Google to release Arm64 version of Google Drive for Windows later this year

Google has announced plans to release an Arm64 version of its Google Drive application for Windows later this year. The announcement was made by Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon during the company’s IFA event earlier today. This development follows intense lobbying from Microsoft and Qualcomm aimed at persuading app developers to support Windows on Arm architecture.

Google Drive’s absence on recent Copilot Plus PCs, which are powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processors, has been a notable gap, primarily because the app needed to be updated for compatibility with the Arm64 architecture. Currently, Google Drive is inaccessible on these latest Qualcomm-powered devices. However, with this new commitment from Google, users will soon have access to a full-featured Google Drive app tailored for Windows on Arm.

In addition to the Google Drive update, Qualcomm’s event highlighted the availability of VPN applications from NordVPN and ExpressVPN on Snapdragon laptops starting today. This move addresses another key gap in the software ecosystem for Windows on Arm devices.

Qualcomm also unveiled its new Snapdragon X Plus chip, an eight-core processor designed to reduce the cost of Windows on Arm laptops. As a result, devices like the Asus Vivobook S 15 and Dell Inspiron 14 are now available starting at $899. Qualcomm has indicated that prices for these laptops could fall to around $700 by 2025.

Looking ahead, Amon mentioned that Qualcomm is exploring the potential for Snapdragon chips to be used in desktop PCs. While the company has teased Snapdragon X Elite chips for desktops in the past, the only existing product resembling a desktop PC is Qualcomm’s eight-inch development kit. More details may emerge during Qualcomm’s Snapdragon summit in October.

This series of announcements underscores Qualcomm’s continued efforts to expand the capabilities and appeal of Windows on Arm devices, positioning them as viable alternatives to traditional PCs.