In the span of a single month, four widely used programs, NordVPN, the Arc browser, Foxit PDF Editor and Notion, released versions built natively for Windows on Arm, the processor architecture behind a growing family of laptops. It is a small milestone in a longer story: the slow work of persuading software makers to meet a new kind of machine. Emulation has long let older programs run on these chips, but it always carried a trace of compromise, and native code restores some of that lost fullness. The quiet question underneath is whether developers will now follow in earnest, and whether the A
NordVPN, Arc, Foxit and Notion Go Native on Windows on Arm, Boosting Snapdragon PC App Library
Some well-known apps still have to run through emulation.
Mark
Four apps going native in a month. Why does that matter more than any one release?
Mimi
Because it suggests developers now think Arm Windows is worth the effort. NordVPN, Arc, Foxit and Notion all shipped within about the same month.
Mark
What does native actually buy a user?
Mimi
Better performance and lower power use than emulation. Foxit specifically points to faster rendering and processing.
Luke
Worth noting that's the vendors' framing. The source gives no benchmarks for any of these four apps.
Mark
And emulation isn't bad, right?
Mimi
Right. Prism improved it dramatically, and many apps run fine that way. The exception is something like a VPN, which can't be emulated, so NordVPN's release is the clearest gain.
Luke
Careful there too. NordVPN says it is releasing the app this autumn, so the wording is forward-looking, while the report says these have shipped. I'd want to confirm availability.
Mark
Does this threaten Intel and AMD?
Mimi
The article says Arm keeps pressuring them, and Intel's CEO says x86's death may be exaggerated.
Luke
Four apps don't show market share moving. That's a plausible direction, not a measured result.
Mimi
Fair. Some well-known apps still rely on emulation, so the library is growing but not finished.
Der Puls
- Four well-known apps landed on Windows on Arm within roughly a single month, and the library for Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus laptops suddenly feels fuller.
- VPNs could not run through emulation at all, so the arrival of a native NordVPN app closed a conspicuous gap for privacy-minded users on Arm machines.
- Foxit is pitching faster rendering and processing for heavy PDF work, while Arc and Notion aim at everyday users chasing smoother, more efficient performance.
- Microsoft's Prism emulation has improved considerably, yet native builds still promise better speed and lower power draw, and the race to match x86 rivals from Intel and AMD is far from settled.
In the span of a single month, four widely used programs, NordVPN, the Arc browser, Foxit PDF Editor and Notion, released versions built natively for Windows on Arm, the processor architecture behind a growing family of laptops. It is a small milestone in a longer story: the slow work of persuading software makers to meet a new kind of machine. Emulation has long let older programs run on these chips, but it always carried a trace of compromise, and native code restores some of that lost fullness. The quiet question underneath is whether developers will now follow in earnest, and whether the Arm laptop becomes a complete home rather than a guest.
For a few weeks, the Windows on Arm laptop gained something it had lacked: four familiar programs built specifically for its chip. NordVPN, the Arc browser, Foxit PDF Editor and Notion all shipped native versions, and anyone carrying a Snapdragon X Elite or X Plus machine suddenly had a fuller set of tools at hand.
The difference is more than cosmetic. Windows 11 on Arm has already been running many older x86 programs through Microsoft's emulation layer, Prism, which has grown markedly better. Still, native apps run faster and draw less power, and that matters on laptops, where so many of the new AI and Copilot+ PCs now use Arm chips. Some software could not be emulated at all, which is why VPNs were so scarce until now. NordVPN says it is proud to be among the first to protect Arm-based Windows devices, with a version arriving this autumn.
Foxit framed its release around speed, pointing to quicker rendering and processing of PDFs, while Arc and Notion bring broader appeal. Arc, a free browser built around favorite sites, is now tuned for Arm. Notion starts at no cost and joins its mobile and other desktop versions with a native Arm app.
These additions follow years of work by Microsoft, Qualcomm and developers, and native support already covers Chrome, Office, streaming services and several creator tools. Many modern apps are web-based, which softens the need for native code if an Arm browser is in use. Still, the competitive stakes are real as Arm keeps pressing Intel and AMD. The next thing to watch is which emulated holdouts will receive native versions next.
In the span of about a month, four well-known programs shipped versions built to run natively on Windows on Arm: NordVPN, the Arc browser, Foxit PDF Editor and Notion. For anyone using a PC with a Snapdragon X Elite or X Plus processor, the app library just got noticeably bigger.
The distinction matters because Windows 11 on Arm can already run many programs written for x86 chips through emulation. Native apps, though, are built for the Arm architecture itself, and they deliver better performance and draw less power. That is a real consideration on laptops, where many of the first AI PCs and Copilot+ PCs run Arm chips.
Microsoft's emulation technology, called Prism, has improved performance dramatically, and the reporting describes emulation on Windows 11 as solid. Some apps run fine that way but give a better experience natively. Others cannot run through emulation at all, which is why VPNs were scarce on Windows on Arm until recently. Because VPN software can't be emulated, the arrival of a native NordVPN app fills a real gap.
NordVPN said it is proud to be among the first VPN providers offering protection for Arm-based Windows devices, and that it is releasing a version supporting Arm architecture on Windows this autumn. The app is priced from $3.99 per month, with a Black Friday sale set to expire at the end of October 17, 2024.
Foxit, maker of the PDF editor, framed its release in terms of speed. Executive Vice President of Sales Andrew Travis said the company is bringing its PDF tools to PCs powered by Snapdragon, and that native support enables faster rendering and processing of content. Foxit PDF Editor costs $15 per month and is known for merging and splitting documents, rearranging pages and redaction tools.
The other two are broader in appeal. Arc is a free browser built around favorite websites rather than a traditional address bar, with tab groups, split view, Peek and touch optimizations; it is now optimized for Arm, promising better performance and efficiency. Notion, the project-organizing and collaboration tool, starts at $0 per month and now has a native Arm app alongside its mobile apps and other desktop versions.
The additions come after years of effort by Microsoft, Qualcomm and developers to get Arm software up to speed. Native Windows on Arm apps already include Chrome and other browsers, popular streaming apps, productivity tools like Office and several creator applications. Some well-known apps still run only through emulation. And because many popular 2024 apps are Progressive Web Apps, native Arm code matters less for them, assuming an Arm browser is in use.
The timing carries some competitive weight. Intel's CEO has said reports of x86's death may be severely exaggerated, yet Arm computing keeps pressuring Intel and AMD. With developers now apparently willing to invest in the platform, the thing to watch is which of the remaining emulated apps get native versions next.
Bemerkenswerte Zitate
Foxit's native Snapdragon support enables faster rendering and processing of content.— Andrew Travis, Foxit Executive Vice President of Sales
NordVPN says it is proud to be among the first VPN providers to offer protection for Arm-based Windows devices.— NordVPN
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