One of the hurdles for Windows laptops with Arm has been the lack of software support, but there’s significant news this week as Google Chrome unexpectedly unveiled its inaugural Windows on Arm build. Most Windows systems available today use CPUs based on the x86 architecture. Gradually, Microsoft and others are pushing Windows to better accommodate Arm CPUs that offer improved battery life and more advanced designs. Laptops using Arm CPUs have been available for a few years now, but they have been largely underused due to limited software support and weak power. However, in light of Apple’s tremendous success with the Arm-based M-series chips for MacBooks, it has become a significant priority. This week, as first noticed by Pedro Justo on Twitter/X, Google released its premier version of Chrome for “Windows 11 ARM.” The service is presently accessible through Chrome Canary, and is in its early stages. Google Chrome is familiar with Arm, with ChromeOS often running on Arm chips from MediaTek and Qualcomm. Nevertheless, this marks the initial indication of Google’s effort to back Arm-based Windows operating systems. The Verge was able to assess this novel tool on an Arm machine, confirming its native ARM64 compatibility.
The timing couldn’t be more perfect, as there’s a major Windows on Arm event just around the corner. Qualcomm introduced its new Snapdragon X Elite chip for Windows laptops last year, resembling the Apple M2 chips. Although no laptops have been announced with the device yet, Qualcomm stated that they will begin arriving in mid-2024. Microsoft is anticipated to launch new Surface laptops with a new generation of Qualcomm chips in March. Notably, the Chromium-based Microsoft Edge has supported Arm for some time, but it’s encouraging to see Google Chrome adding support. As the world’s largest browser, having native support is a significant boon for Windows on Arm. It’s uncertain when a regular version of Chrome with Windows on Arm support will be released, but the groundwork has been established. More on Google Chrome: Follow Ben: Twitter/X, Threads, and Instagram FTC: We only use monetized affiliate links. More information.
