TL;DR
2025 saw meaningful software and compatibility gains for Windows on Arm, building on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X hardware progress from 2024. App support, emulation, and driver delivery improved, but gaming and some niche pro apps remain weak points.
What happened
After Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X chips first made Arm-based Windows laptops practical in 2024, 2025 brought a steady stream of software work that narrowed the gap with x86 machines. Several creative applications either gained native Arm builds or improved under emulation; Adobe Premiere Pro runs natively, and Lightroom Classic is usable under emulation for light edits even on lower-tier Snapdragon X Plus processors. Emulator advances added support for x86 vector instructions such as AVX and AVX2, which widened the range of playable PC games. Platform tooling also matured: Qualcomm introduced a Snapdragon Control Panel for faster graphics driver updates, Epic’s Easy Anti-Cheat now functions on Arm, and the Xbox app can install local games on Arm systems rather than only relying on streaming. Microsoft’s Surface Arm models illustrated the improvements in real devices, while Intel and AMD launched competitive chips later in the year, keeping pressure on Qualcomm.
Why it matters
- Windows on Arm is now a viable choice for many mainstream users who don’t rely on niche or incompatible software.
- Battery life and standby performance on early Snapdragon X systems set a new standard for thin-and-light Windows laptops.
- Improved emulation and native apps have reduced the app-compatibility barrier that once held Arm Windows back.
- Gaming remains a comparative weakness, so x86 machines still lead for high-performance gaming laptops.
- Rising competition from Intel, AMD, and potential entrants like Nvidia will shape performance and pricing going forward.
Key facts
- Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X silicon made Arm Windows laptops practical starting in 2024.
- In 2025, some creative apps returned to Arm via native builds or better emulation; Adobe Premiere Pro runs natively on Arm.
- Lightroom Classic is reported to work acceptably in emulation for light edits, even on lower-tier Snapdragon X Plus chips.
- Emulator improvements added support for x86 AVX and AVX2 instruction sets, enabling more games to run.
- Qualcomm launched a Snapdragon Control Panel to deliver timely graphics driver updates on Arm systems.
- Epic’s Easy Anti-Cheat now functions on Windows on Arm, widening compatibility for some multiplayer games.
- The Xbox game launcher on Arm gained support for local game installs instead of offering only cloud streaming.
- Intel’s Lunar Lake and AMD’s Strix Point launched later in 2025, narrowing Qualcomm’s advantage in efficiency and performance.
- There are rumors and leaked benchmarks suggesting Nvidia is developing an Arm-based chip for a future Alienware laptop.
- Ableton Live is expected to receive an Arm version in 2026, per reporting in the source.
What to watch next
- 2026 face-off between Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2, Intel’s Panther Lake, and AMD’s rumored Gorgon Point — not confirmed in the source.
- Whether Nvidia’s rumored Arm chip for an Alienware notebook appears and how it impacts gaming performance.
- The arrival of Ableton’s Arm build in 2026 and its effect on pro-audio adoption of Arm Windows.
- How Microsoft’s shift toward an “agentic OS” and continued Linux gains influence user choices and Windows adoption.
Quick glossary
- Arm: A processor architecture known for power efficiency, commonly used in mobile devices and increasingly in laptops.
- x86: A long-established processor architecture used in most traditional Windows laptops and desktops.
- Emulation: Software that allows programs compiled for one processor architecture to run on a different one by translating instructions at runtime.
- AVX / AVX2: Advanced Vector Extensions — CPU instruction sets that accelerate math-heavy tasks; support for them can affect app compatibility and performance.
- Discrete GPU: A separate, dedicated graphics processor (as opposed to integrated graphics) that provides higher performance for gaming and content creation.
Reader FAQ
Is Windows on Arm ready for most users?
For many mainstream users it’s now a practical choice, provided they don't depend on specific incompatible software.
Can I run Adobe apps on Arm Windows?
Some key apps are available natively (Adobe Premiere Pro), and others like Lightroom Classic run acceptably under emulation for light work.
Is gaming on Arm Windows competitive with x86?
More games work than before thanks to emulator and anti-cheat improvements, but Arm systems still lag behind x86 machines for high-performance gaming.
Will Nvidia make an Arm chip for Windows laptops?
There are rumors and leaked benchmarks about an Nvidia Arm chip for an Alienware laptop, but that remains unconfirmed in the source.
GADGETS TECH AMD Windows on Arm had another good year 2026 will bring new chips and further software improvements. But competition is heating up too. by Antonio G. Di Benedetto…
Sources
- Windows on Arm had another good year
- Windows PC gaming in 2025: Handheld innovation, Arm …
- I Dug Through Every Windows 12 Leak—These Are the …
- Why 2025 will be the year Arm dominates PCs
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