Got a new Copilot+ PC? Don’t rush to install Chrome

My tests of the Microsoft Surface Pro (2024) 11th Edition have uncovered what appears to be the fastest browser for Copilot+ PCs, and the competition really isn’t that close.

One of the questions I’m interested in regarding Copilot+ PCs is simply how well they run conventional software: browsers, utility applications, you name it. It’s impossible to test every application, but a set of top web browsers is reasonable—after all, most of us spend a considerable chunk of time just simply browsing the web.

Which browsers did I test?

As part of my testing, I downloaded Google Chrome, Opera, Mozilla Firefox, Vivaldi, and Brave, in addition to Microsoft Edge. I spent a few minutes trying out a few multimedia-heavy sites, using extensions and passwords, and so on. These weren’t extensive tests, but they allowed me to see quickly what worked and what didn’t.

All of these browsers now have dedicated Arm versions, including Brave, which added an Arm64 version in February. (The new Arc browser does not, and the default version refused to download on the Surface Pro.) Opera allows you to download a dedicated Arm browser, but all of them also auto-detect your PC and supposedly feed you the right one. (I’m doubtful about Vivaldi.)

It’s important to note that I used the stable versions of these browsers delivered by the browsers’ websites, and I didn’t hunt down optimized beta software (if it even existed).

Which benchmark tests did I use?

I ran two benchmarks: Principled Technologies’ WebXPRT 4 (which uses a combination of HTML5, JavaScript, and WebAssembly to mimic common web tasks) and Speedometer 3 (which now tells you how fast your browser will respond while using it).

Both of these benchmarks will give us an idea of what Windows on Arm browser should be both fastest and most responsive. All tests were run while the tablet was plugged in.

I also couldn’t help but compare the new Surface Pro’s Edge performance with Edge’s performance on the Surface Pro 9 (5G), the Windows tablet that used the Microsoft SQ3 chip (based on the Qualcomm 8cx Gen 3). I expected the new Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chip to be faster, but I wanted to see how much faster.

The benchmark test results

The winner? Unsurprisingly, it’s the browser from the company that’s been working most closely with the Arm development ecosystem: Microsoft Edge. But what is surprising is that it’s neck-and-neck with Mozilla Firefox! Here’s the evidence:

Mark Hachman / IDG

Mark Hachman / IDG

Mark Hachman / IDG

In the Speedometer test, Edge’s lead was more pronounced—but it’s still fair to say that Firefox performed extremely well, enough that Firefox fans can rest assured that their preferred browser is close enough to the top. As for Vivaldi (and Arc)… well, we hope for better in the future.

I didn’t notice any glitches while using these browsers, except for one: Brave crashed when initially trying to import favorites/bookmarks from another browser.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Mark Hachman / IDG

Mark Hachman / IDG

I could have used Basemark as a third test, but that pushes more heavily into WebGL and use of the tablet’s GPU. WebXPRT and Speedometer are probably good enough to evaluate the best Copilot+ PC browser, as far as everyday performance and responsiveness.

I know, you already have your preferred browser. But in a world where Microsoft and many other Copilot+ PC vendors want you to transition to Arm, everything is changing! Edge and Firefox are the best browsers for Copilot+ PCs… at least for now.