Is arm the future of computers?

[u/Delicious-Back-1131]

I’ve been seeing Mac’s using arm as a replacement to the x64 architechture after ditching Intel and making Intel Mac’s unsupported and was thinking. Since windows ditched arm and Apple m series chips outperform any consumer windows chip my a mile will Microsoft reintroduce windows with arm? Also because I’ve seen rumors about nvidia making their own arm processor.

[u/GTMoraes]

Posting this from my Lenovo Yoga 7x with Snapdragon X Elite ARM64 processor, on Windows 11 with the latest updates:

huh?

[u/SilverseeLives]

u/Froggypwns has already addressed your misunderstanding of Windows on Arm, so I will tackle this one:

Apple m series chips outperform any consumer windows chip my a mile

No.

https://www.cpu-monkey.com/en/compare_cpu-qualcomm_snapdragon_x2_elite_extreme_x2e_96_100-vs-apple_m5

And this doesn't even consider the desktop space, where Intel and AMD x64 architecture products remain at the top when power is not constrained.

[u/GoodSelective → u/SilverseeLives]

You're being very silly. You're comparing the highest and X2 SOC with the lowest end M5.

Go compare the X2 to the non-base model M5. Look at the numbers.

Now go compare the M5 ultra's stated specs, too. I'll wait.

WOA products aren't currently remotely competitive with the non-base model Apple silicon socs.

[u/Froggypwns]

Since windows ditched arm

When did that happen?

Three days ago this was posted:

Microsoft celebrates major progress with Windows 11 on Arm PCs, confirms Windows on Arm is now "a first-class platform for any workload" and that "customer demand is growing" - https://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft/windows-11/microsoft-celebrates-major-progress-with-windows-11-on-arm-pcs-confirms-windows-on-arm-is-now-a-first-class-platform-for-any-workload-and-that-customer-demand-is-growing

They recently announced the Surface Laptop Ultra with the new Nvidia ARM CPU, and are selling multiple other models with ARM processors

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/b/buy-surface-pro

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/b/buy-surface-laptop

In fact, you will struggle to find the x86 models as they are typically only marketed towards businesses.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/b/surfaceforbusiness

Windows on ARM gets better every day.

[u/One_Historian3741]

https://akitaonrails.com/en/2026/08/11/intels-comeback-arm64-vs-x86-64-is-not-what-you-think/

[u/i_MusicMan]

For productivity machines - those that just run browsers, document editing software, etc. Yes.

It makes no sense to waste energy running that on an x64 machine that uses considerably more power. ARM runs that stuff with aplomb.

Where x64 still reins supreme is the creative and gaming segments, as well as some professional segments where you may need high specs that simply aren't economical to get in an ARM machine (e.g. high end CAD workstations, etc.).

Also, if you think your system requirements will grow in the future, x64 is still the best bet because these machines are modular. ARM machines generally are not. I think the most you can expect out of most ARM machines is replaceable storage. That's it.

With ARM, you really have to overspend to leave room for increasing requirements. With x64, you can buy what makes sense now and then upgrade later on.

CPU, GPU, RAM, Storage, WiFi/BT, PSU, etc

ARM makes more sense for the mobile form factors. I think that is why Microsoft focused so hard on Laptops and Tablets for CoPilot+ PCs. They make far less sense for desktops, unless you're a single manufacturer ecosystem selling high margin products (e.g. Apple).

[u/drygnfyre]

Yes