pretty confident that things will be right this time. The Verge reports, citing unnamed sources within Microsoft, that the company is sure its ARM-powered PCs will be able to beat Apple's M3-based MacBook Air, one of the most popular laptops on the market. To showcase the power of the new Windows on ARM PCs, Microsoft plans to host a series of CPU horsepower demos and comparisons with the regular M3 chip. Microsoft's internal documentation reportedly claims that Windows AI PCs with ARM processors can emulate apps faster than Apple's Rosetta 2 emulation layer (the software thing that makes it possible to run x86 apps on ARM), the area Windows on ARM has been struggling with for many years. Interestingly, rumors say that Microsoft will not offer the consumer versions of the Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 with Intel processors. Those SKUs will remain business-only, leaving ARM variants for regular users (learn more about the Surface Pro 10 for Business here and the Surface Laptop 6 for Business here). The Surface Pro 10 for Business Windows AI PCs with ARM chips will be the first to get the next-gen Windows 11 features, such as the rumored "AI File Explorer," local Copilot processing, and additional features for audio/video. Microsoft bets big on Copilot and AI, and the company reportedly expects half of all new Windows computers to ship with AI chips by the end of 2026. It is not just Microsoft who is confident in Windows on ARM. Qualcomm claims its new Snapdragon X Elite can outperform most competitors in many aspects and even serve as a gaming platform with most Windows games "just working." Google also joined the hype train by releasing a native version of Chrome for Windows on ARM. Having the most popular browser in the world on board is a big deal if you want to make a platform successful. Microsoft is hosting its event on May 20, 2024. Expect to see the Surface Pro 10 and Laptop 6 for consumers and a lot of AI features for Windows 11. We would say we are pumped, but Panos Panay is now at Amazon, so let's just say we cannot wait to see the next-gen features for Windows 11 and the first AI PCs. Source

Google Chrome for Windows on ARM is finally official. Today, the company announced the rollout of a full ARM64 native version of the world's most popular browser, promising users with ARM-powered PCs a faster, smoother, and more efficient browser. Chrome for ARM64 is rolling out this week to Windows PCs with Snapdragon processors. Google says customers who plan to buy the upcoming computers with the Snapdragon X Elite processor will get an "even bigger boost in performance." According to Qualcomm, preliminary benchmarks on Snapdragon X Elite reference devices show notable performance uplifts in benchmarks like Speedometer 2.1. Hiroshi Lockheimer, Senior Vice President at Google, said the following about the launch of Chrome for Windows on ARM: While it is possible to run Chrome on PCs with ARM processors through emulation, native applications offer much better performance, responsiveness, and energy efficiency. The first version of Chrome Canary for ARM64 was spotted a couple of months ago, and now, the browser is ready for its public debut. Making the most popular browser in the world ARM-friendly on Windows will help make ARM PCs much more appealing to customers who are not ready to switch browsers. Qualcomm itself claims that it will help "cement Snapdragon X Elite's role as the premier platform for Windows PCs." The first devices with the Snapdragon X Elite are expected later this Summer. Microsoft is about to be among the first manufacturers to offer its flagship computers with the latest ARM chips from Qualcomm. The Surface Pro 10 and Laptop 6 are expected to be unveiled at a special event on May 20, 2024. Source

A second-hand Surface Pro X has completely changed my perspective on ARM64 and the future of Windows on ARM. Having the privilege to work in technology journalism gives me regular access to the latest laptops and PC components, which can be a blessing and a curse. On the positive side, I have hands-on insights with an incredible range of devices, from the ultra-budget to the ridiculously expensive. Plus, not everything on the high-end guarantees satisfaction, as it's easy to become bored with excess once your personal budget isn't involved. My colleagues with significantly more brand-specific insight and knowledge have covered Microsoft's most extravagant and secretive Surface devices, and I'm starting to understand why they're so exciting. After all, taking advantage of everything Windows 11 offers practically requires a laptop, and who should know better how to build the perfect Windows laptop than Microsoft? Besides Xbox consoles and a Lumia Windows Phone, I'd never tried first-party hardware from the company, and the lofty costs were the primary