Apple Considering Dropping Requirement for iPhone Web Browsers to Use WebKit

[MacRumors]

As part of a larger story about Apple's plans to allow third-party app stores on the iPhone and iPad in EU countries, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman claimed that Apple is also considering removing its requirement for iPhone and iPad web browsers to use WebKit, the open source browser engine that powers Safari.

Gurman said this potential change comes in response to the EU's Digital Markets Act. It's unclear if Apple would drop the requirement in other regions.

"Currently, third-party web browsers, including ones like Chrome from Alphabet Inc.'s Google, are required to use WebKit, Apple's Safari browsing engine," wrote Gurman. "Under the plan to meet the new law, Apple is considering removing that mandate."

Gurman did not provide any additional details or a potential timeframe for Apple dropping this requirement, but the move would allow for web browsers and in-app browsers on the iPhone and iPad to use alternative browser engines like Google's Blink (used by Chrome and Microsoft Edge) and Mozilla's Quantum (used by Firefox). As a result, these browsers would no longer be tied to WebKit's features and development schedule.

Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and other popular web browsers like Opera and DuckDuckGo are all currently forced to use WebKit on iOS, resulting in limited differentiation with Safari. Apple has previously stated that the WebKit requirement is enforced primarily due to security and privacy considerations, but some find the policy anti-competitive.

Earlier this year, a group of software engineers from the UK and other countries said Apple banning non-WebKit browsers on iOS is "deeply anti-competitive" and encouraged the company to remove this limitation. The group also complained that Safari has several features unavailable to third-party web browsers on iOS that do use WebKit.

Gurman's report also said that Apple is not currently considering adopting the RCS standard alongside iMessage, and said that the company is working to provide third-party apps with limited access to the iPhone's NFC chip, but he did not elaborate.

Article Link: Apple Considering Dropping Requirement for iPhone Web Browsers to Use WebKit

 

[Jhonjhon236]

This sounds great. Would be nice to have a web Bowser that is not rebranded Safari.

 

[TinyMito]

Finally Firefox can be free from Safari's jail!

 

[BootsWalking]

Thank you EU.

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

Please for the love of god do it. The sooner I can get Firefox Quantum on iOS the better.

Man first sideloading now freedom from Safari's terribleness. The good news just keep coming.

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

The problem is I love Safari browser.

Then keep using Safari.

Or better idea, go Firefox

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

The problem is I love Safari browser.

 

[IMPOSSIBLEMAN]

Yes yes yes. Apple should have already allowed this instead of the current rebranding of Safari.

 

[ian87w]

Hopefully this is also a sign that Apple would separate Safari from iOS monolithic upgrades, so older devices can still run the latest patched Safari app. If not, then hopefully this decision can breath new life to older devices by having a fully patched 3rd party browser with its own engine instead of the outdated Safari.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Then keep using Safari.

Or better idea, go Firefox

Safari browser is my go-to browser. I also love Firefox since you can customize the user experience. I just don't trust Google Chrome.

 

[Mr. Heckles]

The problem is I love Safari browser.

How is this a problem?

 

[prime17569]

This is great from a competition standpoint.

At the same time, Chrome currently occupies 66.18% of the desktop browser market (statcounter.com), with other Chromium-based browsers occupying some more. What's to say that Chrome/Chromium won't do the same on mobile?

 

[WestonHarvey1]

How is this a problem?

Loves it so much wants every other browser to be Safari.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Whatever it takes to get me uBlock Origin on my iPad -- I'm in!

 

[Mr. Dee]

I don't want a monoculture in browsers, which is basically what Chrome is on the desktop. There needs to be diversity and you have to keep Google in check or they will run rampant with their browser. If they do end up allowing this, I hope it means Apple will at least have the right to review Google's privacy behavior of its apps and disable tracking.

Apple could easily just tell the EU, look, its our platform, stop with your stupid biased behavior because your continent has not created nothing impactful on the world. Android is already the dominant mobile OS, users have choice if they don't like iOS. If you want to side load to your hearts content, choose the platform with three billion devices in use.

 

[quaresma]

Thanks EU!

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

Safari browser is my go-to browser. I also love Firefox since you can customize the user experience. I just don't trust Google Chrome.

Switch to Orion then. Orion is literally Safari but with actual plugin support, as well as a compatibility mode for websites that don't work on Safari. https://browser.kagi.com/

 

[jimbobb24]

This is the only anti competitive thing I think Apple actually does.

 

[MysticCow]

Firefox with addons? YES, PLEASE!!!!!

Bring on the other browser engines.

 

[Prabas]

3rd party App Store aka side-loading, dropping WebKit requirement. EU is really forcing Apple to be more consumer friendly.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Firefox with addons? YES, PLEASE!!!!!

Bring on the other browser engines.

Same -- I'd love to be Firefox "everywhere" .. iOS/iPadOS are the hangups at the moment

 

[Analog Kid]

I've got mixed feelings about this. I'm less resistant to it than some of the other proposed changes to the Apple ecosystem, but I see two edges to this sword: on the one hand, I like the idea of improving browser experience through differentiation and competition. Web services are meant to be standards based so competition in the browser space should improve the experience. On the other hand, many web services aren't fully cross compatible and this makes it more likely that a variety of services and webapps drop support for Safari, not just on mobile but also on desktop without mobile motivating compatibility.

I use Safari for almost everything on Mac. For work, I'm forced to use Chrome because many tools are only truly compatible with Chrome. If Safari on mobile crumbles, I think it'll be harder to hold the line on my personal devices as well.

 

[JMStearnsX2]

I'd like to be able to run a REAL Firefox on my iOS devices, that'd be nice!

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

How is this a problem?

Loves it so much wants every other browser to be Safari.

Bingo! @WestonHarvey1 Nailed it. Been using Safari for over a decade now. It’s going to be hard to transition to another browser full-time.

 

[sw1tcher]

The problem is I love Safari browser.

I missed the part where if 3rd party browsers no longer have to use WebKit, you'll also be prevented from using Safari and will be forced to use one of the 3rd party browsers. And the 3rd party browser will be random selected and force installed on your Apple devices.