Google Releases ARM64 Build of Chrome for Windows

Google has quietly released a native version of its Chrome browser for Windows on ARM PCs. Windows Central reports that the new ARM64 build of Chrome is currently available on the browser’s Canary Channel, and it should bring performance improvements compared to the emulated x86 version.

While Windows on ARM PCs are still far from mainstream, Google Chrome is the most popular web browser on the market, and it’s strange that Google waited that long to release this first ARM64 build. Microsoft Edge, which is based on the same Chromium open-source project as Google Chrome, has already been available as an ARM64 app since 2020.

While Windows 11 and Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon chips have helped to make Windows on ARM a better experience for consumers, we’re not yet at the point where ARM-based PCs offer a no-compromises experience. Microsoft still needs to convince developers to recompile their apps for the ARM64 architecture, and the Windows on ARM ecosystem also needs more competition on the silicon side.

This year, Qualcomm will release its new Snapdragon X Elite chips, which could rival Apple’s M-series chips in performance and battery consumption. Nvidia and AMD are also reportedly working on their own ARM chips for Windows PCs that could be released in 2025.