Kerry Wan/ZDNET
Follow ZDNET:
Add us as a preferred source on Google.

**ZDNET’s Expanded Key Insights**
Personal computers powered by Arm-based processors have reached a level of maturity where they perform admirably with most general productivity applications. Tasks such as document creation, spreadsheet management, and web-based collaboration operate seamlessly. However, certain advanced utilities—particularly backup and recovery software that rely on external drives—may encounter notable limitations. In addition, technology enthusiasts or developers who frequently dual-boot Linux alongside Windows will likely face significant obstacles that can turn setup into a prolonged technical challenge.

Last year, when Microsoft unveiled its initial generation of Copilot+ PCs equipped with Snapdragon chips, I decided to acquire the most affordable model available—the Surface Pro 11. To my genuine astonishment, that modestly priced device turned out to be a versatile and dependable addition to my computing ecosystem. Despite its compact, fanless architecture, it handled the rigors of daily professional use with confidence, serving as my primary workstation for roughly half a year.

Since that experiment, my interest in Arm-based systems has only deepened. I’ve since purchased a Surface Laptop and a Dell XPS 13, each featuring the latest Snapdragon X Elite processors. Having now spent more than a year immersed in this environment, I’ve developed a nuanced understanding of what these machines excel at—as well as where their technical boundaries still lie. Microsoft’s marketing campaigns and its hardware partners have done an impressive job convincing consumers to explore these sleek, battery-efficient devices, yet businesses and IT departments remain hesitant—and in some cases, their caution is justified by real-world tradeoffs.

Over recent years, Windows on Arm has evolved dramatically. If your professional routine centers around editing Office documents, managing email, browsing through cloud dashboards, or working in browser-based applications, performance will feel fluid and dependable. A major advantage is energy efficiency: the system produces minimal heat even during extended sessions, remaining comfortable to the touch and delivering surprisingly long battery endurance compared with traditional Intel or AMD laptops.

Many of the early software gaps have been resolved, largely due to the dedication of third-party developers who have ported their tools for native Arm compatibility. For instance, users can now find reliable VPN clients capable of running smoothly on these platforms—ProtonVPN is one option I’ve successfully used, though numerous alternatives exist. Likewise, Adobe’s most prominent creative applications such as Photoshop and Lightroom now include native Arm binaries, and beta x86 versions of sophisticated tools like After Effects, Premiere Pro, Audition, and Acrobat operate smoothly thanks to improvements in Microsoft’s emulation subsystem.

Nonetheless, the experience isn’t entirely seamless. Several lingering compatibility issues continue to limit how flexibly these machines can be used, especially for power users and specialists. Through extensive experimentation, I’ve identified three major pain points, each of which could be serious enough to sway potential buyers.

### 1. Backup Software Limitations
For any PC user who handles important data, consistent and reliable backups are non-negotiable. While Windows provides built-in utilities for data protection, these tools often fall short when professionals require complete system imaging or faster disaster recovery. Third-party applications typically add that level of sophistication, offering the capability to duplicate the entire software state of your computer—including Windows itself, applications, configuration files, and personalization settings. This allows an effortless restoration after events such as catastrophic drive failure or physical loss of a device.

However, these comprehensive recovery procedures currently suffer a major shortfall on Arm-based PCs. During my tests, after creating full system images on an external SSD through backup solutions like Macrium Reflect X Home and MSP360 Backup, I attempted recovery using USB boot media. The result was puzzling: when starting the computer from the recovery drive, the external SSD that held the image remained inaccessible. Even generic Windows recovery drives failed to recognize the storage medium. Acronis TrueImage, a traditionally reliable backup solution, is also unavailable in native Arm form.

After days of experimenting and consulting with technical support teams, I confirmed that this isn’t an isolated quirk but rather a recognized limitation of the Windows Recovery Environment on Arm. Although workarounds exist—such as storing backups on cloud storage systems or accessing system images via network drives—they inherently complicate what should be a straightforward, fail-safe process. Consequently, restoring a system from a local USB drive remains practically unfeasible. The current best practice is therefore to reinstall Windows fresh, re-add your applications and preferences, and then retrieve personal files from synchronized cloud repositories.

### 2. Linux Installation Challenges
For the developer community and technology enthusiasts, the ability to install and run Linux is almost a baseline expectation. Traditionally, any x86-compatible PC could boot a standard Linux distribution with little effort. Yet, this flexibility essentially disappears in the Arm ecosystem. My experiment installing Ubuntu Linux on the Dell XPS 13 (model 9345) exposed how unprepared most popular Linux distributions remain for Arm-based consumer hardware. Although Ubuntu’s latest releases, such as the recently launched 25.10 edition, technically include an Arm build, the installation experience is far from polished or reliable, as clarified in ongoing discussions on Ubuntu’s Community Discourse forum.

As a result, unless one is prepared to invest substantial time debugging and rebuilding components, installing Linux on Snapdragon-powered devices is still best considered a long-term tinkering project rather than a practical deployment. To put this in perspective, the difficulties mirror—and in some cases surpass—the notorious hurdles of getting Linux up and running on Apple’s custom silicon Macs. For hobbyists, such explorations may be intellectually rewarding. For everyday users seeking immediate productivity, however, sticking with traditional Intel-based hardware remains the more pragmatic route.

### 3. Gaming Performance Constraints
The third concern pertains to gaming, which remains one of the toughest tests of a PC’s raw performance capability. I should disclose that my gaming habits are modest—usually confined to light entertainment like Microsoft Solitaire—but even at that level, the limitations were evident. Snapdragon processors include integrated GPUs that, while efficient, cannot rival the dedicated graphic solutions from Nvidia or AMD found in x64 systems. When tasked with rendering complex, fast-paced modern titles or achieving high frame rates, these Arm GPUs simply fall behind.

Industry benchmarks affirm this. Analysts such as those at *PC Gamer* examined next-generation Snapdragon chips early in 2025 and reached a tempered conclusion: these processors may eventually evolve into competent gaming platforms, but today they only reach parity with high-end smartphones and tablets. Their assessment was clear—expectations of 4K resolution or consistently high frame rates in graphically detailed environments are unrealistic. Similarly, testing conducted by *PCMag*’s Matthew Buzzi showed what could charitably be described as acceptable performance—good enough for casual or medium-intensity games, provided users lower graphical settings. Demanding, graphics-heavy titles remain out of reach.

In short, if gaming forms a central part of your computing life, an Arm-based PC should not be your first choice. For professionals or students needing a lightweight, power-efficient general-purpose laptop, the story differs: such systems perform adequately for productivity and multimedia consumption.

### Final Thoughts
Windows devices running on Arm silicon have matured considerably and, for many everyday uses, now deliver a refined experience unmatched in portability and endurance. Yet the ecosystem still bears structural limitations, particularly in areas critical to technical professionals—backup reliability, alternate OS support, and high-tier gaming. As development continues, these issues may eventually fade, but for now, potential buyers should balance their enthusiasm for innovation against these persistent constraints before making a purchasing decision.

Sourse: https://www.zdnet.com/article/thinking-of-buying-an-arm-based-windows-pc-these-three-issues-might-be-dealbreakers/