14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has released a new update for the Chromium-based Microsoft Edge browser, bringing it to version 80 on both Windows and Mac.
While Microsoft has also included several other changes in this release, there’s no doubt the biggest addition is the support for Surface Pro X, the ARM-powered Surface that Microsoft announced in late 2019.
Surface Pro X is Microsoft’s very own alternative to Google’s Chromebooks, and the new Microsoft Edge running on this device is big news for both users and the software giant itself. Microsoft had to provide customers with a fully-featured browser, especially as the options in the ARM64 world are rather limited when it comes to browsers.
Microsoft says it has specifically focused on ARM optimizations for the new version of Microsoft Surface Pro X, including on polishing switching tabs and web content rendering. Everything should now be more responsive and faster thanks to code refinements that are exclusive to this ARM build.
Google Chrome 80
ARM-based Windows devices are yet to gain traction, but Microsoft is pushing hard for these as alternatives to Chromebooks. The Surface Pro X is the modern pioneer of Microsoft’s investments in this sector, and the company hopes other PC makers, including its long-time partners Dell, Lenovo, HP, and others would help expand this product category with their own models.
Microsoft Edge is now available cross-platforms thanks to the transition to the Chromium engine. This is the same engine powering Google Chrome, and Microsoft’s update comes only a few days after Google itself released version 80 for its browser.
Microsoft also plans to bring Microsoft Edge to Linux, but the company hasn’t shared any ETA as to when this is expected to happen. For the time being, all efforts are on the Windows and Mac builds that are maintained in the typical Canary, Dev, Beta, and stable channels.