Will we get decent virtualization on Apple silicon this year?

[bogdanw]

What I consider decent virtualization on Apple silicon:
1. connecting USB devices to the macOS virtual machine (iPhone, storage)
2. connecting to the App Store

Reference:
Apple Developer Documentation – Virtualization
https://developer.apple.com/documentation/virtualization
Known limitations of macOS virtual machines on Mac computers with Apple silicon
https://kb.parallels.com/128867
Parallels Desktop for Mac with Apple silicon limitations
https://kb.parallels.com/128914/

 

[haralds]

It's definitely a stepchild.
The level virtualization offered by Parallels Desktop on Intel is sorely missed.

 

[bogdanw]

On 29 April 2025, Parallels Desktop 20.3 - USB device support:
"Thanks to the adjustments introduced in Apple’s framework with macOS 15, USB passthrough is now a reality for macOS VMs on Apple silicon."
https://www.parallels.com/blogs/parallels-desktop-20-3-0/

 

[bogdanw]

"macOS 27.0+ VZUSBPassthroughDevice Class representing a USB passthrough device."
https://developer.apple.com/documentation/virtualization/vzusbpassthroughdevice
WWDC26 " Expand the capabilities of your Virtualization app"
https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2026/224/
28 August 2026 VirtualBuddy 2.2 Beta 4
"This version adds support for USB device passthrough.
USB device passthrough requires macOS 27 host and guest. Configure devices in the virtual machine settings.
Devices with isochronous endpoints (such as iPhones) are not supported by Virtualization"
https://github.com/insidegui/VirtualBuddy/releases/tag/2.2-b4