ArcGIS Pro on Mac: Parallels Desktop 27 Benchmark Results (2026)

Executive Summary

Benchmark: Running ArcGIS Pro and Professional Windows Graphics Applications on Apple Silicon with Parallels Desktop 27

GIS analysts, engineers, architects, and designers may prefer to work on a Mac, but many of the professional applications they rely on are built for Windows. ArcGIS Pro and other graphics-intensive Windows applications can place heavy demands on the graphics stack, making performance and compatibility especially important when they run in a virtual machine.

Parallels Desktop 27 introduces OpenGL 4.3 support through Apple's Metal framework, giving Windows applications a more capable graphics pipeline on Apple silicon Macs. Internal Parallels benchmarks show measurable performance gains in graphics-intensive workloads, including ArcGIS Pro, along with broader support for professional Windows applications that use OpenGL.

The results in this article are based on internal benchmarking conducted by Parallels using prerelease builds of Parallels Desktop 27.

Among the most significant findings:

For ArcGIS Pro users, these gains are noticeable in everyday work. Navigating complex 3D scenes feels more responsive. Large datasets are rendered more quickly. Graphics-intensive operations complete more quickly as the rendering pipeline makes better use of the available GPU resources.

Key Findings

• OpenGL graphics performance improved by up to 2.6x on Macs with Apple M3 chips or later when compared with Parallels Desktop 26.
• ArcGIS Pro 3D rendering completed up to 35% faster using the new graphics architecture.
• Overall ArcGIS workflow time was reduced by up to 24% in Parallels Desktop 27.
• OpenGL 4.3 is now powered by Apple's Metal framework, expanding compatibility with graphics-intensive Windows applications.
• The new graphics architecture establishes the technical foundation for broader professional application support in future Parallels Desktop releases.

Benchmark Methodology

The Parallels engineering team tested prerelease builds of Parallels Desktop 27 against Parallels Desktop 26. Hardware and virtual machine configurations were kept consistent within each test so the comparison focused on the change in graphics drivers.

Test Environment

Testing was conducted on Apple silicon Macs running macOS Sequoia, with Windows 11 on Arm in a Parallels Desktop virtual machine. Two configurations were used.

OpenGL Graphics Benchmark

Unigine Valley was used to measure OpenGL graphics performance under the same workload and virtual machine configuration. The test compares the previous graphics driver in Parallels Desktop 26 with the new Metal-based OpenGL 4.3 driver in Parallels Desktop 27.

ArcGIS Pro Benchmark

ArcGIS Pro testing focused on workloads that reflect day-to-day use rather than synthetic graphics tests. The ArcGIS Performance Assessment Tool measures a series of operations across 2D and 3D mapping workflows, producing repeatable results that make it easier to compare software versions under the same conditions.

What Was Measured

Three metrics were used to assess the graphics update:

Results compare Parallels Desktop 27 with Parallels Desktop 26 within each test configuration. Performance will vary by Mac model, virtual machine settings, available memory, project complexity and workload.

Benchmark Results and Performance Analysis

Across the tests, the new Metal-based OpenGL 4.3 driver delivered gains in both synthetic graphics performance and ArcGIS Pro workloads.

All three results stem from the same graphics update. Parallels Desktop 27 replaces the previous OpenGL implementation with an OpenGL 4.3 driver built on Apple's Metal framework.

Measuring Graphics Performance

In Unigine Valley, Parallels Desktop 27 delivered up to 2.6 times the OpenGL graphics performance of Parallels Desktop 26.

A synthetic benchmark does not represent every professional application, but it provides a controlled way to measure the graphics subsystem itself. That matters for Windows GIS, engineering, and visualization applications that use OpenGL for rendering.

Measuring Real GIS Workloads

The ArcGIS Pro tests show how the graphics changes carry over into a professional application. Using Esri's ArcGIS Performance Assessment Tool v18, Parallels measured:

• Up to 35% faster 3D rendering
• Up to 24% reduction in overall ArcGIS workflow time

The first result measures graphics-intensive rendering. The second captures the time needed to complete a sequence of GIS operations, giving a broader indication of performance during day-to-day work.

Why These Results Matter

The two benchmarks answer different questions. Unigine Valley measures the improvement in OpenGL graphics performance, while the ArcGIS Pro assessment shows how the new driver performs in repeatable GIS workloads.

For existing Parallels users, the results provide a direct comparison between the graphics drivers in versions 26 and 27. For GIS teams evaluating Windows virtualization on Apple silicon, the ArcGIS Pro results are the more practical measure: they show improvements not just in rendering, but in the time required to complete the tested workflow.

OpenGL 4.3 Extends Beyond ArcGIS Pro

The benchmark results make one thing clear: Parallels Desktop 27 isn't just faster. It introduces a graphics architecture that expands what professional Windows applications can do on Apple silicon Macs.

