Move over Chrome and Edge, Windows 11 has a new ARM browser

Brave browser on Windows
(Image credit: Windows Central)

What you need to know

  • Brave browser on Windows is now optimized for ARM64, promising better performance on Windows 11 on ARM PCs.
  • 2024 looks to be a promising year for Windows 11 on ARM PCs, thanks in large part to Qualcomm's upcoming Snapdragon X Elite processor.
  • Google released a native ARM64 version of Chrome recently, though that version is only in Canary testing for now.

Brave browser is now optimized for ARM64, giving Windows 11 on ARM users another option for browsing. The news comes amidst a surge of interest in ARM computing, thanks in large part to Qualcomm's upcoming Snapdragon X Elite processor.

"ARM64 Brave on Windows is now stable and offers native performance. You also get to enjoy the same features we offer on x64/x86 like Widevine, IPFS, Tor.," said Brave DevOps director Mihai Plesa.

You can download Brave through GitHub, the Microsoft Store, or Brave's website.

Google made headlines last month when it released a native ARM64 version of its Chrome browser. But Brave will beat Chrome to the punch, since the ARM-optimized version of Chrome is in Canary testing and Brave's native ARM64 version is available today.

Brave | Free at Microsoft Store

Brave | Free at Microsoft Store

Brave browser is fast, easy to use, and works with popular extensions. It loads pages well, natively blocks ads and cross-site tracking, and makes the web feel quicker. It now has a native ARM64 version too!

Is 2024 the year of Windows 11 on ARM?

The Apple M3 and Qualcomm Snapdragon Elite X logos

Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite should compete with the best chips from Apple, Intel, and AMD. (Image credit: Windows Central)

Microsoft has worked on an ARM version of Windows for years. While the platform has steadily improved over time, it's largely held back by hardware. There are good Windows 11 on ARM PCs, such as the Lenovo ThinkPad X13s but Apple has a sizeable lead when it comes to ARM processors for computers. While Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8cx Gen3 is a respectable flagship chip for productivity, the company's upcoming Snapdragon X Elite could be a game changer.

Qualcomm claims the Snapdragon X Elite can beat Apple's M2 Max and Intel's Core i9-13980HX. Leaked benchmarks back up those claims, giving hope to those who dream of a powerful Windows 11 laptop with the benefits of ARM computing.

In addition to its respective specs and leaked benchmarks, Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite features a neural processing unit (NPU) that's optimized for local AI processing.

We'll have to see all of the moving parts come together in the form of an actual device showing real-world performance, but if everything develops as expected, we may finally have a Windows 11 on ARM PC that can compete with Apple's new MacBooks and powerful Windows 11 PCs with Intel or AMD processors.

A hypothetical PC with a Snapdragon X Elite inside would deliver powerful computing, local AI processing, and have excellent battery life. It would also have seamless integration with cellular and be extremely thin and light. That PC could be the "holy grail in Windows computing," as put well by our Editor-in-Chief Daniel Rubino when discussing the Snapdragon X Elite.

Snapdragon X Elite cinebench

Benchmarks shared by Qualcomm and leaked benchmarks show promising results for the Snapdragon X Elite. (Image credit: Daniel Rubino)

It isn't just the Snapdragon X Elite that could change Windows 11 on ARM in 2024. Big names are finally starting to support the platform. As mentioned above, Google Chrome has a native ARM version in testing already. We're still waiting on some apps that were promised years ago, such as the Adobe creative suite, but Chrome alone could turn the heads of other developers.

A new flagship processor and support from companies like Google could help make Windows 11 on ARM mainstream. Microsoft needs chipmakers and software developers to back ARM computing, and we may finally see that in a significant way this year.

Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite is set to launch in mid-2024. That gives software makers some time to optimize software for Windows 11 on ARM and the new hardware that will run the operating system.

Sean Endicott
News Writer and apps editor

Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He's covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean's journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_. 

  • naddy69
    "Is 2024 the year of Windows 11 on ARM?"

    For some of us, 2023 was. I am running Windows 11 Pro ARM in a VM on this 16", 12 core M2 CPU MacBook Pro. I have a portable 16" monitor plugged in, and have Windows on one screen and Mac on the other.

    The ultimate 2 in 1. I can copy/paste anything in both directions. Text, pics, code from Visual Studio to Xcode, etc.

    Very nice. Makes the price of the MacBook Pro much more reasonable, since it is literally 2 laptops in one.

    ARM is the present and the future. Intel is going to be as relevant in a few years as Windows Phone is today. A quaint relic. You can't give away Intel Macs today. The same thing will happen with Intel PCs.
    Reply
  • TheIzzz
    naddy69 said:
    "Is 2024 the year of Windows 11 on ARM?"

    For some of us, 2023 was. I am running Windows 11 Pro ARM in a VM on this 16", 12 core M2 CPU MacBook Pro. I have a portable 16" monitor plugged in, and have Windows on one screen and Mac on the other.

    The ultimate 2 in 1. I can copy/paste anything in both directions. Text, pics, code from Visual Studio to Xcode, etc.

    Very nice. Makes the price of the MacBook Pro much more reasonable, since it is literally 2 laptops in one.

    ARM is the present and the future. Intel is going to be as relevant in a few years as Windows Phone is today. A quaint relic. You can't give away Intel Macs today. The same thing will happen with Intel PCs.
    completely laughable lol. Not only is Intel Meteor Lake faster and more efficient than Apple's current M chip (with better GPU performance thanks to the new Arc iGPUs), they are on track to fab 2nm before TSMC AND blow away the competition with their upcoming Lunar Lake chips. they are ALREADY ahead of Apple and AMD (even though AMD started the recent efficiency and iGPU performance trend). Apple's M chips haven't topped any benchmarks or efficiency ratings since the M1 dropped. they lost their edge almost immediately when Tiger Lake came out. Fact.
    Reply
  • wojtek
    TheIzzz said:
    completely laughable lol. Not only is Intel Meteor Lake faster and more efficient than Apple's current M chip (with better GPU performance thanks to the new Arc iGPUs), they are on track to fab 2nm before TSMC AND blow away the competition with their upcoming Lunar Lake chips. they are ALREADY ahead of Apple and AMD (even though AMD started the recent efficiency and iGPU performance trend). Apple's M chips haven't topped any benchmarks or efficiency ratings since the M1 dropped. they lost their edge almost immediately when Tiger Lake came out. Fact.
    oh, poor Intel fan boy got triggered by something completely unrelated (mac can offer 2 in one solution with windows arm).

    BTW. silicone macs may not be top of the performance but they are powerful enough while virtually not heating up or making any noise like most of x86 machines ❤️
    Reply