Parallels Desktop 27: Windows on Mac just got way faster. Parallels Desktop 27 brings massive OpenGL boosts and AI acceleration to Mac. Is it finally time to ditch your old Windows PC for good? Running Windows on a Mac has always felt like a necessary evil. You do it because you have to, not because you want to. Parallels Desktop 27 is trying to change that narrative. It is no longer just about making it work. It is about making it fly. Table of Contents Graphics without the grief. Discover more The headline feature here is a new Metal-based graphics driver. This brings OpenGL 4.3 support to Windows virtual machines. For the average user, that sounds like alphabet soup. For professionals using Blender 4.3, ZWCAD, or ArcGIS Pro, it is a total game changer. The performance gains are actually wild. On M3 Macs and newer, OpenGL performance jumps by up to 160 percent. 3D rendering in ArcGIS Pro is now 35 percent faster. That is the difference between a smooth workflow and a mandatory coffee break every time you click render. AI on steroids. If you have an M4 Mac, things get even more interesting. Parallels added SME2 instruction support for both Linux and Windows VMs. This is where the real magic happens for the data crowd. AI matrix calculations are now up to 7 times faster. Neural network inference is seeing a boost of 1.75 times. Why does this matter for regular people? It means your Mac can handle heavy lifting that used to require a dedicated PC. It is basically turning your laptop into a portable AI lab. Cutting the cloud cord. This update is a massive win for developers running tools like Ollama or llama.cpp locally. Until now, complex AI workloads often meant paying for expensive cloud GPU credits. Now, you can build and test those workloads right on your desktop. It is a smart move by Parallels. They are leaning into the power of Apple Silicon to make virtualization feel native. The "virtual" part of the virtual machine is starting to disappear. Apple Silicon is already a beast. Parallels is just unlocking the cage. The line between macOS and Windows is getting thinner every single year. Keep visiting for more such awesome posts, internet tips, and lifestyle tips & remember Inspire2Rise Partnership cover, "Everything under the Sun!" Ankit is a geek from New Delhi who loves smartphones, games and everything tech. When he's not busy writing here you can find him playing PUBG on his phone!

New Parallels Desktop 27 delivers faster OpenGL for Windows apps on Mac. If you buy through its links, Acefast may get a commission. Read its ethics policy. Parallels Desktop 27 for Mac claims to provide up to 160% faster OpenGL graphics for Windows apps such as Blender 4.3, as well as AI acceleration on M4 Macs and newer. Ad ends in 5 Video Muted One year later, Parallels has followed its release of Parallels Desktop 26 with new new Mac and Enterprise versions, plus an online list of compatible Windows apps. "As customers continue to push the limits of what they do on Mac," said Elena Koryakina, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Parallels in a statement, "they're looking for virtualization that keeps pace with increasingly demanding applications and workflows." "Parallels Desktop 27 enables customers to run more of the Windows applications they depend on," she continued, "while giving developers faster local AI performance and expanding what's possible on Apple Silicon." This latest version uses a new Metal-based graphics driver bringing OpenGL 4.3 support to Windows virtual machines. It's claimed to meet the requirements for professional Windows apps such as ArcGIS Pro, ZWCAD, and Blender 4.3. Parallels says that Macs with M3 processors or later will see up to 160% faster OpenGL performance than with the previous Parallels Desktop 26. The company also claims up to 35% faster 3D rendering in ArcGIS Pro. AI-specific enhancements. Parallels Desktop 27 introduces Scalable Matrix Extension (SME) support for both Windows and Linux virtual machines on M4 Macs or later. It's intended to mean faster AI development on-device, with improved performance for AI tools such as Ollama and llama.cpp. Parallels Desktop for Mac also runs Ubunto - image credit: Parallels. Overall, the company claims up to 7 times faster AI and machine learning matrix operations compared to the previous version. There is also said to be up to 1.75 times faster neural network inference. The new version also has tools to help Jamf users managing multiple Parallels Desktop 27 installations. App checker. Alongside the new update, Parallels has launched an online database for users to check which Windows apps are now supported. Users must search for the app's name rather than by the name and a specific version, but when they do, they can see whether that app works or not. There are reportedly over 200,000 Windows apps included in the database as working with Parallels. Some entries include instructions, such as with Blender, where Parallels displays notes about plugin requirements. Parallels Desktop 27 is a subscription app with differing price tiers for individual users, business, and enterprise customers. A typical price is $185/year, but the company offers discounts for the first 12 months. At press time, shopping through this activation link or entering promo code APPLEINSIDER will save you 45% off Standard and Pro licenses or 35% off Parallels Business Edition. The savings applies to 1-year licenses for new users.

