The death of x86 may be “severely exaggerated,” but these native Arm apps are here to threaten Intel and AMD

The death of x86 may be "severely exaggerated," but these native Arm apps are here to threaten Intel and AMD

What you need to know

  • Several popular apps were optimized for Windows on Arm recently.
  • NordVPN, Arc browser, Foxit PDF Editor, and Notion now all run natively on Windows on Arm devices.
  • While Windows 11 on Arm PCs can run many apps through emulation, native apps have better performance and efficiency.

As a seasoned tech enthusiast who’s been around since the days of floppy disks and dial-up modems, I can attest to the evolution of computing platforms over the years. The recent surge in native app compatibility for Windows on Arm devices is nothing short of remarkable!


Intel CEO contests the notion that x86 is dead, but competition from Arm computing remains intense. The emergence of AI-focused PCs has predominantly featured laptops powered by Arm processors, and the recent development for Windows 11 on Arm devices has significantly bolstered their capabilities. Due to multiple developers optimizing their apps for Windows 11 on Arm, PCs equipped with Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus processors now enjoy a broader range of applications that can leverage Qualcomm’s latest technology.

A significant number of top-tier AI computers and Copilot+ systems run on Arm processors, emphasizing the significance of native Arm applications for delivering optimal user experience. While it’s possible to operate numerous apps through emulation, native Arm applications offer improved performance and reduced power consumption. The persistent efforts from Microsoft and Qualcomm have finally sparked developers’ interest in tailoring their applications for Arm. In the past month alone, NordVPN, Arc Browser, Notion, and Foxit have released native Arm versions of their software.

NordVPN is thrilled to be one of the pioneering VPN services providing protection for your ARM-based Windows devices against online hazards,” they announced. “In the fall, we’ll roll out a new NordVPN app variation that’s compatible with the ARM architecture on Windows.

Foxit, known as one of the top-tier PDF editors, expressed sentiments akin to theirs when unveiling their native ARM-compatible app.

Andrew Travis, Foxit’s Executive Vice President of Sales, shared his enthusiasm for a new development: ‘We’re thrilled to share that our top-tier PDF solutions are now compatible with the best PCs driven by Snapdragon.’ This partnership allows us to offer substantial enhancements, such as quicker display and processing of content. These upgrades significantly boost productivity and offer an unmatched user experience that stands out.

The latest expansions to the Windows on Arm app collection mark a significant milestone in the Arm computing field, following a prosperous year. It seems that Microsoft and Qualcomm have successfully created an Arm system that programmers find valuable enough to dedicate their time to.

Windows 11 on Arm app compatibility

The death of x86 may be "severely exaggerated," but these native Arm apps are here to threaten Intel and AMD

As a researcher, I’ve been closely following the collaborative efforts between Microsoft, Qualcomm, and app developers in optimizing software performance on Arm devices over the past few years. It’s been a long journey, but we’ve now reached a significant milestone where numerous popular apps operate natively on Arm platforms. The roster of top native Windows on Arm apps encompasses a wide range of categories, including web browsers like Chrome, streaming services, productivity tools such as Office, and creative applications. However, some well-known apps are still reliant on emulation for operation at this time.

Emulation serves as a link between x86 and Arm architectures, allowing applications that haven’t been specifically optimized for Windows on Arm to run through it in many instances. Native Arm applications will deliver superior performance and efficiency compared to their emulated counterparts; however, the emulation experience on Windows 11 is robust. Microsoft’s Prism emulation technology has significantly boosted emulation performance.

In certain instances, apps refuse to function via emulation altogether. This is the reason why only a few Virtual Private Network (VPN) applications have operated successfully on Windows PCs with Arm processors until now. However, other apps work well using emulation, but they deliver an improved user experience when run natively.

Many popular apps in 2024 are Progressive Web Apps (PWAs), making the importance of native Arm code less important (assuming you’re using an Arm browser). But there are still plenty of applications that are much better when made into native Arm apps.

Including NordVPN, Arc Browser, Foxit PDF Editor, and Notion in the expanding collection of native ARM apps is particularly beneficial for users who own some of the top-tier Windows on ARM laptops. These applications are warmly welcomed additions indeed.

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2024-10-17 16:09