The Rise of Windows ARM Laptops

InfoThis is a summary of the following YouTube video:

What's going on with Windows Laptops?

Marques Brownlee

Aug 3, 2024

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Science & Technology

Windows ARM laptops are finally competitive

  1. The author has been observing the Windows laptop market and is intrigued by the new matte black Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, which features a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite ARM chip instead of Intel or AMD chips.
  2. Apple's transition from Intel to ARM chips was highly successful, leading to significant improvements in efficiency and integration, setting a high standard for the industry.
  3. Windows laptops previously attempted a similar transition with the Surface Pro X, which did not perform well, leading to continued reliance on Intel and AMD chips until now.
  4. The new Surface Laptop 7, equipped with the ARM-based Snapdragon X Elite chip, shows significant improvements, particularly in battery life and efficiency.
  5. The author has used the Surface Laptop 7 for a few weeks and notes that it offers all-day battery life with mixed use, outperforming previous models and even some Apple laptops in synthetic benchmarks.
  6. The laptop's performance is well-optimized for general use, providing smooth and consistent performance across various tasks, though it is not aimed at high-end gaming.

Windows ARM laptops are versatile and improving

  1. The author finds the $2,000 14-inch Windows ARM laptop to be very capable, handling tasks like photo editing and Microsoft Office Suite without issues. The trackpad gestures are smooth, and the UI remains consistent from full battery to nearly dead.
  2. The main downside of switching to ARM architecture is app compatibility. This issue was also observed when Mac transitioned to ARM. There are three types of apps: optimized apps, apps that work through emulation, and apps that don't work at all.
  3. Currently, there is good support for native apps on Windows ARM, including popular ones like Photoshop, Lightroom CC, Chrome, Spotify, Prime Video, Dropbox, and Zoom. These apps run smoothly and efficiently without draining the battery.
  4. Some apps do not support Windows ARM natively but can still be used through emulation. Examples include Lightroom Classic and the to-do list app Tick Tick, which only have x86 versions but still work on ARM through emulation.

Windows ARM laptops have compatibility issues

  1. The 64-bit version of some apps runs on Windows ARM laptops but with noticeable lag and performance issues, even for lightweight apps like to-do lists.
  2. Many apps are in a limbo phase where it's uncertain if ARM-native versions will be developed, leading to suboptimal user experiences and faster battery drain.
  3. Certain essential apps, such as Arc browser, Google Drive on desktop, VMware, and many VPNs, do not work on Windows ARM laptops, and many games are incompatible due to anti-cheat software issues.
  4. Some apps are technically compatible but difficult to find because their websites do not prominently display ARM versions, adding to user confusion.
  5. Potential buyers of Windows ARM laptops should verify the compatibility of essential apps before purchasing, as the experience can vary greatly depending on individual needs.
  6. The reviewed Windows ARM laptop, featuring a Snapdragon X Elite processor, has excellent build quality, an all-metal design, a solid keyboard, and a large trackpad with good haptics, though the port selection is only adequate.

Windows ARM laptops are improving significantly

  1. The laptop features two USB-C ports and a headphone jack, but lacks an OLED option. It has a 2304 x 1536 120Hz LCD touchscreen with a 3:2 aspect ratio, which is tall but doesn't match the deep blacks and contrast of an OLED.
  2. The laptop offers strong performance across the board but isn't a high-end gaming PC. It has a built-in GPU similar to Apple's M Series laptops, which isn't as powerful as a dedicated GPU. It's good for general tasks but not for maxing out frame rates in demanding games.
  3. The laptop's chips have many cores but weaker individual performance on a single-core basis. It's efficient at handling multi-core tasks and stays cool without frequently spinning up the fans.
  4. One of the standout features is the dedicated co-pilot button on the keyboard. The chip includes an NPU for AI-related processing, such as studio camera effects and artificial eye contact, without using the CPU or GPU. The co-pilot button allows users to interact with Microsoft Co-pilot for various tasks.
  5. The laptop is a premium-built matte black Windows laptop on ARM, which the author has been anticipating. The main consideration for potential buyers is whether the software they use is compatible with ARM.

Windows ARM laptops are improving

  1. The speaker discusses a favorite party trick involving a sheet of magnet paper that reveals internal components of devices like the MagSafe magnet array or speakers.
  2. Dbrand's x-ray line enhances this experience by providing a detailed view of every component inside a device using actual x-ray images.
  3. Dbrand conducted x-rays on hundreds of devices in a Metrology lab to ensure maximum accuracy, offering both dark mode and light mode versions of the x-ray skins.
  4. Purchasing any x-ray skin from Dbrand includes the other colorway for free, providing additional value to customers.
  5. The speaker expresses interest in the dark mode version but acknowledges the availability of both options.
  6. The speaker invites feedback on the Surface Laptop and the Windows on ARM development, indicating an interest in audience opinions.