reason I passed. However, although I've had the pleasure of going hands-on with stellar laptops like Lenovo's Slim Pro 9i, rating it as being as close to perfect as possible, I'd never tried any computer with an ARM processor. Rather than settle for an ultra-budget option from the modern era, I set my sights on a second-hand Surface Pro X featuring Microsoft's four-year-old SQ1 ARM chip. Microsoft's first Windows on ARM offering It might be a few years behind Microsoft's Surface Pro 9, but the Pro X still looks sleek and modern. (Image credit: Daniel Rubino | Windows Central) Technically, the Microsoft SQ1 processor was a modified version of Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8cx ARM chip. Still, it was the first customized ARM64-based CPU the company commissioned for its Surface devices, starting with the Surface Pro X. Luckily for me, its age and position behind two ARM successors, the aptly named SQ2 and SQ3, helped bring the cost down, as I found a pre-owned unit in phenomenal condition for only £280 GBP, converting to around $350. That bargain price excludes accessories, as expected, but I'm not complaining. Considering the launch price for the Surface Pro X alone was $999, picking one up for less than half the price feels like an absolute win, even if it doesn't include a Surface Pro Signature Keyboard or compatible Type Cover. Microsoft's pricing habits quickly became apparent when I realized the hands-on experience needed a keyboard and touchpad to feel complete, and, sadly, the market wasn't so kind to official peripherals. A $30 knock-off will suffice, connected via Bluetooth and featuring one of the worst typing experiences (I'm not a keyboard snob, I swear) I've ever had, but it works. The state of ARM-native apps (and if I care) Spotify, Slack, Adobe Photoshop, and Vivaldi browser running on a Surface Pro X don't feel functionally different from desktop x86-64 apps. (Image credit: Ben Wilson | Windows Central) As a tech professional surrounded by the best and worst of practically every category, I've dabbled in various platforms and more Linux distros than I can count. Compatibility is the primary reason that keeps me returning to Windows 11, as everything works as expected without a need to fiddle with custom executable launch options or tinker with flags in config files. I'll admit that I knew little about Windows on ARM before picking up a Surface Pro X, and a small amount of research shows that I held many of the same misconceptions as many others. Windows Central has enthusiastically covered ARM-based Surface devices for a while, and the slew of content helps educate me on a topic I'd previously, and tragically, dismissed. With the imminent arrival of Qualcomm's latest blockbuster Snapdragon X Elite ARM processor and the incredible performance it promises for portable PCs, the timing couldn't be better to determine how my daily routine is (if at all) affected by any forced emulation of traditional x86-64 apps. Native apps are a bonus, but how much could I expect modern developers to care about ARM64? Can I complete a full working day on an ARM device? Almost everything is a PWA these days Carrying the Surface Pro X to any room with or without the keyboard makes idle browsing much more comfortable. (Image credit: Ben Wilson | Windows Central) Digging into the stock apps with a fresh install of Windows 11, I was pleasantly surprised to see a healthy amount of ARM-native versions running in Task Manager. However, after testing Progressive Web Apps (PWAs), I knew I'd be ditching native Windows apps for these lightweight alternatives. PWAs are self-contained web versions of apps that behave like regular desktop software and are generally nearly identical in the overall experience. Knowing I had 7.5 of usable RAM out of the 8GB built into my Surface Pro X, optimizing memory use to extend battery life away from my desk was a priority. Since the Vivaldi web browser came to ARM for testing and its developers hooked me up with a fix for PWA-related crashes (you can download the tech preview here), I switched away from Microsoft Edge to save ~200MB of RAM on average. With access to emails, the Windows Central backend, and Google Sheets covered by the browser, I only need a handful of other apps to complete my arsenal of daily drivers. Adobe supports Photoshop and Lightroom natively on ARM, even though I've never dabbled in the latter, and most of my basic cropping or color correction needs are filled by installing the web version of Photoshop as a PWA. Slack, Telegram, and Discord all function perfectly as web apps and cover instant messaging, with a Spotify ARM app or PWA variant providing a soundtrack to my working day. Will my next laptop run on ARM? The next Surface Pro and Surface Laptop variants will feature ARM processors, and I can't wait to see them. (Image