You’re probably ignoring Samsung’s best app — and it just got better

Samsung Internet is now Samsung Browser, and that’s not the only thing the company changed with its One UI 8.5 update.

It has a refreshed look and some new features, adding to its already impressive resume.

I don’t like it when people call Samsung’s apps bloatware, as if the company doesn’t have the right to put its programs on its own smartphones.

In the case of Samsung Browser, it’s a better alternative to Google Chrome, and I never remove it as the default.

If you haven’t tried Samsung Browser yet, now is the perfect time to switch.

What’s changed with the new Samsung Browser?

Updated visuals and a new menu

I appreciate that Samsung built on what already made Samsung Browser excellent.

Tabs are easier to navigate at the bottom of the screen. It’s a clean design, and much easier than fumbling with tabs in Google Chrome.

I can expand to see more tabs in an easy-to-read list, and a toggle at the bottom lets me switch between tabs I have synced with my Samsung Internet desktop browsers, tabs on my device, and Secret mode tabs, allowing me to add to all three with a single press.

Samsung changed the menu orientation, as it now opens vertically. I don’t mind the change, and it streamlines the experience.

Overall, Samsung Browser received a visual refresh, bringing it in line with the rest of One UI 8.5’s design aesthetic.

I couldn’t care less about the new icon, but it is more vibrant, and I love the direction Samsung took with One UI 8.5.

Samsung didn’t ruin what made the browser excellent

Old favorites are still here

Thankfully, everything I love about Samsung Browser is still there. The menu orientation may have changed, but I still have quick access to settings and add-ons (extensions).

If you need accessibility features, the new menu keeps them at the forefront, allowing you to increase text size, zoom, or even have the page read aloud.

Samsung may not offer the most extensive extension support I’ve ever seen, but it’s available in a mobile browser, which is more than I can say for Google Chrome.

I don’t support ad blockers, because I like being able to afford food, but if you must, they are readily available on Samsung Browser.

I also enjoy having quick access to different search engines.

I rarely find the need to stray from Google, but if I do, Yahoo, Bing, and even DuckDuckGo are just a click away. I can even query Perplexity right from the search bar if I wish.

No mobile browsers I’ve used have matched Samsung’s level of customization.

I can swap menu items, shift address bars, and do whatever I need to better fit my usage. It’s still a breeze to access all my favorites and bookmarks.

The core of why I prefer Samsung Browser was left untouched by the company. Unfortunately, it couldn’t help itself by adding a little AI magic.

Galaxy AI just had to make an appearance

I didn’t need AI summaries

I don’t know who uses browser AI functions, but I’m not one of them.

Galaxy AI in Samsung Browser will now summarize, translate, and read highlights aloud if you wish.

Reading highlights is a decent accessibility feature, and if you browse lots of foreign language sites, having easy access to a translation tool will help.

I wouldn’t go out of my way to use Galaxy AI in Samsung Browser, but it’s not so intrusive that I mind it being there.

I may not be the target audience, but at least I can see ways it would be useful.

Samsung Browser is worth a shot

All told, Samsung Browser is a fantastic experience. I always keep it as my default, and if you gave it a legitimate shot, more of you would agree that it has a lot to offer.

It’s clean, intuitive, customizable, and runs smoothly — precisely what I want in a mobile browser. It feels like an app made for my phone, not a desktop program shoehorned into a smaller form factor.

Give Samsung Browser a shot on One UI 8.5; you’ll be glad you did.