Google seems to be working on a version of its Chrome browser specifically designed for Windows on Arm architecture. This development was discovered by Twitter user Pedro Justo, who noticed a native version of Chrome for Windows 11 Arm-powered devices in the latest nightly builds of Chrome in the Canary channel.
The release of a Chrome Canary version for Windows on Arm comes as a surprise, especially since Google had not shown any indication of supporting Windows on Arm until now. Microsoft has long supported an Arm version of its Edge browser, also based on Chromium. This move by Google is notable, as Windows devices running on Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon chips had to run Chrome in an emulated state, resulting in slower performance.
The difference in performance between the Edge ARM64 version and the regular x86 version of Chrome on Windows on Arm devices is significant. Native versions of Edge on Arm devices feel similar to any other Intel machine, while Chrome on Windows on Arm has experienced noticeable slowdowns and performance issues.
Google has been supporting Arm processors with its Chromebooks for some time, offering a version of ChromeOS optimized for Qualcomm’s chips. Microsoft, on the other hand, was able to ship its own ARM64 version of Edge as the company used the basics of Chromium to build a new browser without relying on Google’s Widevine digital rights management (DRM) system. Other browser vendors using Chromium have stuck with Google’s DRM. Therefore, the introduction of a native Arm browser on Windows, other than Edge, is a significant development.
2024 is expected to be a significant year for Windows and laptops, with Microsoft and Qualcomm preparing for a major push of Windows on Arm, facilitated by Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon X Elite processors. Qualcomm claims its latest chips will outperform those from Apple, Intel, and AMD. Recent reports also suggest that both Nvidia and AMD plan to launch Arm PC chips as early as 2025. Google joining this effort could have a considerable impact on the future of Windows on Arm.