credit: Windows Central) I have two separate Windows 11 experiences in my life. For one, my custom-made desktop PC is geared for gaming first, and everything else is consequential. I pick up affordable graphics cards and pair them with as much RAM as possible to extend the collective component lifespan before eventually upgrading the motherboard with a new processor socket. However, sitting at a desk all day isn't my idea of a good time, so I prefer a comfortable laptop to cover my workload and daily downtime spent browsing the web and consuming other media. That's not to say I don't enjoy light gaming on a laptop. I'll regularly dip into my retro catalog and play titles better suited to a mouse than even a Steam Deck could translate, like the original Fallout or Rollercoaster Tycoon. Still, I'm a realist with integrated graphics and don't expect the same performance as a gaming laptop, despite some incredible advancements in AMD's Radeon 760M and 780M alongside Intel's Arc mobile graphics. However, battery life and a convenient design come first for me when choosing a laptop, and the upcoming Surface Pro 10 could be my new temptation. Microsoft's Surface Pro range isn't famous for affordability, and its ARM variants are the most expensive of all. A more realistic option will likely feature Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Plus platform, a step down from its upcoming high-end X Elite ARM64 processors, set to appear in a massive variety of branded OEMs. Whether I end up with Lenovo or Dell or stick with a Surface device, one thing is for sure: I won't buy a new PC until I see what Windows on ARM has to offer in this exciting next generation of game-changing hardware. Source

Vivaldi and its focus on privacy will soon be optimized for Windows 11 on Arm. What you need to know A preview version of Vivaldi optimized for Windows 11 on Arm is now available. The build is in early testing and may still have some serious issues, but its existence indicates that Vivaldi is working on a version of its browser optimized for Arm processors. Several other browsers have been optimized for Windows 11 on Arm recently, including Google Chrome and Brave. Windows 11 on Arm is expected to see a surge in interest in 2024, thanks in large part to the upcoming launch of Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite processor later this year. Those with a PC powered by an Arm processor will soon have another browser to use. Vivaldi announced a preview version of its browser optimized for ARM64 architecture earlier this week. Once stable and generally available, the optimized version of Vivaldi will deliver better performance and efficiency on devices like upcoming Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6. Vivaldi shared a few details about the Arm version of its browser: "As an extra bonus we also include Windows arm64 “architecture preview” packages for those of you with suitable hardware. These builds are not yet part of our automated test system and have only been lightly tested on one piece of hardware. Serious issues may exist and should be expected. Nonetheless, any testing and feedback would be greatly appreciated! 😉" As the Arm version of Vivaldi is in its early days, you can expect bugs and other issues. But by the time Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite processors start shipping in PCs, you may have a stable version of Vivaldi as an optimized option. Browsing on Windows 11 on Arm Microsoft Edge is one of many browsers that have been optimized for Windows 11 on Arm recently. (Image credit: Future) The number of options for web browsing on Windows on Arm continues to grow. While not an exhaustive list, a website called ArmRepo lists programs that have been optimized for ARM architecture. Within the web browsers section of that site you see big names, including Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Brave, and Chromium. Now, there's a preview version of Vivaldi to go along with those other browsers. Windows 11 on Arm PCs can run non-native apps, but performance and efficiency are lower than running native apps. That may not be as much of an issue for systems running Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite processors. Qualcomm claimed that emulated games will run "just fine" on Snapdragon X Elite-powered PCs. Presumably, non-native browsers would also work well. But native performance is best, so Vivaldi hopping on board is a welcome addition. Snapdragon X Elite processors have been the talk of the computing world for months. If you go back to before we knew the official name of the processors, it's actually been years since the hype began for Qualcomm's new chips. Benchmarks shared by Qualcomm show the Snapdragon X Elite competing with Apple silicon. Qualcomm also appears confident that its new processors will compete with Intel Core Ultra CPUs. We won't have to wait long to see the Snapdragon X Elite in action. Several PC manufacturers will release computers powered by the chips in 2024, including Microsoft's Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 reportedly set to run processors based on the Snapdragon X Elite. Source

