While one won’t see Safari on a Windows any time soon, the Microsoft Edge on Mac is a thing. And with the new Microsoft Edge Chromium update, the Edge might be a browser that Apple doesn’t want you to use, that perhaps you should use.
There has been no browser that has been as reliable as Microsoft Edge for me all through the three months since switching from Windows to Mac. By the time I was making the switch from my Windows laptop, I had watched lots of YouTube videos about switching, things to change, and how different the two Operating Systems were from each other. Apr 26, 2020 After the installation procedure, Microsoft Edge Chromium will automatically launch on your Mac. If it doesn't, go to your Mac's Launchpad and click the Microsoft Edge icon to fire it up. Oct 29, 2020 The new Microsoft Edge for Mac OS is faster than Google Chrome. Microsoft Edge browser for Mac offers three different types of tracking prevention options. Microsoft Edge browser handles multiple tabs better than Safari, Firefox & Chrome. For Customization, the Edge browser allows you to customize the New Tab page. Microsoft Edge brings you performance, security and privacy, all in one browser. Browse the web anywhere with one seamless experience from your phone to your computer and other signed-in devices. Microsoft Edge gives you the tools to protect your privacy online with features like tracking prevention, AdBlock Plus and InPrivate browsing.
Why?
1. Microsoft Edge on a Mac Brings the Most Extensions Possible to Any Web Browser
One major issue with the Safari browser is the lack of extensions it offers.
Microsoft Edge Browser Windows 10
Sure, it does offer some extensions, so we can’t say there’s nothing there at all, but the options are mostly limited to ad blockers, and while that’s great, if you are looking for extensions like MailTag, to track when and where your emails are opened, so you can have a peace of mind when sending of emails + data, that’s at this time, not yet possible on Safari.
→ Add MailTag to Chrome
Microsoft Edge Chromium on macOS, from that perspective, is a big win for you and your productivity since it supports all Chrome extensions.
And ultimately that’s a reason or why the Chrome browsers are so popular in the first place. As they support extensions that allow people to get more out of browsers.
Safari Is Better Optimized for MacOS Devices Than Microsoft Edge Chromium
This is not a surprise.
Apple apps are the best optimized, on Apple devices.
The Safari browser renders pages better and works more smoothly on the macOS than the Edge Chromium does. It’s also more battery efficient.
…With that said, if you for instance, currently rock the Google Chrome browser, if you were to switch to Edge Chromium, you would notice a significant increase in performance.
That’s because the Google Chrome browser is incredibly power-hungry.
And if you care about the extensions, that might be a reason to convert to Edge Chromium over Google Chrome.
Edge Chromium Can Do All That Safari Can
Edge Browser On Mac Os
If you search for why people like the Safari browser, you will come to the conclusion that it’s for reasons that aren’t unique to Safari.
You can also sync bookmarks, passwords, and history, between different devices on the Edge Chromium. In fact, on the Chromium, you can even sync between Google Chrome. And, unlike Safari, Edge Chromium is supported everywhere. Not to mention that while Chromium is open source, Safari isn’t.
Edge Chromium? It does look similar to Safari. It’s not as simple as it is a more advanced browser, but if you are looking to get more out of your browser because that’s where you spend most of your time, the Edge Chromium on Mac, overall does everything Safari does, but also much more, that Safari won’t ever do.
Edge Brings Privacy
Let’s be clear.
Apple does a great job at making their users feel secure.
Safari is a great browser for safety.
Chrome? It isn’t.
What Microsoft did with the Edge Chromium though, is that it made it much safer than Chrome, with much simpler privacy policies, and safety features that allow us to do something about tracking.
Microsoft Edge on Mac Brings Some Super Useful Features to Mac
Edge Browser Chromium Mac
Microsoft Edge Chromium brings some unique features such as an ability to create an app out of a website, or a much nicer and useful way to bookmark and save websites for later, with Collections.
Edge Browser Continue On Mac
Meanwhile, Read Aloud is a great text reader.
You get your dark mode, but you perhaps most importantly, get more options to customize the browser which isn’t really an option on Safari.
Microsoft Edge on Mac – The Only Other Browser to Consider on MacOS Devices
Yep, we said it.
To sum up this Microsoft Edge on Mac review, this is the only other browser to consider.
The things Apple does great are a reason for why many will stick will Safari forever. But if you are reading this Microsoft Edge on Mac guide, then you are probably looking for alternatives, because you know that you aren’t getting the most out of Safari.
…And other options such as Google Chrome or Firefox just don’t deliver on macOS devices.
The Chromium engine has allowed for a complete refresh of Microsoft Edge, as the new browser evolved beyond the world of Windows to become a cross-platform application that can also run on macOS and soon on Linux.
Just like Google Chrome, Vivaldi, and other Chromium-based browser, Microsoft Edge can now serve as the main driver on more than just Windows 10. Both Windows 7 and 8.1 are also supported, and Microsoft is now at work on bringing the browser to the world of Linux too.
But expanding beyond the boundaries of Windows 10 isn’t the only result of Microsoft Edge embracing the Chromium engine. This new approach also allowed Edge to evolve substantially with new capabilities, including support for Google Chrome extensions, and many other new features.
Does Edge Browser Work On Mac
And Microsoft has tried an approach that makes so much sense for Windows users. The company retained the familiar look and feature lineup in the legacy version of Edge and brought it to the Chromium engine, thus developing a mix that makes it one of the best browsers currently available.
But the bigger challenge for Microsoft Edge isn’t necessarily to serve as your daily driver on Windows 10, but to actually convince Chrome, Firefox, and Safari users it’s worth a try.
As I see it, a more ambitious plan is to make Apple users sticking with Safari to migrate to Edge, something which for the hardcore fans of the Cupertino-based company is outrageous.
But for many others, it all comes down to using the best browser around at a certain time.
Right now, Microsoft Edge is just as good as Google Chrome, if not actually even better, so Mac users have no reason not to give it a try. While Safari itself is a pretty advanced browser, many choose it because it’s the native choice. Others go for Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox, both of which have been around for a long time on Macs, and now are rather reticent to giving a try to Microsoft Edge.
Microsoft, however, is fully committed to delivering a very refined experience regardless of the platform. The company maintains the browser with several development channels, including a Canary build that is updated on a daily basis. The Dev build receives updates every week, while the Beta channel is refreshed every six weeks.
“Microsoft Edge for macOS will offer the same new browsing experience that we’re previewing on Windows, with user experience optimizations to make it feel at home on a Mac. We are tailoring the overall look and feel to match what macOS users expect from apps on this platform,” Microsoft said when it released the first build of the new Edge for macOS.
“We are committed to building a world class browser with Microsoft Edge through differentiated user experience features and connected services. With this initial release, we have made several changes to the user interface to align with the Microsoft design language whilst making it feel natural on macOS.”
How To Download Edge Browser On Mac
The good news is that the adoption of Microsoft Edge is already improving, and the first victim appears to be Firefox. According to third-party statistics, while Google Chrome maintains a clear lead in the browser world on the desktop, Firefox is losing ground, and there’s a good chance it’d lose the second place to Microsoft Edge in just a few months.
Uninstall Edge Browser On Mac
Edge is expected to improve its market share in the coming months as more people give it a try, and once the browser lands on Linux as well, it officially becomes a full alternative to the likes of Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox.