Parallels today announced the release of Parallels Desktop 16.5 for Mac with full support for M1 Macs, enabling Windows 10 ARM Insider Preview and ARM-based Linux distributions to run in a virtual machine at native speeds on M1 Macs.
According to Parallels, running a Windows 10 ARM Insider Preview virtual machine natively on an M1 Mac results in up to 30 percent better performance compared to a 2019 model of the 15-inch MacBook Pro with an Intel Core i9 processor, 32GB of RAM, and Radeon Pro Vega 20 graphics. Parallels also states that Parallels Desktop 16.5 uses 2.5x less power on an M1 Mac than on the latest Intel-based MacBook Air.
Parallels 16.5 with M1 Mac support: macOS Big Sur to follow
Microsoft does not yet offer a retail version of ARM-based Windows, although the Windows 10 ARM Insider Preview is available on the Microsoft website for members of the Windows Insider program. The ability to run macOS Big Sur in a virtual machine is a feature Parallels hopes to add support for in Parallels Desktop later this year. Anyone with a license for Parallels Desktop 16 for Mac can automatically update to Parallels Desktop 16.5 at no additional cost. Otherwise, the Parallels Desktop product page options listed for one-time or subscription-based prices. (Image: Parallels)
