Windows on ARM is finally good enough, here is what still breaks

Posted 16h ago

For browser-and-Office life, Snapdragon laptops are excellent. For games, pro audio and some niche tools, check first.

What works now

Two years of Snapdragon X laptops have sanded down the rough edges. Chrome, Edge, Office, Slack, Zoom, Spotify, most creative apps, all run natively or emulate acceptably, and the battery life is genuinely a generation ahead of comparable Intel machines.

What still trips people up

Many games and their anti-cheat systems. Some VPN and endpoint-security clients. Older peripheral and printer drivers. Certain pro-audio plugins. A handful of enterprise line-of-business apps.

If your work or hobby depends on one of those, either wait or buy an Intel/AMD machine. Otherwise the XPS 13, Surface Pro 11 and OmniBook X 14 are easy recommendations.

The verdict: The default answer flipped: assume ARM is fine unless you have a specific reason it is not, then check that reason carefully.

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The best laptop for students in 2026

Four picks across three budgets, from "if it stretches" to "on a tight one". If the budget stretches, MacBook Air 15 (M3) Silent, all-day battery, the best trackpad and one of the best screens, and heavily discounted now. The safe pick that will last a full degree and beyond. Best-value Windows, Asus Zenbook 14 OLED A gorgeous 120Hz OLED, solid build and strong battery for well under flagship money. The Windows pick for most students. Best battery life, HP OmniBook X 14 (Snapdragon) If you want to leave the charger at home, a Snapdragon ultraportable goes the longest. Check your coursework software runs on ARM first. On a tight budget, Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5 14 Well-built, comfortable keyboard, dependable, and cheap. Nothing flashy, nothing wrong with it. The verdict: Air if you can, Zenbook if you want Windows value, OmniBook X for battery, IdeaPad if money is tight.

16h agoRead discussion

ReviewsMicrosoft Surface Pro (11th Edition)Microsoft

Microsoft Surface Pro (11th Edition) review: the ARM tablet-PC comes good

The best Surface Pro yet, now that Windows-on-ARM is usable, with a keyboard you still have to buy separately. Our score: 8 / 10 The chip transformed it The Surface Pro 11 pairs a Snapdragon X processor with an OLED option and a redesigned Flex keyboard. Battery life went from a Surface weak point to a genuine strength, the display is excellent, and the 2-in-1 form factor is as flexible as ever. The eternal Surface complaints The keyboard costs extra, a lot extra, and it is still an expensive way to get roughly a mid-tier laptop’s performance. As a tablet that becomes a real PC, though, nothing else comes close. The good and the bad What works Battery life is finally excellent Gorgeous OLED option Best-in-class 2-in-1 flexibility What doesn’t Keyboard sold separately and pricey Performance is mid-tier for the total price ARM app caveats still apply Who it’s for Buy it if you genuinely use both the tablet and laptop modes and want long battery life. Skip it if you only ever use it as a laptop, a clamshell is cheaper and faster. Alternatives worth a look iPad Pro (M4) with Magic Keyboard, better tablet, more limited OS. Surface Laptop 7, same silicon, clamshell, keyboard included. The verdict: The Surface Pro finally delivers on its own premise. Just budget for the keyboard. Sources Microsoft

16h agoRead discussion

ReviewsDell XPS 13 (9345, Snapdragon)Dell

Dell XPS 13 (9345) review: the Snapdragon experiment, one year in

Superb battery life and a gorgeous OLED, provided your software runs on ARM. Our score: 8 / 10 At a glance Spec Detail Chip Snapdragon X Elite Display 13.4-inch, 3K tandem-OLED option Battery Genuinely all-day-plus Design XPS 13 Plus, zero-lattice keyboard, invisible haptic touchpad The battery promise is real The Snapdragon X Elite XPS 13 is a laptop you stop thinking about charging. Combined with a fanless-feeling quiet operation and one of the best 13-inch OLED panels around, it is a lovely machine to carry. Windows-on-ARM has matured, mostly Most mainstream apps now run natively or emulate acceptably. The gaps are specific: many games and anti-cheat systems, some VPN and security clients, older peripheral drivers, and certain pro-audio plugins. Check your particular tools before buying. The XPS 13 Plus design language, the seamless key deck, the invisible touchpad, the capacitive function row, remains as divisive as ever. The good and the bad What works All-day-plus battery Stunning 3K tandem-OLED option Silent, cool operation What doesn’t App compatibility still not universal Divisive keyboard and touchpad Not for GPU-bound work Who it’s for Buy it if your workflow is browser-and-Office and you want the best battery life in a premium 13-inch laptop. Skip it if you rely on games, pro audio or niche Windows software. Alternatives worth a look Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13, Intel, conventional design, better keyboard. MacBook Air 13 (M4), if you are open to macOS. The verdict: Excellent hardware and a genuinely great battery. Just confirm your software list first. Sources Dell

16h agoRead discussion

ReviewsHP OmniBook Ultra 14 HP

HP OmniBook Ultra 14 review: the quiet AMD alternative

A strong Ryzen AI ultraportable that undercuts the Intel and Snapdragon competition without much fanfare. Our score: 8 / 10 Fast, cool and efficient HP’s rebranded premium clamshell runs the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 with a 55-TOPS NPU, and it is quick, stays cool and lasts well on a charge. The OLED option is bright and colour-accurate. The catch is only the badge It lacks the marketing shine of a Surface or an XPS, and HP’s design is a little anonymous. For the money, it is one of the best all-round 14-inch Windows laptops you can buy, and it runs x86 software natively, no ARM caveats. The good and the bad What works Fast Ryzen AI performance Runs cool and quiet No ARM compatibility caveats Good value What doesn’t Forgettable design Speakers are average Webcam could be better Who it’s for Buy it if you want strong x86 performance and battery life in a 14-inch laptop without paying a premium for the name. Skip it if you want the longest possible battery life (a Snapdragon machine still edges it) or a more distinctive design. Alternatives worth a look Asus Zenbook 14 OLED, similar value, nicer screen tuning. Dell XPS 13, more premium feel, higher price. The verdict: An under-the-radar pick that quietly does almost everything right. Sources HP

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Buying guidesAlienware 34 QD-OLED (AW3423DWF)Dell

Alienware 34 QD-OLED (AW3423DWF): the monitor that made OLED gaming normal

Years on, still the value benchmark for an ultrawide OLED gaming monitor. It set the price expectation The AW3423DWF brought a 34-inch 3440x1440 QD-OLED to a price that undercut everything, and it has aged well: 165Hz, perfect blacks, near-instant response, FreeSync, and a three-year burn-in warranty. Where newer panels beat it 4K OLED ultrawides and 240Hz-plus panels are sharper and faster. But for immersive single-player gaming at a sane price, this is still the one to recommend. Who it’s for Buy it if you want a big, gorgeous OLED gaming monitor without paying flagship money. Skip it if you need 4K sharpness for productivity or the highest possible refresh rate. Alternatives worth a look Alienware 34 QD-OLED (2025, 4K), sharper, faster, pricier. LG UltraGear OLED 39, bigger, curved, more expensive. The verdict: Still the value king of OLED ultrawides. Sources Dell

16h agoRead discussion

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Windows on ARM is finally good enough, here is what still breaks

What works now

What still trips people up

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