Hadlee Simons / Android Authority
Chrome has been my default browser for a long time, but recently I’ve been looking into alternatives that offer useful new features that Google’s browser can’t match. There’s always one sticking point that leads me to go back to Chrome, and unfortunately, the same can be said for Samsung Internet’s Windows release. It gets a lot right, but one missing feature is preventing it from becoming my main browser.
Would you switch to Samsung Internet? 32 votes Yes 56 % No 38 % I don't use Windows 6 %
There’s a lot to like
Zac Kew-Denniss / Android Authority
The feature I love most in Samsung Internet is the split-view mode, along with the sidebar. Split-view puts two tabs side-by-side without having to open a new instance of the tab. The sidebar, as seen in the far right of the image, is a space where you can open a third page in a mobile UI. This has been great for researching and writing articles, as I can have my writing and two research tabs open all in one place without switching windows.
The sidebar becomes even more useful thanks to its ability to sync with Samsung Internet on your Android phone. Tapping the phone icon at the top of the sidebar will show any currently open tabs on your phone or tablet, as well as mobile bookmarks. You don’t need to use a Samsung phone, either, as Samsung Internet can be used on any Android device.
Zac Kew-Denniss / Android Authority
Samsung Internet borrows some of its UI design from Samsung’s tablets, too. When you’re in split-view, you’ll see a little blue bar at the top of the tab you’re currently using, just as you’d see on a Galaxy Tab S11 when you have apps open in split-screen. Clicking on that bar gives you the option to move the tab to a new window, the side panel, or to exit split-view.
Split-view and the sidebar aren’t new concepts. Arc Browser and many others have similar features, but this is by far the simplest to use in my experience. There aren’t any weird or confusing key combinations to learn, and overall, this is a familiar browser for those of us used to Chrome.
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