GoKawiilMishaal Rahman / Android Authority
Chrome on Android hasn’t kept up. That’s not a hot take — it’s just where things stand. And this is something you only realize once you step out and try other browsers like Firefox, Brave, Edge, and Samsung Internet.
Extensions, proper privacy controls, customization, and background playback — competing browsers have been checking these boxes for years. The list of things Chrome still hasn’t gotten around to is longer than it should be, and it’s high time Google closed the gap.
If Chrome is to stay competitive, here are five missing features it needs to add right now.
What's Chrome's biggest weakness on Android? 19 votes No extensions 74 % Poor customization 5 % Lack of privacy dashboard 11 % No built-in VPN 11 %
Give us extensions already
Andy Walker / Android Authority
This one is a no-brainer. At this point, almost every other popular Chrome alternative — Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Kiwi Browser, Samsung Internet — supports extensions on Android. It’s the most tempting reason to switch browsers.
Extensions can unlock many of the features Chrome currently lacks. It can bring in third-party password managers, price trackers, and, of course, ad blockers. I get that Google, being an advertising company, doesn’t exactly want people blocking ads, but that’s precisely what’s currently pushing people away from Chrome. Adding extension support on Android seems like the obvious fix.
To be fair, Google is working on a version of Chrome for Android that supports extensions. That sounds promising until you realize it’s only for Android-powered PCs, not for phones or tablets. If there’s one thing that could do Chrome a world of good, it’s this.
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