Parallels lets users run Arm version of Windows 10 on Macs with M1 soc
The Parallels Desktop software will receive support for the Apple M1 chip. As a result, users can run virtual machines with the Arm versions of Windows 10 and Linux distributions on Macs with this soc. The software also retains support for Intel Macs.
Parallels reports in a blog post that Apple M1 support is being added to version 16.5 of Parallels Desktop. For example, it allows users to run Windows 10 for Arm in a virtual machine. This OS has not yet been officially released, although members of the Windows Insider program can download a preview version.
Users of this operating system can run Windows 10 Arm apps alongside macOS applications on Macs with M1 soc using the software. Windows 10 x86 programs are also supported through emulation. The virtualization software also supports Linux distributions for Arm. The developer hereby mentions Ubuntu 20.04, Kali Linux 2021.1, Debian 10.7 and Fedora Workstation 33-1.2 as options.
Parallels claims that Windows 10 VMs on a Mac with Apple M1 chip should perform up to 30 percent better than Windows 10 on a Macbook Air 2020 with Intel CPU. The DirectX 11 performance should be sixty percent better than a Macbook Pro with Radeon Pro 555X GPU, the company says. The power consumption of virtual machines on an Apple M1 computer is up to 250 percent lower than that of a Macbook Air 2020, according to Parallels.
Parallels Desktop for Mac 16.5 will be available Wednesday. Users who have a license for Parallels Desktop 16 can download the new version for free. A new license for home use and students costs 80 euros, while developers, testers or companies can take out an annual subscription of 100 euros.
Image via Parallels