Arm Powered Copilot+ PCs: 90% Native Apps, Prism Emulation, Windows 10 Migration

Microsoft’s latest push to move Windows 10 users onto new Copilot+ PCs has a fresh twist: Arm silicon is front and center. The company’s messaging now leans heavily into claims that the Arm ecosystem is mature — most apps people use today run natively on Arm — and positions Arm-powered Copilot+ laptops as the ideal migration path ahead of Windows 10’s end-of-support deadline. The headline numbers and marketing are bold, but the reality is more nuanced: there’s genuine progress on app compatibility and emulation (Prism), real work underway to unblock online gaming (Epic/Easy Anti-Cheat), and meaningful trade-in/recycling options being added — yet important gaps remain for gamers, specialist legacy applications, and eco-conscious users worried about a wave of device churn. This feature unpacks Microsoft’s claims, verifies the data where possible, and provides practical analysis for Windows users and IT teams weighing an Arm-powered Copilot+ refresh.

Background / Overview​

Microsoft has been nudging Windows 10 users to move to Windows 11 for some time, but the company’s latest push explicitly favors Copilot+ PCs — machines marketed to deliver on-device AI, long battery life, and hardware (NPUs/accelerators) tuned for Copilot experiences. The marketing pivot now includes a stronger emphasis on Windows on Arm as a strategic platform for those Copilot+ experiences.
A recent industry write-up summarizing Microsoft’s message notes the company is directing Windows 10 users toward Copilot+ hardware, and specifically highlighting the expanding Arm app ecosystem as a reason to consider Arm-powered laptops as a migration option. That piece, captured in the user-provided TechRadar summary, highlights Microsoft’s claim that native Arm apps now represent the lion’s share of real-world usage minutes — a central part of the company’s sales pitch to cautious upgraders.
Microsoft’s own developer blog amplifies this message, arguing that native Arm versions are now available for apps representing 90% of total user minutes, and framing Arm-based Copilot+ PCs as delivering high-performance experiences for the scenarios that matter most to customers. This is an important reframing: rather than counting app titles, Microsoft weighs app usage minutes — meaning the most-used apps (browsers, Microsoft 365, media, messaging) have been prioritized for Arm native builds.
At the same time, the company is adding practical steps into Windows Update for Windows 10 users — links that help people explore trade-in and recycling options when considering a new Windows 11 purchase — as Redmond nudges the market toward hardware refreshes before Windows 10’s end-of-support deadline. Microsoft’s lifecycle pages and store trade-in resources make those options explicit.

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What Microsoft is claiming — and what those claims mean​

The headline: “90% of user minutes are now native on Arm”​

• Microsoft’s developer blog now states the Arm app ecosystem has native Arm versions available for apps that represent 90% of total user minutes, arguing that this results in efficient, high-performance experiences for mainstream workflows. That’s a usage-weighted metric, not a sheer app count.
• This isn’t the first time Microsoft has given a similar figure: earlier messaging and product launches used an 87% figure (May 2024), and several independent outlets have reported the updated 90% number as the ecosystem evolved. The progression (87% → ~90%) reflects continuing porting and native builds from major ISVs.

Why this matters: switching the narrative from “how many apps are ported” to “how much of your time is spent in ported apps” is clever and materially important. Even if hundreds of niche utilities remain x86-only, if your daily minutes are dominated by apps with Arm-native variants (browsers, Office, Steam clients, creative tools), then user experience in the real world will improve substantially.

Performance and battery claims​

• Microsoft couples the compatibility narrative with performance and battery claims for Copilot+ devices (benchmarks vs. recent MacBook Air models, AI throughput, and battery-life numbers). Those marketing figures come from Microsoft benchmarking and are prominently quoted in Windows-focused posts and coverage, but they are company-supplied numbers and vary by model and workload. Independent reviewers measured substantial gains in some scenarios but also found variability depending on workload and whether apps are native or emulated. Treat those marketing numbers as indicative of potential, not guaranteed across all workloads or device SKUs.

Emulation: Prism is better, but not magic​

• Microsoft’s updated compatibility story leans heavily on Prism, the next-generation x86/x64 translation/emulation layer. Prism improves performance and broadens the set of x86/x64 instructions emulated on Arm devices (including better handling of many modern instruction extensions), which narrows the gap for apps that remain x86/x64-only. Microsoft documents how Prism’s just-in-time translation and caching reduce overhead, and third-party testing corroborates measurable performance gains for many workloads.
• Caveat: heavy, low-level workloads (kernel drivers, some media codecs, and anti-cheat kernels) cannot always be fully translated or emulated. That’s why gaming and some specialized enterprise tooling remain exceptional cases.

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The app ecosystem: progress and remaining gaps​

Where Arm is strong today​

• Native Arm ports now include many mainstream productivity, communication, creative, and entertainment apps. Microsoft lists broad categories — Microsoft 365 apps (Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel), major browsers (Chrome), media apps (Spotify), and creative tools (some Adobe apps now have Arm builds) — and independent trackers and news outlets confirm rapid progress in these categories. For many users, the classic daily tasks (web, Office, Zoom/Teams, media) are now largely Arm-native.