Just a few weeks ago, Google finally launched a version of its Chrome web browser that supports devices running Windows on ARM-based processors. Today, another web browser, Vivaldi, launched a new version that also supports Windows on ARM but is in a very early state. In a blog post, Vivaldi stated: You can download the new 3329.7 version of the browser from the blog post in Windows 10/11 32-bit and 64-bit versions, along with macOS and Linux versions and the new and very early Windows 10/11 ARM64 version. The release of Google Chrome and Vivaldi browsers with Windows ARM support seems to show that there's a growing interest in making apps that run natively on that kind of hardware. That's due to the upcoming launch of new Windows notebooks that will have Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite CPUs These processors, which were officially announced in October 2023, were designed to give Intel, AMD, and Apple's M1 chips a run for their money in terms of performance. The Qualcomm chips will include 12 high-performance cores and a maximum clock speed of 3.8GHz, along with an integrated Adreno GPU and an AI-themed neural processing unit. A number of major Windows PC makers have confirmed they will release notebooks with the Snapdragon X Elite chip in 2024, They include Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, HONOR, Lenovo, Microsoft, Samsung, and Xiaomi. Earlier this week, images that allegedly show an upcoming Snapdragon X Elite-based notebook, the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 14, found their way onto the internet. Details about the notebook's hardware specs were not revealed, however. Source

Windows 11 supports a variety of ARM processors from Qualcomm. According to the official documentation, you need a computer with the Snapdragon 850 processor inside or newer to run the current operating system officially. However, customers with PCs powered by the Snapdragon 835, the original Windows on ARM chip from 2016, can bypass hardware requirements and install Windows 11 at their own risk. Sadly, those days will be ending soon. Starting with Windows 11 version 24H2, Microsoft's operating system requires ARM v8.1 to run. An attempt to boot it from a device with an ARM v8.0-based processor results in system crashes. For reference, the Snapdragon 835 from 2016 is a chip with Kryo 280 cores, which are derivative of ARM's Cortex-A73 cores. While Windows 11 never supported the Snapdragon 835 CPU, it was possible (technically, it still is) to install the operating system on computers with that chip, like it is possible to run it on seventh-gen Intel Core CPUs or first-gen Ryzen processors. Because of that, many think Windows 11's hardware requirements are arbitrary—a trick to make customers buy newer hardware. Microsoft denies those accusations and claims the OS does not support a large number of relatively capable chips because of security. Now, with Windows 11 version 24H2 getting more features and requiring newer instructions, customers should face the fact that their old computers are physically incapable of running the most recent Windows 11 version. The same will happen to old x86 processors without POPCNT and the SSE 4.2 instruction set. However, those still using computers with 16-year-old processors probably should not complain about Microsoft not supporting their heavily outdated hardware. The Snapdragon 835, on the other hand, is a much more recent processor, so the change will most likely make some users sad, even though, again, they were never supported in the first place. The end of ARM v8.0 "support" also means the end of the road for enthusiasts still toying around with old Lumias, such as the Lumia 950 XL. Surface Duo, however, is safe since both generations have much more recent Snapdragon chips. Source

