The popular password manager Bitwarden has transitioned to a fully native app on Android, promising improved performance and better integration with device-specific features.
Transition to Native Code
Bitwarden’s development team has migrated the mobile apps from .NET MAUI to native code. After several beta versions, the native Android app is now officially available for download on the Google Play Store. This update marks a significant shift aimed at enhancing user experience, offering faster performance, and utilizing native hardware capabilities.
Enhanced Performance and Features
In a blog post, Bitwarden’s developers highlighted the benefits of this transition. They emphasized that moving to native apps allows them to introduce new features, improve app performance, and deepen integration with native hardware functionalities, including biometric authentication and multi-device support. Users can expect a more responsive interface with quicker screen rendering and smoother interactions when tapping buttons.
Optimized User Interface and Experience
The native app has been tailored to provide a more responsive and intuitive user interface, designed to fit seamlessly with the Android platform. This adjustment ensures that the app behaves in a way familiar to Android users, enhancing overall usability. Additionally, the update leverages platform-specific security features, reinforcing privacy and data protection.
Key Technical Details
The new Android app is built with Kotlin, replacing the previous .NET MAUI framework. It supports devices running Android 10 and above, leaving older versions unsupported. The update has been live on the Play Store since last week, and the corresponding blog post has been updated to reflect these changes.
iOS Update in the Pipeline
While the focus has been on Android, Bitwarden’s roadmap also includes a native app for iOS. However, this version is still in development and not yet widely available.
The move to native apps underscores Bitwarden’s commitment to delivering a faster, more secure, and integrated user experience across devices.
