Breaking Free from Chrome

I've been a die-hard Google Chrome user for years on both my Mac and Android devices. The seamless sync across devices and a constant stream of new features have always made it my browser of choice. But a few weeks ago, I took the plunge and switched to Samsung Internet—and honestly, I don't think I can go back.

Customization Heaven

While Chrome is known for its integration with Google services, it falls short in personalization. Samsung Internet, on the other hand, lets you customize almost every aspect of the user interface. I can place the address bar at the bottom, keep the tabs and bookmarks bar visible while scrolling, or completely hide unwanted elements for an uninterrupted experience.

Not only that, but the flexibility extends to the tab management as well. I can choose from List, Stack, or Grid views for my open tabs, making navigation a breeze—something that Chrome just doesn’t offer.

Little Features That Make a Big Difference

What keeps me returning to Samsung Internet are the small yet impactful features that enhance daily browsing. For starters, the floating "scroll to top" button is a game-changer—I was skeptical at first, but now I can't imagine browsing without it. Plus, there's even an option for a "scroll to bottom" button, making it a dream for anyone who frequently navigates lengthy pages.

Opening new tabs is another win for Samsung Internet. Instead of the multi-tap process required in Chrome, I can create a new tab with a simple long press, vastly speeding up my workflow.

Ad-Blocking Power

Perhaps one of the most significant advantages of Samsung Internet is its support for ad-blocking extensions. While Chrome on mobile doesn’t offer this feature, Samsung allows users to integrate ad blockers and helpful extensions like Subtitles for Samsung Internet, which shows real-time subtitles and translates them into my language.

Smart Features Like Browsing Assist

Samsung Internet offers a handy feature called Browsing Assist, which can summarize lengthy web pages, read highlighted content aloud, or even translate text—all with just a couple of taps. Initially, I dismissed it as a gimmick, but it has proven to be invaluable when I need to quickly scan reports.

Where Chrome Still Holds the Edge

Despite my love for Samsung Internet, I can't ignore two areas where Chrome still excels: integration with Google services and password manager compatibility. Chrome’s ability to pull browsing data from my Google account and sync payment information flawlessly is a hard act to follow.

Conversely, Samsung Internet can only sync with my Samsung account, which means giving up Chrome's seamless experience. Its lack of support for third-party password managers is a sore spot as well, forcing me to manually enter login information unless I switch to Samsung Pass.

The Verdict: A Superior Browsing Experience

Despite a few drawbacks, my experience with Samsung Internet has been overwhelmingly positive, and I find it provides a far better browsing experience than Chrome. From customization to helpful features and ad-blocking extensions, I can confidently say I'm never going back. If you're tired of Chrome and crave something new, Samsung Internet might just be the breath of fresh air you need!