# Inside Microsoft’s Mission to Take Down the MacBook Air
**Image: Microsoft**
Microsoft is confident that it has finally nailed the transition to Arm chips — so confident that, this time around, the company spent an entire day pitting its new hardware against the MacBook Air.
On a recent morning at its headquarters in Redmond, Washington, Microsoft representatives showcased the new Surface devices equipped with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite chips and compared them directly to Apple’s category-leading laptop. I witnessed an hour of demos and benchmarks that began with Geekbench and Cinebench comparisons and then moved on to apps and compatibility.
Benchmark tests usually aren’t that exciting to watch. But a lot was at stake here: for years, the MacBook Air has been able to outperform Arm-powered PC chips — and Intel-based ones as well.
## Microsoft’s New Arsenal: Surface Devices with Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite Chips
The aim of Microsoft’s demonstrations was clear. They wanted to highlight not just the raw performance metrics of their new devices but also the broader ecosystem advantages that the new chipset and Windows provide. The Snapdragon X Elite chips are central to this new push, promising improved battery life, better graphical capabilities, and enhanced app performance.
### Performance Metrics: Geekbench and Cinebench Tests
Starting with Geekbench tests, numbers flashed on the screen as the Surface laptops and MacBook Air were put through their paces. The results were closely watched, as these charts would tell the story: could Microsoft’s latest hardware finally rival Apple’s silicon?
Cinebench scores also added to the scrutiny. This benchmark is specifically demanding on the CPU, providing a rigorous test of a machine’s processing muscle. It didn’t take long for people around the room to start murmuring; the results were promising enough to suggest that Microsoft might finally have a contender.
### Real-World Application: Bridging Compatibility Gaps
Benchmarks are one thing, but real-world application and software compatibility are equally critical. Microsoft wasted no time in showcasing various apps running on the new Surface devices. From Adobe’s resource-intensive Creative Cloud suite to Microsoft’s own Office applications, the performance was smooth — clearly optimized for the new Arm-based architecture.
The compatibility of third-party applications has long been a pain point for Windows on Arm. The company showed that it has learned from past missteps, demonstrating how the new system can run legacy x86 apps efficiently through emulation without significant performance loss. This is a substantial leap from previous Arm iterations where emulation would often result in sluggish performance.
### Power Efficiency and Battery Life
Battery life has been another area where Apple’s silicon has dominated the competition. This time, it seems Microsoft has an answer. The Snapdragon X Elite chips are designed not just for pure performance but also for power efficiency. Microsoft representatives highlighted how the new devices could handle a full day’s work without requiring a charge, a crucial factor for mobile professionals and students alike.
## Conclusion: A New Contender or Another Miss?
While benchmark scores and app compatibility exhibited significant improvements, the ultimate test will be how these devices perform in the real world over sustained periods. User reviews and longer-term testing will be key to determining whether Microsoft’s ambitious push can truly dethrone the MacBook Air.
However, for a brief morning in Redmond, Microsoft showed that it’s no longer willing to play second fiddle. With a combination of Snapdragon X Elite chips and optimized software, the company has positioned its new Surface devices as genuine contenders in the ultraportable laptop market.
Stay tuned for more in-depth reviews and analyses as these devices hit the market. For now, it’s clear that Microsoft is not just in the game; they’re aiming to win.
source: https://www.theverge.com/2024/5/20/24160463/microsoft-windows-laptops-copilot-arm-chips-m1
