In a surprising turn of events, Google Chrome has introduced its inaugural build for Windows on Arm, marking a significant step forward in app support for Arm-based Windows laptops. While x86 architecture has dominated the Windows landscape, there’s been a gradual push towards better compatibility with Arm CPUs, known for their efficiency and fanless designs.
(Also Read : Google Rolls Out Android 14 QPR2 Beta 3.1 with Crucial Bug Fixes and Enhancements)
Despite their potential, Arm-based laptops have struggled due to limited app support and performance issues. However, with Apple’s success in the Arm-based MacBook lineup, the interest in Arm-based Windows machines has surged.
This week, Google released its first Chrome build tailored for “Windows 11 ARM,” available through Chrome Canary for early testing. Although ChromeOS has been compatible with Arm chips in the past, this marks Google’s first foray into supporting Arm-based Windows devices. Testing by The Verge confirms that this new build is native to ARM64 architecture.
(Also Read : Google Messages Update: Introducing Photomoji Reactions and Stickers)
The timing of this release coincides with a significant milestone for Windows on Arm, with Qualcomm unveiling its Snapdragon X Elite chip last year. Boasting performance comparable to Apple’s M2 chips, laptops powered by this new Snapdragon chip are expected to debut in mid-2024. Microsoft is anticipated to introduce new Surface laptops equipped with these next-gen Qualcomm chips in March.
