Corel’s Parallels is one of the most popular apps for running Windows on a Mac, alongside options like VMware Fusion and VirtualBox. Parallels Desktop has now released a new update, but if you don’t have the full access subscription, it’s probably not worth the upgrade fee.
Parallels Desktop 18 includes a new option to “download, install and configure Windows 11 in one click”. The previous version already had full support for Windows 11, but now you don’t have to search for the latest ISO file. This update is also “optimized” for the next macOS Ventura update, although Parallels 17 also supported Ventura (although some previous beta versions of Ventura had problems).
Compatibility with game controllers has also been improved, which can be useful for anyone trying to play Windows-only games on Mac without using a cloud streaming service, like GeForce Now. Both Xbox and DualShock Bluetooth controllers can connect to Parallels, which in turn will transmit button presses to the virtual machine. There are a few other compatibility fixes, including fixes for accessing files from emulated x86 Windows software and improved USB 3.0 support.
Parallels already worked with M1 and M2 Mac computers, but Parallels 18 has new optimizations for the M1 Ultra chip found on the high-end Mac Studio. Windows 11 virtual machines on M1 Ultra are now “up to 96% faster” compared to Parallels 17, according to Corel’s own tests. It’s an impressive boost, but given that a Mac Studio with M1 Ultra costs $4,000, not many people will be able to try it.
Parallels Desktop is sold as a one-time purchase (Standard) for $99.99, or as a recurring subscription (Pro) for $119.99 per year. If you already own Parallels 17, there’s really nothing in this update that’s essential, especially since the previous version is still functional with macOS Ventura and Windows 11 and the upgrade costs $70. However, anyone paying for the Pro subscription will receive the new update for free.
Source: Parallels