Benefits for users:

• Lower emulation overhead (native code runs directly on silicon).
• Improved battery life on thin-and-light Arm designs.
• Better on-device AI throughput when apps and frameworks are compiled to take advantage of NPUs or Arm64EC.

Where Arm still struggles​

• Gaming remains the most visible and concrete limitation. Many online multiplayer games rely on kernel-level anti-cheat drivers, and drivers/anti-cheat systems are historically architecture-dependent. That has blocked many titles from running on Arm machines. Microsoft’s usage-weighted metrics deliberately exclude games in many of their public lists — a signal that while app minutes for mainstream productivity are covered, gaming requires separate remediation.
• Some legacy enterprise applications, bespoke vertical software, and obscure utilities still lack Arm ports. For organizations with specialized workflows, one-off app compatibility checks are essential.

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Gaming and anti-cheat: the Epic / EAC story​

A major compatibility blocker for Arm PCs has been anti-cheat middleware. Many popular online games refuse to run when core anti-cheat components are missing or incompatible.
What changed:

• Epic Games announced work with Qualcomm and a forthcoming support path to add Windows-on-Snapdragon (Windows on Arm) support for Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) and to make Fortnite available on Windows on Snapdragon later in the year. Epic is also rolling Arm support into their Epic Online Services SDK so other developers can adopt the same tooling. This is a concrete, widely reported step toward reducing the anti-cheat barrier for Arm gaming.

Independent coverage and analysis:

• Ars Technica, TechRadar, and other outlets have documented Epic’s approach and the constraints: while adding EAC Arm support is a major step, many games will still require developer work to integrate the updated SDK or produce Arm-native binaries. In short, Epic’s move is necessary but not sufficient; game-by-game adoption will determine how quickly the Arm gaming story improves.

Practical takeaway for gamers:

• Expect a phased roll-out where large multiplayer titles that rely on EAC will gradually appear on Arm platforms — Fortnite being the first high-profile example.
• Other anti-cheat systems (Vanguard, FaceIt, etc.) still require separate updates; until the ecosystem converges, some competitive titles will remain unavailable on Arm.
• If gaming is a primary use-case today, Arm remains a riskier choice than x86-based Copilot+ or legacy PCs — test specific titles early.

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Windows 10 end-of-support, trade-ins and recycle links — the migration pressure​

Windows 10’s official support end date is a known fixed point: October 14, 2025. Microsoft’s public guidance is that devices running Windows 10 will stop receiving security updates after that date unless users enroll in Extended Security Updates (ESU) or migrate to Windows 11. The company is recommending Windows 11 upgrades where possible and offering resources for those who can’t move to 11 immediately.
What Microsoft is adding to the migration path:

• Microsoft Store trade-in and recycling pages and Windows settings options now make it easier for users to explore trade-in or responsibly recycle older devices when considering a new Windows 11 purchase. OEMs and Windows configuration tools support customizable “trade-in/recycle” links in Settings, which is the route Microsoft is using to nudge users toward rehoming or recycling rather than simply discarding machines.

Why this matters:

• The combination of an EOL deadline and refreshed Copilot+ marketing creates real migration pressure. Microsoft’s addition of trade-in/recycling links is a mitigation step to reduce improper disposal, but it doesn’t avoid the reality: mass device replacement risks a large environmental footprint unless consumers and enterprises actively use reuse/recycle channels.

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Critical analysis — strengths, marketing risks, and real-world caveats​

Strengths in Microsoft’s narrative​

• The usage-weighted metric is meaningful: counting app minutes (rather than raw app counts) emphasizes that the most-used, high-value apps are being prioritized for Arm ports. That matters more for day-to-day usability than sheer application totals. Microsoft’s blog explicitly centers that framing.
• Technical investment is tangible: Prism’s improvements and the addition of Arm64EC support in Microsoft’s toolchain make mixed-native/emulated applications more achievable. Microsoft’s documentation shows specific emulation design choices that reduce translation overhead. Independent tests confirm real, measurable improvements for many apps.
• Epic/EAC engagement is a concrete industry response to the gaming problem. Anti-cheat support from Epic is a meaningful, public step that unlocks a large class of multiplayer games if developers adopt the updated SDK.

Risks and reasons to be cautious​

• Marketing numbers are variable and model-dependent. Microsoft’s benchmark comparisons to Apple’s M3/M4 MacBook Airs and other claims (58% faster in multithread Cinebench; up to 47% faster AI workloads) are company-supplied and depend on specific device configurations and workloads. Independent reviewers found gains in some tests and workloads but noted variability and scenarios where emulation still lags native x86/x64 silicon — especially for heavy creative workloads and some plugins. Treat these numbers as directional, not universal guarantees.
• Gaming is improved but incomplete. Epic’s EAC support is necessary and important, but it does not automatically make every EAC-dependent game playable on Arm. Developers must integrate the updated SDK or ship Arm-native binaries. The larger anti-cheat ecosystem (Riot/other middleware) still needs progress.
• Enterprise and legacy apps: some vertical and proprietary software still lack Arm builds, and for organizations with custom integrations, rollout risk remains. Microsoft’s App Assure and Arm Advisory Service exist to help, but expect pilot testing and remediation work for many enterprise deployments.
• Environmental concern: despite trade-in and recycling options, a large wave of device replacements risks increasing e-waste if consumers choose landfill or if trade-in/recycling rates are low. The presence of trade-in pages is positive, but it’s not a full solution by itself.