For years, graphics performance was one of the biggest challenges when running demanding Windows software in a virtual machine. The limitation wasn't Apple's hardware. M-series Macs have capable GPUs with plenty of graphics processing power. The challenge was exposing those capabilities to Windows applications in a way they could fully use.

Parallels Desktop 27 addresses that by introducing OpenGL 4.3 support powered by Apple's Metal framework. Instead of relying on the previous graphics implementation, Windows applications can now access a more capable virtual graphics environment designed for modern OpenGL workloads.

Why ArcGIS Pro Shows the Biggest Difference

ArcGIS Pro was chosen for this benchmark because it reflects the type of work many technical professionals perform every day.

Projects often combine large terrain models, imagery, detailed feature layers, and interactive 3D scenes. Those workloads place constant demands on the graphics subsystem, making ArcGIS Pro an excellent application for measuring the impact of improvements to the graphics stack.

The benchmark results reflect that.

• Up to 35% faster 3D rendering
• Up to 24% reduction in workflow time

Those improvements become apparent during everyday work. Navigating complex scenes feels more responsive. Maps redraw more quickly during data exploration and editing. Graphics-heavy projects remain fluid as datasets become larger, reducing the amount of time spent waiting for rendering-intensive operations to complete.

The Impact Extends Beyond GIS

Although ArcGIS Pro is the application measured in this benchmark, it isn't the only software that benefits from the new graphics architecture.

Many professional Windows applications in architecture, engineering, construction, design, and scientific visualization rely on OpenGL for rendering complex models and interactive viewports. Expanding support to OpenGL 4.3 improves compatibility across a broader range of graphics-intensive software running on Apple silicon Macs.

ArcGIS Pro serves as the benchmark because its improvements have been formally measured. The same graphics architecture also removes a longstanding limitation for many other OpenGL-dependent Windows applications running in virtual machines on Apple silicon Macs.

Why It Matters Beyond the Benchmark

Many organizations have standardized on Macs while continuing to depend on Windows-only software for specialized work.

A GIS analyst may spend the day in ArcGIS Pro. An architect may rely on BIM software. An engineer may work in CAD or visualization tools that have no native macOS equivalent. For these teams, running Windows applications isn't optional. It's part of getting the job done.

Until recently, that often meant choosing between maintaining dedicated Windows hardware and accepting graphics limitations in a virtual machine. Parallels Desktop 27 changes that equation. By introducing OpenGL 4.3 powered by Apple's Metal framework, it improves graphics performance for validated workloads like ArcGIS Pro while expanding compatibility for a broader range of professional Windows applications on Apple silicon Macs.

The impact goes beyond today's benchmark results. The updated graphics architecture establishes the technical foundation for broader professional graphics support in future Parallels Desktop releases. As outlined in the approved product messaging, this work lays the groundwork for future SOLIDWORKS and AutoCAD graphics support while delivering immediate, measurable gains for ArcGIS Pro and improved compatibility for graphics-intensive engineering, GIS, and visualization applications today.

For existing Parallels users, that means a clear performance upgrade backed by benchmark data. For organizations investing in Apple silicon, it means greater confidence that the Windows applications their teams rely on today and more of the professional software they may need tomorrow, can continue to run effectively on the Mac platform.

Want to see how your Windows applications perform on a Mac? Try Parallels Desktop free for 14 days.

Choosing the Right Apple Silicon Mac for Professional Windows Workloads

Performance in a virtual machine depends on more than virtualization software. The underlying Mac hardware still determines how much CPU, GPU, and memory resources are available to Windows applications.

Parallels Desktop 27 is designed to take advantage of Apple's M-series architecture, with the largest OpenGL performance gains measured on Macs with Apple M3 chips or later.

If you're evaluating hardware for graphics-intensive Windows applications, here are some practical considerations.

• Apple M3: The M3 family offers a strong starting point for professionals who spend most of their time in 2D GIS, mapping, document production, or moderate 3D visualization. For many users, it provides more than enough performance to run ArcGIS Pro alongside other everyday productivity applications without needing a separate Windows PC.
• Apple M4: The benchmark environment for OpenGL testing used an Apple M4 Pro-based Mac mini, reflecting the graphics improvements available on newer Apple silicon hardware. For users working with larger GIS projects, more complex visualizations, or multiple virtual machines, the additional graphics capability available in the M4 family provides more headroom for demanding workloads.
• Memory Matters as Much as CPU: Professional GIS and engineering applications consume memory quickly. Large terrain models, imagery datasets, detailed CAD assemblies, and multiple applications running simultaneously all compete for available RAM. Because Parallels Desktop allocates memory to the virtual machine while macOS continues running alongside it, systems with higher unified memory capacity provide more flexibility for demanding workflows. Organizations planning to run professional Windows applications every day should consider memory as carefully as processor choice when selecting new hardware.