CHIP’s class-based testing highlights why Windows-on-ARM laptops should not be judged by the same standards as gaming or everyday notebooks, as better native support and emulation strengthen their performance and battery-life case.
CHIP says its laptop testing does not place every device in the same basket, instead separating models into distinct groups such as all-round notebooks, gaming machines and Windows-on-ARM systems. That approach matters because the priorities are not the same: a thin office laptop, a gaming notebook and an ARM-based Windows machine each need to be judged against different expectations. According to CHIP, each device is scored across five areas, with the strongest product in each category receiving a 1.0 mark before the results are combined using different weightings.
Performance carries different importance depending on the class of laptop being assessed. CHIP says it uses practical benchmarks such as PCMark and 3DMark, alongside other tests, to measure real-world capability rather than relying on a single synthetic figure. For Windows-on-ARM laptops, that distinction is especially relevant because not every important application yet runs natively on ARM, and software that has to be emulated can lose speed in the process. Recent changes in the wider ecosystem have reduced that gap, however. 3DMark expanded native Windows-on-ARM support in June 2026, while Microsoft’s PRISM emulation layer has been improved to run more x86 software and games more smoothly, including workloads that previously struggled.
CHIP also places weight on a notebook’s specification and connectivity. That includes memory and storage capacity, as well as ports and extras such as a card reader or fingerprint sensor. In practice, this reflects how useful a machine is once it leaves the test bench. A slim laptop with strong chip performance can still be limited if it lacks the right interfaces or enough local storage for everyday work.
Display quality is treated as a core part of the evaluation rather than a cosmetic feature. CHIP says it measures pixel density, peak brightness, brightness uniformity, contrast ratio and colour-space coverage, including sRGB and AdobeRGB. Those factors matter not only for photo and video work but also for general media consumption, where panel quality often shapes the overall user experience more than processor speed does.
The review also considers usability, combining subjective impressions with objective measurements. CHIP assesses noise levels, build quality, keyboard and touchpad performance, and the relationship between a laptop’s size, weight and screen dimensions. Battery life receives separate testing in video playback, web browsing and office use, reflecting the importance of mobility. That is particularly relevant for Windows-on-ARM models, which are designed to pair high efficiency with long endurance. Recent independent reviews have underlined that point, with devices such as Microsoft’s Surface Laptop 7 and other Snapdragon X-based machines showing markedly better emulation performance and battery life than earlier ARM Windows laptops, according to Windows Central.
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