Virtual machine performance is improved, up to 30 percent faster when a Windows 10 for ARM64 virtual machine is running on an M1-based Mac compared to Windows 10 running on a MacBook Air with an Intel Core i9 chip.This is great news for users of portable Macs, as running Windows historically has been a significant drain on battery life. The greater efficiency of the M1 chip means Parallels Desktop for Mac users 2.5 times less energy than on a 2020 Intel MacBook Air.The muscle and energy-stingy features of Apple’s M1 processor gives a boost to Parallels, according to the company: Sign up for my Release Notes newsletter, bringing you consumer tech insights, help and practical tips.