Parallels Desktop 16 Prices and Features

Parallels Desktop's tool for running Windows on a Mac is executable on Big Sur - but is it also executable on the new Apple Silicon devices? The latest version of Parallels Desktop virtualisation software is compatible with macOS Big Sur, a process that apparently took "25 years of work".

The virtualisation software Parallels Desktop is a popular solution for running Windows on a Mac. The new version - Parallels Desktop 16 - has been ported to the upcoming macOS Big Sur and is available now.

Virtualisation software such as Parallels Desktop allows you to install Windows and other operating systems on your Mac and also test new versions of macOS such as Big Sur. Many Mac users rely on Parallels and its competitors VMware and Virtual Box to use certain tools and financial applications that are not available on macOS.

The move to Big Sur was not easy for the Parallels team. According to the company, 25 developers worked on the upgrade for a whole year. Among other things, the kernel extension was revised so that it can use the Big Sur architecture.

Improved performance

Parallels Desktop has improved its performance: The DirectX11 graphics library, which has been supported since the previous version, is said to be up to 20 percent faster.
Open GL has also been further optimised.

According to Parallels, a virtual machine can start up to twice as fast as the previous version, while Windows can be shut down and reopened up to twenty percent faster.
For the first time, 3D functions can be used in a virtual version of Big Sur Metal programmes, which significantly improves the usability of many Mac programmes.

Functions

One of the most important innovations, among many small improvements, is the automatic release of storage space: you can configure a virtual machine so that the storage space is automatically released when it is shut down - in practice, this can quickly be several dozen gigabytes.

Also new is the support of multi-touch gestures for Windows applications. An improved integrated printer driver now supports duplex printing and more paper sizes.
A good thing for MacBook users: When Travel Mode is activated, Parallels uses less battery capacity. According to the manufacturer, this can extend battery life by up to ten percent.

The installation wizard has been improved: If Windows is not installed, Parallels Desktop offers to download and install Windows 10 from Microsoft as a demo version. The prior purchase of Windows 10 is not required.

An interesting new function in the Business and Pro versions is the possibility to prepare a virtual machine for a transfer. This can be exported as a compressed file and made available as a virtual machine to the company's employees, for example.

Versions and prices

As before, Parallels Desktop is available in three versions: Desktop, Desktop for Mac Pro and Desktop for Mac Business Edition. Two versions are available from Licendi: Parallels Desktop 16 1D/1Y and Parallels Desktop 16 1D/Lifetime.

Alongside the new version of Parallels, new versions of Parallels Toolbox and Parallels Access have also been introduced. Parallels Desktop 16 subscribers receive free subscriptions to Parallels Toolbox for Mac and Windows and Parallels Access.

Compatibility with Apple Silicon

Parallels has not provided any new information on Apple Silicon support. Shortly after WWDC, Parallels published a press release on the subject, but it still left many questions unanswered.

At the presentation of Apple's new ARM platform, Parallels under Silicon was shown, but with a Linux system. So support for Windows guest systems is not yet clear. When asked, it was confirmed that Parallels and Apple are working closely together, but no further details were given.

We wrote here about how Apple's Silicon could mean the death of Windows on the Mac.

Do you have any questions?

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Your Licendi team.