Let’s talk about something that’s been making waves in the tech world for a while now: Windows on Arm, which are currently powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon X chips based on the Arm architecture. They’ve been around for a bit, but are they finally ready for prime time in 2025? That’s the million-dollar (or maybe the multi-thousand-ringgit, depending on your budget) question.
For those not in the know, most laptops run on processors from Intel or AMD – what we call x86 architecture. Arm chips, on the other hand, are the brains behind most smartphones and tablets. They’re known for being power-efficient, which translates to longer battery life. Sounds great, right? Well, it’s a little more complicated than that. We’re specifically talking about Windows on Arm here, not just any device with an Arm chip.
Why Arm Laptops are Tempting — What’s Good?
Incredible battery life with Arm laptops
This is the biggest draw for Arm laptops. Arm chips are inherently more power-sippy than their x86 counterparts. Think all-day battery life, maybe even longer. Imagine working a full day, commuting, and still having juice left to binge-watch some Netflix. That’s the promise of Windows on Arm. In our experience, the Snapdragon laptops we have tested like the ASUS Zenbook A14 has largely lived up to the claims, with really long battery life that allowed us to go for more than a day without having to plug in the laptop at all.
Great performance even when running on battery power
Speaking of not having to plug in our laptops, most of the benchmarks — including the ones you’re seeing on HelloExpress — you’ve seen for laptops are done while they are connected to a charger. While it provides a good look at the best performance the laptop has to offer, it also doesn’t fully represent the performance that you will see when you’re using it when out-and-about, i.e. on battery power. Usually, you will see up to 50% less performance when running on battery versus when plugged in. Meanwhile, Arm laptops deliver largely similar performance when running plugged in versus on battery, as you can see in our benchmarks above done on the ASUS Vivobook 16.
Copilot+ features might arrive on Windows on Arm first
As Qualcomm worked closely with Microsoft, most of the Copilot+ PC features are available on Snapdragon-powered Arm laptops first. There is also a markedly higher support for Qualcomm’s NPU from third-party developers than what we’re seeing for Intel and AMD’s AI-capable chips, possibly due to the former’s pioneering work and significant investment in on-device AI processing. This early and enhanced NPU support on Snapdragon laptops allows for smoother and more efficient execution of AI-powered tasks within Windows on Arm, giving these devices a distinct advantage in leveraging the latest AI capabilities integrated into Windows. This tight collaboration suggests that if you’re particularly interested in experiencing the newest AI features on a Windows laptop in 2025, a Snapdragon-powered Arm laptop might be your best bet, at least initially.
Arm laptops are lighter and cooler
Arm chips generally produce less heat, which means laptops can be thinner and lighter. And since Arm laptops are able to go for longer on a single charge, you can leave the power brick at home, further lightening your load. Sure, a lot of this also depends on the cooling system of the specific laptop, but the fact that the processor itself produces less heat definitely helps when it comes to designing a system that still runs cool without having to have the fans spool up like a fighter jet taking off.
The Hurdles Arm Still Faces — What’s Not?
App compatibility for Windows on Arm is still iffy
This is the main sticking point for Windows on Arm. While it has gotten better, it’s not perfect. Windows apps that you know and love is expected to work without a hitch on Arm laptops, but that’s in an ideal scenario. Microsoft developed the Microsoft Prism emulator to help ease the transition from x86 to Arm, but in our testing, it’s nowhere near perfect. If your workflow relies on niche software, double-check compatibility before you make the switch to an Arm laptop. This is crucial. You can check if the app you frequently use works on Windows on Arm here.
Performance – still catching up
While Arm chips are powerful and efficient, they haven’t quite reached the same level of raw processing power as high-end x86 chips in laptops, especially for demanding tasks like video editing or gaming. Not to mention performance also takes a hit when apps are running in emulation mode. Things are improving, but x86 still holds the performance crown, for now. At the time of writing, Snapdragon chips also can’t be paired with a discrete GPU, which means x86 laptops are still going to be the choice for gamers or creators who need the extra graphics processing horsepower.
Paying a premium as an early adopters
Arm-based Windows laptops often come with a premium price tag. In essence, you’re paying quite a bit extra for the early adoption tax. The fact that most laptop makers are putting the Snapdragon chips in premium designs means that while you do get a nice laptop for the price, you still have to deal with teething issues like the aforementioned app compatibility hiccups. There are also some cases like in the recent ASUS Vivobook S series, where the Vivobook S 15 (S5507) with the Snapdragon chip ended up being significantly pricier than its brethren equipped with Intel Core Ultra and AMD Ryzen AI chips, respectively. Things are changing here too, with the ASUS Vivobook 16 we recently reviewed being one of the most affordable Snapdragon X-powered laptop in the market.
2025: Are We There Yet?
As we speak, the app compatibility situation for Windows on Arm is improving. Microsoft and developers are working hard to bridge the gap. More and more apps are being released with native Arm64 compatibility. We’re also likely to see more powerful Arm chips that can rival x86 performance come from not just Snapdragon, but maybe other chipmakers as well.
So, should you get an Arm laptop in 2025?
It depends. If battery life is your top priority, and your software is mostly web-based or already optimized for Arm64, then an Arm-based Windows laptop could be a great choice. Think students, writers, and anyone who works mainly in their browser and productivity apps. There are premium choices like the ASUS Zenbook A14, as well as more wallet-friendly options like the ASUS Vivobook 16 that can deliver the same level of performance and battery life. However, if you want to game and need top-tier performance for video editing, you might be better off sticking with a traditional x86 laptop for now.
But, do keep your eyes on the news. The Windows on Arm ecosystem is evolving rapidly. By 2025, it might be a completely different landscape, with more players and potentially better support from developers and Microsoft as laptop makers release more and more Arm-based laptops. We also foresee improved adoption of the AI capabilities baked into the Snapdragon X series. For now, do your research, check app compatibility, and weigh the pros and cons carefully before you make a decision about buying a laptop running Windows on Arm.