Parallels Desktop in version 16.5 now allows you to virtualize Windows on Mac computers with M1 processor

If you're a Mac user, you're probably familiar with Parallels Desktop. It is the solution that allows to run the Windows operating system on a computer based on macOS by pulling virtualization. A possible possibility so far but out of the reach of the new Macs with M1 processor.

Something that has changed with the latest update released by the company responsible for Parallels Desktop. Now, with Parallels Desktop 16.5, owners of silicon-based Macs will also be able to virtualize copies of Windows on their computers.

Windows 10 comes to Macs with M1

The new Macs with an M1 heart as well as the new models that have to come and do so based on ARM instead of Intel, will be able to virtualize the Windows 10 operating system, although they must use the version compatible with ARM processors There are also a series of limitations listed by Microsoft that should be taken into account and for example it is not possible to run 64-bit (x64) applications and the use it is limited to 64-bit (ARM64), 32-bit (ARM32), and 32-bit (x86) applications.

Windows 10 can now be run on these computers with native support and therefore run all Windows applications In fact, The company claims that performance has improved and that running Windows 10 in a virtual machine on a Mac M1 achieves up to 30% more performance compared to a MacBook Pro equipped with an Intel Core i9.

They also claim that Parallels Desktop 16.5 uses 2.5 times less power on a MacBook with M1 SoC than on the same laptop equipped with an Intel Core i5 processor, in this case a MacBook Air. Improvements also extend to gaming, where you can expect 60% better performance with DirectX 11 on a MacBook Pro with M1 compared to the same model with Intel CPU and AMD Radeon Pro 55x GPU.

The new version of Parallels Desktop can also be used with various popular ARM-based distros such as Ubuntu 20.04, Kali Linux 2021.1, Debian 10.7 and Fedora Workstation 33-1.2.

Parallels Desktop comes with free Parallels Access and Parallels Toolbox, both supported by Apple's M1, and is available at a price of $79.99 for one year of subscription or 99.99 euros in a single purchase.

Via | ZDNEt More information | Parallels Desktop