What you need to know
- The Dev channel for Microsoft Edge now has native ARM64 builds.
- ARM64 builds were previously limited to the Canary channel.
- ARM-optimized apps don't rely on emulation, which improves performance and battery life.
Microsoft shipped the last update of 2019 for the Dev channel (opens in new tab) for the new Microsoft Edge today. The update brings native ARM64 builds to the Dev channel and several new features for people to test.
ARM-optimized apps perform better and have better battery life than emulated counterparts. The range of Windows 10 on ARM devices is relatively small but includes Microsoft's new Surface Pro X. Microsoft points out in a tech community post that the ARM64 build in the Dev channel has most major issues ironed out, but can struggle to play certain DRM videos.
In addition to bringing native ARM64 builds to the Dev channel, this update brings three new features that Microsoft outlines.
- One of them is what we're calling the "pinning wizard". It will occasionally pop up from your Task Bar and suggest top websites from your history to pin directly to the Task Bar as installed websites. It can also be used at any time from … > More tools.
- For users of high contrast themes in Windows, Edge now supports high contrast themes as well! It will follow the theme you've chosen in the OS Settings and brings us back to parity with the support offered in Edge Legacy.
- And for users of Immersive Reader (formerly known as Reading View), we've greatly expanded the number of color themes you can choose from. Many of these are specially designed to reduce eye strain and increase reading comprehension.
While the x86 version of the new Microsoft Edge becomes generally available on January 15, 2020, Neowin points out that the ARM64 version of the new Edge will not be released at the same time.
