Andy Walker / Android Authority
Google Chrome on Android has finally caught up with the rest of civilization by bashing two rocks together to introduce a bottom URL bar. Users who have sought out the feature and found it on Firefox, Samsung Internet, and Microsoft Edge can now choose which address bar position they prefer on Google’s browser: the traditional top of the screen or the more convenient bottom-edge placement.
Don’t get me wrong — while I am annoyed that Google took this long to implement the feature, I am thrilled that Chrome finally has it. It’s a case of better late than never for those who use the browser, even if it comes so much later than its contemporaries. Delayed software that’s good and works well is always superior to rushed wares that splutter and falter.
However, despite taking nearly two years for this feature to debut on the stable channel, it still feels unfinished. After enabling the bottom bar and trawling the internet for a few hours, I’ve encountered several silly issues that should have been identified and corrected before the feature’s official debut on Android.
What do you think of Google Chrome for Android’s bottom address bar? 12 votes It's great, and I love it. 8 % I'm glad it's available, but it needs some more work. 58 % It's terrible, and Google did a bad job. 33 %
Getting started with Chrome’s bottom URL bar
Andy Walker / Android Authority
First things first. To enable the bottom bar in Chrome, tap the three-dot menu icon, open Settings, then select Address bar. From here, tap Bottom. The address bar should now be positioned at the bottom of the screen. While that sounds great for fans of this feature, Chrome makes it more challenging to use than it really should be.
The biggest benefit of a browser’s bottom bar is its closer proximity to your thumb. With a top address bar, I often have to use my second hand, stretch my phone-holding hand, and risk dropping my phone — or reposition the device to tap it. However, with a bottom bar, this problem is largely solved. This whole scenario was less pronounced when handsets were smaller, but modern monster smartphones, whose screens regularly clear 6 inches in size, have changed the definition of useful UI.
A bottom address bar makes it far easier to browse the web on devices with larger screens.
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