Flagging unverifiable or sensitive claims​

• Where Microsoft quotes exact percentage leads against competitor devices or “up to X% faster” results, those are marketing claims based on selected benchmarks and device pairings; they should be treated with caution unless reproduced by independent lab tests on the same models and settings. Independent reviews corroborate some gains but also reveal scenarios where emulated or partially incompatible workloads still lag. Marketing claims about specific resource metrics (e.g., “47% faster AI performance than M3”) deserve independent verification on target models for the workloads you care about.

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Practical guidance — who should upgrade, who should wait, and how to test​

If you’re a typical consumer (web/email/media)​

• Likely safe: most mainstream tasks (browser, Microsoft 365, streaming, messaging) now have Arm-native options or run well under Prism emulation.
• Benefits: greatly improved battery life on thin Arm laptops and strong Copilot integration for AI-enhanced productivity.

Steps:

• Check the app compatibility list for the apps you use (Microsoft and community trackers are useful).
• Test your top-used apps on a friend’s Arm laptop or in-store demo to validate the experience for your workloads.
• Use Microsoft’s trade-in/recycle options if you plan to refresh hardware.

If you’re a gamer​

• If you play competitive or anti-cheat-protected multiplayer titles, wait for specific game support to land. Epic’s work on EAC is a breakthrough, but adoption will be game-by-game.
• If single-player or indie titles without anti-cheat are your primary play, you’ll likely see many titles run reasonably well — but check community reports and performance tests for titles you care about.

If you’re an IT manager / enterprise​

• Don’t assume a blanket migration: perform pilot testing for representative workloads and third-party integrations.
• Use Microsoft App Assure and the Arm Advisory Service to triage and remediate critical compatibility issues; Microsoft documents this program and has case studies, but successful migrations require planning and validation.

If you’re an environmental/ethical buyer​

• Consider extending the life of currently secure devices where possible (ESU for Windows 10 is available for consumers for a limited time) rather than replacing immediately.
• If you do upgrade, use official trade-in or certified recycling channels to avoid dangerous disposal practices. Microsoft’s trade-in program and OEM recycling links are the recommended paths.

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Enterprise implications and procurement checklist​

For IT teams evaluating Copilot+ Arm devices at scale, follow this checklist:

• Inventory: identify mission-critical apps and dependencies (drivers, kernel modules, anti-cheat).
• Pilot: deploy a mixed set of Arm devices to a pilot group using real workloads.
• Compatibility testing:
• Verify native Arm builds where available.
• Test emulated apps under Prism for performance and stability.
• Confirm endpoint protection and management agents (Intune, antivirus) have Arm-compatible builds.
• Network & security: confirm MDM, EDR, VPN, and SSO components work properly on Arm.
• Rollout plan: adopt a phased migration with back-out plans for critical workloads.
• Disposal: use vendor trade-in and certified recycling pathways to minimize e-waste and legal/regulatory risk.

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Conclusion​

Microsoft’s renewed push to have Windows 10 users move to Copilot+ PCs — and the company’s decision to foreground Arm silicon in that messaging — reflects a pivotal, practical shift in the Windows ecosystem. The narrative has moved from “Windows on Arm is interesting” to “Windows on Arm is usable for the majority of mainstream productivity minutes.” Prism’s emulation improvements, growing Arm-native app builds, and industry actions like Epic’s Easy Anti-Cheat support are meaningful technical milestones that reduce compatibility friction.
That said, the rollout is still a work in progress. Marketing benchmarks and bold performance claims should be treated as vendor-supplied figures requiring independent verification for your specific workloads. Gamers and organizations with specialized legacy apps remain in the highest-risk categories and should test thoroughly before committing to Arm hardware en masse. Finally, the environmental consequences of a large-scale hardware refresh can’t be ignored; Microsoft’s trade-in and recycling options are a welcome mitigation, but they are not a full remedy to the potential e-waste impact.
For most everyday users — browsers, Microsoft 365, media, communication — an Arm-powered Copilot+ PC is a compelling option offering improved battery life and strong AI integration. For gamers, enterprise customers with legacy dependencies, or anyone whose workflows depend on niche or kernel-level drivers, the advice is to pilot, validate, and wait for targeted vendor support where necessary. The Arm story has moved from “promising” to “practical in many cases,” but it’s not yet a universal answer for every Windows user.

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Source: TechRadar The death of Windows 10 is almost here - and Microsoft's again pushing upgrades to Copilot+ PCs, this time with an Arm twist