Zoom will optimize its video app for Qualcomm-based PCs later this summer

Zoom on the ARM-based HP Elite Folio (2021).

Zoom Video Communications Inc. announced today at the Qualcomm virtual announcement that it will have a Zoom app optimized for Snapdragon PCs this summer.

What you need to know

• Zoom Video Communications, Inc. will have an ARM-optimized Zoom app.
• That app will give native performance to Zoom, which businesses, schools, and individuals use for video conference calls.
• The app is slated to be released sometime "this summer."

Late last year, Microsoft finally announced that its Teams app natively supports Qualcomm-based PCs — something long overdue. It appears Microsoft's rival, Zoom Video Communications Inc., is also ready to join the ARM revolution.

Announced today at Qualcomm's virtual press event, along with the new Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 Compute Platform and Snapdragon Developer Kit, Zoom said it would have an ARM-optimized app this summer for all Qualcomm Snapdragon PCs.

Oded Gal, Chief Product Officer of Zoom Video Communications Inc. stated:

This summer, we'll release a new version of Zoom that will enable the optimization for Snapdragon, delivering significantly longer battery life allowing Zoom to run longer than ever and allow users to connect from virtually anywhere," Gal said. "Zoom is proud to work with Qualcomm Technologies to help businesses and students connect, communicate, and express their ideas so they can get more done together.

Those with Qualcomm-based PCs like the Surface Pro X or the new HP Elite Folio can run the Zoom app for Windows 10, but it runs emulated instead of native. That results in slower performance, and the app doesn't leverage the native properties of ARM computing, including longer battery life. However, a Zoom app optimized for ARM will run much quicker, consume fewer resources, and let those with Snapdragon-based PCs enjoy all-day usage.

Adoption for native ARM apps for Windows 10 has been relatively slow. Still, recently the platform has picked up some big players, including Adobe Photoshop and World of Warcraft. In that sense, getting Zoom is a big win.

Assuming developers grab the new Snapdragon Developer Kit due later this summer, we could see even more native apps towards the end of 2021. Emulation of x64 software should also arrive for Windows 10 later this fall, though early results are not as promising as native solutions.