Parallels Desktop 27 expands Professional Windows app support with faster graphics and AI acceleration. Parallels announced Parallels Desktop 27, expanding the range of professional Windows applications users can run on Apple silicon Macs through a new Metal-based graphics driver with OpenGL 4.3 support. This release also introduces AI acceleration on Apple silicon, helping developers build and test AI workloads locally with faster machine learning performance. Parallels Desktop is the only third-party virtualization solution currently authorized by Microsoft to run Windows in a virtualized environment on Apple silicon, making it the ideal choice for users looking to combine the flexibility of Windows with the power of Mac. "As customers continue to push the limits of what they do on Mac, they're looking for virtualization that keeps pace with increasingly demanding applications and workflows," said Elena Koryakina, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Parallels. "Parallels Desktop 27 enables customers to run more of the Windows applications they depend on while giving developers faster local AI performance and expanding what's possible on Apple silicon." Run More Professional Windows Applications on Mac Parallels Desktop 27 introduces a new Metal-based graphics driver that brings hardware-accelerated OpenGL 4.3 support to Windows virtual machines on Apple silicon, a capability that Parallels believes is unique among available Mac virtualization solutions. The new driver meets the minimum OpenGL graphics level requirements for more professional Windows applications, including ArcGIS Pro, ZWCAD, and Blender 4.3, expanding compatibility while improving graphics performance for users in engineering, architecture, GIS, design, and other technical industries. Highlights include: * New Metal-based OpenGL 4.3 graphics driver * Up to 160% faster OpenGL graphics performance on Macs with M3 chips and newer * Up to 35% faster 3D rendering in ArcGIS Pro, reducing overall workflow time by up to 24%* Accelerate Local AI Development As developers increasingly build and test AI workloads locally, Parallels Desktop 27 introduces support for Scalable Matrix Extension (SME) instructions in Linux and Windows virtual machines running on M4 and newer Macs. The result is faster local AI development and machine learning workflows without relying on cloud infrastructure. New developer capabilities include: * SME2 instruction support for Linux and Windows VMs on M4 and newer Macs * Up to 7x faster AI and machine learning matrix operations * Up to 1.75x faster neural network inference** * Improved performance for AI tools used in VMs such as Ollama and llama.cpp Enterprise Deployment and Management Parallels Desktop for Enterprise provides the deployment, security, and management capabilities IT teams need to manage virtual environments at scale. With Parallels Desktop 27, enterprise customers can use the command-line interface (CLI) to identify whether Parallels Desktop was activated using a license key or single sign-on (SSO). This enables organizations using Jamf to build extension attributes that simplify device management and reporting. Parallels Desktop has also renewed its SOC 2 compliance, providing continued third-party assurance around the controls and processes that support the security and reliability of Parallels products and services. Enterprise customers also benefit from Secure Golden Images Provisioning, which supports the secure distribution of approved virtual-machine images through enterprise storage, including Azure Blob Storage and SharePoint, alongside Improved Declarative Deployment for fully provisioned zero-touch Windows virtual machines. Together, these capabilities help organizations enhance their security posture, simplify deployment, and reduce the complexity of managing virtualization-enabled workflows at scale. Built for DevOps Teams Parallels Desktop includes capabilities for development teams building and managing CI/CD infrastructure. A new native graphical interface for the Parallels DevOps Service simplifies management of hosts, virtual machines, and automation workflows without relying entirely on command-line tools and RESTful API. Jenkins dynamic provisioning further streamlines build and test automation by enabling dynamic provisioning of Mac-hosted virtual machines for development workflows. To see if your Windows applications are compatible with Parallels Desktop, search our app database of more than 200,000 supported apps at www.parallels.com/apps Parallels Desktop for Mac is an essential virtualization tool for professionals, developers, IT teams, and individuals, whether it is for accessing Windows applications, developing or testing software, or to run multiple operating systems (such as Windows, Linux, or other macOS versions) simultaneously on Mac computers. For more information about Parallels Desktop 27 for Mac, visit www.parallels.com. Trial and Availability Parallels Desktop 27 for Mac is designed exclusively for Apple silicon Macs and is available in Standard, Pro, Business, and Enterprise editions. It can be purchased or upgraded at www.parallels.com or from authorized resellers worldwide. David Marshall is the founder of VMblog.com, one of the industry's longest-running independent publications covering modern data center technologies. What began as a focus on virtualization and cloud computing has expanded to cover the full spectrum of enterprise IT, including AI, security, and DevOps, making VMblog a trusted destination for vendor news, technology analysis, and industry commentary.Beyond publishing, David has spent his career at the intersection of technology and business, inventing, marketing, and launching a number of successful software companies and products, and building a reputation as a skilled marketing executive in the enterprise IT space.David is also a published author, having written two well-regarded books on virtualization and served as technical editor for two "For Dummies" titles covering virtualization and cloud computing. He co-founded CloudCow.com, a publication focused on cloud computing, and has been named a VMware vExpert every year since 2009, one of the longest continuous honoree streaks in the program's history.Connect with David on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmarshall/