With the proliferation of Copilot+PC devices in the past two years, Microsoft has been doubling down with marketing efforts to help people choose these newer class of AI-enabled devices. However, beyond the AI marketing hype is the fact that a bulk of these new devices are running on the new Snapdragon equivalent for Windows.
As a backgrounder, traditional Windows computing has, for time immemorial, ran on the x86 platform of Intel and AMD chips. When Microsoft made the bold announcement of a new generation of laptops, they partnered with Qualcomm, the company known for making Snapdragon processors for phones.
This was a competitive move against Apple’s M-series chips on the newer Macbooks and iPads. Better battery life, faster response time, energy efficiency – these were hallmarks of ‘Apple Silicon’ but the tradeoff, as many Mac users realize, is compatibility with legacy Windows apps that do not have a Mac equivalent. The same can be said for Snapdragon-powered Windows devices where app compatibility can be an issue. At least now we have some solution for gamers, especially those on Android.
The launch of MuMuPlayer Windows, a collaboration between NetEase Games and Qualcomm, is a pragmatic attempt to bridge that gap. Finally we can run Android games natively on newer Snapdragon-powered Windows devices.
Because this version is native to Snapdragon, it bypasses the translation layers that usually slow down x86-based solutions.
- Snapdragon Native: It is built specifically for the ARM architecture of Snapdragon X Series
- Efficiency: By being native, it promises greater stability and power efficiency than older x86 solutions.
- The WSA Alternative: With the sunsetting of Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA), this serves as a necessary alternative for those who need Android apps to feel like part of the desktop.
Mobile gaming on the desktop
For the gamer, playing a mobile game on a PC can feel floaty or laggy. MuMuPlayer is leaning on proprietary graphics tech to push frame rates up to 240 FPS with low latency.
- PC Controls: It ships with official presets for keyboard, mouse, and gamepads, plus custom key mapping.
- Visuals: It supports high-definition visuals, aiming for a “native-level” experience on the screen.
MuMuPlayer Windows is ready to download. It already has versions for Mac OS, Windows, and Windows on ARM (beta). The iOS version is coming soon.