Qualcomm's Snapdragon X2 processors are here. The first wave of reviews powered by the latest generation of chips from Qualcomm hit this week, and I can't help but feel sorry for those relying on some of the comments made in reviews and online across Reddit, X, and other social media sites.
Snapdragon X PCs run Windows 11 on Arm. Depending on which corner of the internet you're in, you may also see terms like "Windows on Snapdragon" or simply "Windows on Arm." The main thing is that the PCs run Windows.
Microsoft has done a massive amount of work to improve compatibility and has also convinced developers to embrace Windows 11 on Arm.
Users of Windows 11 on Arm PCs spend 90 percent of their time on Arm-based apps that run natively. Additionally, apps that do not run natively can often run through Prism emulation, which has improved dramatically since launch.
But you wouldn't know those facts if you only based your opinion on certain reviews and comments made across the web.
In this week's Windows Wrap, I'll share the frustrating cycle of explaining that Windows on Arm PCs are fine for most people. But first, here's a quick rundown of this week's biggest news stories.
Biggest News Stories
Windows on Arm app gap?
I don't mean to pick a fight with anyone in particular. And to be honest, I've seen so many ignorant statements about Windows 11 on Arm that it'd take up a whole article to list them.
I saw one review list a bunch of major apps that run natively, mention Prism emulation, and then warn that some tools may not work, using an example that actually does. It sums up the problem perfectly.
My point is that app compatibility issues are overblown by many, and unfortunately those sharing false information are the same folks people rely on to make purchases.
Please, do me a favor. The next time you see someone claim there aren't any apps on Windows on Arm, ask them to list the specific apps they use that don't work.
Some of us on the Windows Central team have done this on X, Reddit, and other forums and found most people fail to list an app they rely on that does not work.
When you ask people who actually use the PCs on a regular basis, you'll get a different response than people who try them for a week or who only read spec sheets and make assumptions. Don't just take my word for it, check out the r/snapdragon subreddit.
There are some apps that still do not work well on Windows 11 on Arm. Most notably, many games that rely on anticheat won't work. Though even that gap has closed with support for Easy Anti-Cheat.
Some legacy apps and devices that require drivers that have not been optimized can also run into issues on Windows 11 on Arm PCs.
I'm not here to claim PCs powered by Snapdragon X chips are 100 percent compatible with all software and hardware. I'm saying the issue is overblown by critiques and it's clear some reviewers haven't done their homework.
Works on Windows on Arm maintains a list of compatible apps and games for the platform. There, you'll see well-known apps like Google Chrome, the Adobe Creative Suite, and Spotify. We also have a collection of the best Windows on Arm apps to help you out.
Snapdragon X PCs aren't gaming PCs, but there is a growing library of games that can run on the chips.
For a large number of people, a Windows 11 on Arm PC is a perfectly valid option. I'd argue that for many people they're the best option.
Shopping with Sean
With our 5-star ASUS Zenbook A16 review going live this week, I doubt you'll be surprised that the laptop receives my recommendation. But I do need to add some context to the impressive laptop.
In a peculiar twist, the Zenbook A16 went up in price by $100 after launch. ASUS claims that an error was made that resulted in Best Buy listing the laptop with a starting price of $1,599.99. That price was even live for a brief period.
But the Zenbook A16 with its Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme and a whopping 48GB of RAM, now starts at $1,699.99.
The Zenbook A16 is still an outstanding laptop. It's gorgeous, lightweight, and offers the best Windows on Arm experience available today. It's just a shame it isn't as affordable as it first seemed.
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