Snapdragon X Elite laptops have a professional-grade video editor at long last, and it’s completely free

Snapdragon X Elite laptops have a professional-grade video editor at long last, and it's completely free

What you need to know

  • Having been initially announced at the 2023 Snapdragon Summit, Blackmagic’s DaVinci Resolve video editor is now finally available for Windows on ARM. 
  • DaVinci Resolve 19 has been in beta for a while but has now exited and is generally available, becoming the first version with native support for the new Snapdragon X series chips. 
  • Available in free and paid versions, DaVinci Resolve has handily beaten Adobe Premiere Pro to the punch in gaining native support for Copilot+ PCs. 

As a long-time video editor and tech enthusiast who has seen the industry evolve over the years, I can confidently say that the recent release of DaVinci Resolve 19 for Windows on ARM is a game-changer. Having struggled with subpar software options for my ARM device in the past, this development feels like a breath of fresh air.


After much anticipation, Blackmagic Design has officially launched the first Windows on ARM version of DaVinci Resolve! First announced at the 2023 Snapdragon Summit, this release has been in beta testing for some time, but is now ready for widespread use.

DaVinci Resolve 19 marks the debut of this robust video editing software, now supporting ARM64 architecture. This makes it completely compatible with the latest Copilot+ computers that run on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus processors.

Significantly, it takes an early lead in compatibility on Windows against its primary competitor, Adobe Premiere Pro, as the latter hasn’t been updated to support ARM64 yet. In fact, it was only recently made functional through emulation on ARM laptops. Consequently, in terms of ARM64 support, Adobe is significantly trailing behind.

Snapdragon X Elite laptops have a professional-grade video editor at long last, and it's completely free

DaVinci Resolve 19 has been made accessible on Intel and AMD systems as well, yet the significant update is its debut on ARM architecture. The best part? It remains entirely free, with no underhanded attempts to sell additional features.

DaVinci Resolve Studio, the premium variant, comes with extra features, but Blackmagic themselves claim that the free version has more than what you get in certain paid software. Plus, it’s available for a one-time $295 upgrade fee, without any pesky subscription plans.

It’s also important to note that if you’re using an older Windows on ARM machine, it doesn’t look like you can join in. We tried installing it on a Surface Pro X, and it threw up a GPU error. 

For creators working on Windows, this is a significant development, even though the number of Copilot+ PCs with the new Snapdragon processors remains small for now. However, as time progresses, we can expect its size to grow substantially. The arrival of DaVinci Resolve is another positive aspect. This is a high-quality software solution, and it’s not an exaggeration to label it as a professional-grade application.

As a movie enthusiast like myself, I’m excited to share that DaVinci Resolve, the very same software used by Hollywood heavyweights to bring you blockbusters like Deadpool 2, Avengers: Infinity War, John Wick 3, and even the iconic Avatar, is now accessible for free on Snapdragon-powered laptops! Don’t miss out on the opportunity to experience it firsthand. Download it today and join the ranks of professionals who have made magic happen with this powerful tool.

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2024-08-27 16:39