Ny Breaking’s proven best VPN service has just unveiled support for the next generation of Windows devices.
Today (October 15, 2024), NordVPN released a Windows VPN app that is fully compatible with Surface Pro and other PCs built on ARM architecture. This release adds to the carrier’s existing support for ARM-based devices on macOS and Linux.
While only a handful of VPN providers offer support for Windows devices powered by the super-fast Snapdragon
Why did NordVPN choose an ARM-native app?
“Our decision to develop an ARM-native NordVPN application is based on a number of advantages over ARM emulation,” said Marijus Briedis, CTO at NordVPN. “This includes faster response to prompts, seamless execution of all commands and stronger application security.”
An emulated app refers to an application that runs on a virtual device created by an emulator. As the name suggests, the latter is a tool used to replicate the functionalities and behavior of a specific operating system or device.
For example, Android developers can use emulation to test applications on different devices without having to physically own them all. Such a practice is also common among gamers as it allows them to play older games on modern consoles.
Emulation generally allows VPN developers to quickly provide support for new operating systems without having to build an entirely new application. However, the delay with Snapdragon VPN support was precisely because this practice caused serious performance limitations on ARM Windows machines.
Nord’s new Windows ARM-native app is compatible with ARM64 devices and complements the existing application for x64 machines. Briedis explained that the app “speaks the language of the processor,” meaning it can deliver a smoother experience and excellent performance.
NordVPN has joined a number of VPN providers that already offer a native application for Windows ARM devices. Private Internet Access (PIA) launched its ARM-native app in August, with Windscribe and Surfshark also having ARM-native Windows VPN apps.
ExpressVPN, on the other hand, has taken a different path and came up with an ‘innovative’ solution for its ARM-compatible VPN. With the release of Microsoft’s new Prism emulator, the provider believes it is now possible for emulated apps to match the quality of a native build. The team then decided to take advantage of this new capability by shaping the internal WireGuard-inspired VPN protocol, Lightway, accordingly.
Commenting on this point, a NordVPN spokesperson told me: “We believe that the best application performance is only possible in the original implementation, but we are not in a position to comment on our competitors’ approaches.”
NordVPN’s new Windows ARM app is now fully released and ready for download. Although the current version does not include Threat Protection Pro and split tunneling at the time of writing, the provider has confirmed that Ny Breaking plans to add these features soon.
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