Unity has announced the release of Unity 6 Preview, the latest iteration of its game engine. This preview release offers a glimpse into the upcoming features and improvements that will be included in Unity 6, which is scheduled for a later release in 2024. One of the additions we are concentrating on in Unity 6 Preview is the inclusion of Windows on ARM support for the Unity Editor. This means that developers will now be able to develop and run games on Windows machines powered by ARM processors, which are becoming increasingly popular due to their improved efficiency and performance. And if you already didn’t know, Microsoft said that Windows on Arm PCs are better than the latest Apple MacBook M3 Air. ARM architecture is a type of design for computer processors, specifically a family of instruction set architectures (ISAs) known as ARM (Advanced RISC Machines). ARM processors are known for their: Low power consumption Smaller size: This allows for compact device designs. High performance While the blog post doesn’t mention it explicitly, Windows on ARM support for Unity Editor is likely to be a welcome addition for developers who are working on mobile device games. ARM processors are widely used in smartphones and tablets, and having the ability to develop and test games on a Windows machine with an ARM processor could help fasten the development process. It’s important to note that Unity 6 Preview is still a preview release, and it is not recommended for use in production projects. However, it is a valuable tool for developers who want to start experimenting with the new features that will be coming to Unity in the future. More here. Source

On Monday, Microsoft announced a new class of laptops called Copilot+ PCs, which will have a neural processing unit designed to handle generative AI apps and tools. The first Copilot+ PC notebooks will launch in June from a number of major PC makers and will have Qualcomm's new Snapdragon X Elite or Plus processors. Today, as part of Microsoft Build 2024, the company and Qualcomm announced it will give developers another tool to make Copilot+ PC apps that work with the Snapdragon X chips. It is called the Snapdragon Dev Kit for Windows, and it will have a developer version of the Snapdragon X SoC inside. Microsoft stated: There's no word yet on when the Snapdragon Dev Kit for Windows will become available, nor how much it will cost. Microsoft also announced a new emulation engine called Prism. It is supposed to help create code for emulated x86/x64 apps that will be used on Arm-based chips. The engine will help the emulated apps run faster on any Windows Arm-based device. Prism is now available in a preview version. Copilot+ PC notebooks were announced on Monday by Dell, HP, Asus, Acer, Lenovo, Samsung, and Microsoft, which will release a version of its Surface Laptop and also its Surface Pro tablet with an OLED display that will have Snapdragon X Elite chips. The cheapest Copilot+ PCs will be priced at $999.99, but most will be in the mid-$1,000 range. Intel has also announced that its upcoming Lunar Lake processors will be in laptops that are branded as Copilot+ PCs, but they won't be available until sometime in the third quarter of 2024. Source

Taiwanese firm MediaTek is playing to get inside your PC. Intel, Nvidia, AMD, and Qualcomm are the household names in chips — but in 2025, the popular but lesser known MediaTek might make a play to join them. Reuters reports that the Taiwanese chip company is now preparing an AI PC chipset to launch in late 2025 specifically for Windows PCs. Currently, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite is the alleged MacBook Air-beating talk of the town, and MediaTek wants a piece of that action. According to Reuters, the new MediaTek chip will reportedly be aimed at the same Microsoft Copilot Plus PC program that Qualcomm helped kick-start with Microsoft. There’s apparently an opening for chipmakers like MediaTek there now that Microsoft’s exclusivity arrangement with Qualcomm for Arm-based versions of Windows is finally ending this year. MediaTek isn’t the only one taking advantage of the lapsed Qualcomm deal; Nvidia and AMD plan to have Arm PC chips in 2025, too. But that Nvidia chip may be partially powered by MediaTek as well! That’s what we heard in a report from Taiwan’s United Daily News last month, and Reuters now confirms MediaTek is helping with that separate chip, too. There’s even a rumor floating around that MediaTek and Nvidia may be working on a Steam Deck-sized gaming chip. Why would Nvidia need MediaTek when it already builds its own Arm chips? (The Nintendo Switch has used Nvidia Tegra chips from the start.) I’m not entirely sure. MediaTek is a fabless chipmaker, meaning it doesn’t manufacture chips itself. As far as MediaTek’s own separate chip goes, Reuters says it uses Arm’s “ready-made designs,” likely meaning it adopts Arm’s already-designed processing cores instead of something MediaTek came up with on its own. And speaking of those ready-made designs, they may power yet another Windows+Arm competitor for Qualcomm, too. “Executives at Arm have said one of its customers used the ready-made components to build a chip in roughly nine months for a design that is already complete, which MediaTek’s is not,” writes Reuters. Feels like things are heating up again in the laptop space! Source Hope you enjoyed this news post. Thank you for appreciating my time and effort posting news every single day for many years. 2023: Over 5,800 news posts | 2024 (till end of May): Nearly 2,400 news posts