Google's Chrome Browser Testing Bottom-Placed Address Bar on iOS

[MacRumors]

Google's Chrome browser for iOS is testing an option for users to shift the address bar to the bottom of the screen, two years after Apple’s Safari made the same change.

The move, spotted by MacRumors contributor Steve Moser, is currently in beta testing in the Testflight version of the app. Currently the change is optional, enabling users to set the URL bar to the top or bottom by pressing and holding the bar to bring up a switch, or by changing the location via Settings -> Address Bar.

Apple in its iOS 15 beta testing phase introduced a redesigned Safari experience that moved the URL bar and tab interface to the bottom of the iPhone, a decision that initially proved controversial with ‌iPhone‌ users.

Locating the bar at the bottom of the interface made it easier to browse with one hand, but not everyone was happy. After listening to feedback, Apple added a toggle to show the address bar at the top of the ‌iPhone‌ rather than the bottom, for users who preferred the more iOS 14-like experience.

It's not clear whether Chrome will roll out the change to all users – Google tried a similar change in Chrome for Android in 2017, then subsequently removed the feature. However, with iPhone screens historically getting iteratively bigger, many will likely welcome the change, should it stick.


Article Link: Google's Chrome Browser Testing Bottom-Placed Address Bar on iOS

 

[Steve121178]

For me, the address bar at the bottom on a phone makes complete sense. Glad to see most mainstream browsers are now offering this UI toggle.

 

[3530025]

No, thank you. I'll continue to use Brave browser instead. I don't like ads.

 

[jonnysods]

It’s crazy how long it took me to get used to it in safari, and now I love it.

 

[coffeemilktea]

You know, I've wondered: what exactly is the appeal of using Chrome on iOS?

Apple won't allow the developers to use Blink or V8 or any of the regular Chrome technologies in the app, so instead iOS Chrome is basically just Safari with some extra Google tracking on top, and none of the "real" Chrome features. 😅

 

[sniffies]

You know, I've wondered: what exactly is the appeal of using Chrome?

There, fixed it for ya.

 

[one more]

Considering that Chrome is using a WebKit engine in iOS, what’s the actual appeal of using it over Safari, running on the same engine?

 

[toobravetosave]

You know, I've wondered: what exactly is the appeal of using Chrome on iOS?

Apple won't allow the developers to use Blink or V8 or any of the regular Chrome technologies in the app, so instead iOS Chrome is basically just Safari with some extra Google tracking on top, and none of the "real" Chrome features. 😅

Probably for people who use chrome and want their browsers synced and such. Same exact reason people might use safari or any other ecosystem

 

[JMO1]

You get less screen real estate with the search bar on the bottom

 

[toobravetosave]

You get less screen real estate with the search bar on the bottom

You also get a much more easily accessible address bar

 

[JosephAW]

Tried it both ways and always return it to the top. Too many ui problems at the bottom.

 

[blairh]

But the bookmarks button is still an extra step to access versus mobile safari. Never made sense to me.

 

[LambdaTheImpossible]

If it takes this long for browser vendors to work out that things are easier when they are closer to your fingers then we are, to use a technical term, ****ed.

 

[JitteryJimmy]

I hated this Safari feature at first, but I stuck with it. Now I think it is great.

 

[Sislik]

This was standard on Windows phones many years ago... when I was forced to switch from Windows 10 Mobile, I was surprised, that this feature wasn't there also years ago... and it's finally getting more common!

 

[LeeW]

No, thank you. I'll continue to use Brave browser instead. I don't like ads.

Fair enough but welcome the subscription world where everything you want to browse will be behind a paywall in the future.

 

[3530025]

Fair enough but welcome the subscription world where everything you want to browse will be behind a paywall in the future.

That's already valid for news sites already. And it's completely fair. I rather pay for stuff I really want and am free from ad brainwashing than having my brain filled with all these ads.

It's really liberating not to see a single ad (other than those on the streets which you can't block) the whole week.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

It’s crazy how long it took me to get used to it in safari, and now I love it.

I tried it for almost six months and still couldn't stand it. Moved it back to the top.

I don't use the browser too much, though.

 

[supremedesigner]

I got used to the bottom UI address bar and liked it a lot. I wish the same for the iMessage "new" button at the bottom, just like Notes and Mail apps. That way it's consistent across. I filed the Feedback to Apple for the UI suggestion.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

Still everything at the top on Android....

 

[winxmac]

The Metro/Modern version of Internet Explorer on Windows 8 already had the address bar on the bottom for many years... Browser companies should have made this the standard on iOS when iPhone 6 Plus was introduced in 2014... And an option for iPhone 6 since some people can still somehow reach the address bar at the top using just one hand...

 

[senttoschool]

No, thank you. I'll continue to use Brave browser instead. I don't like ads.

Don't support Brave. It's just Chromium with uBlock Origin installed by default. It's nothing special.

However, Brave is a crypto company selling an unregistered security. They also replaced website ads with their own ads, stealing revenue from website owners in a very shady way.

 

[FaustsHausUK]

That's already valid for news sites already. And it's completely fair. I rather pay for stuff I really want and am free from ad brainwashing than having my brain filled with all these ads.

It's really liberating not to see a single ad (other than those on the streets which you can't block) the whole week.

I'm also of the mindset that good content is worth paying for, so the creators are accountable to the readers and not the advertisers. It also helps that sites without ads are typically faster because they are not bogged down with calls to endless ad and analytics services.

 

[3530025]

Don't support Brave. It's just Chromium with uBlock Origin installed by default. It's nothing special.

However, Brave is a crypto company selling an unregistered security. They also replaced website ads with their own ads, stealing revenue from website owners in a very shady way.

Well, I would rather use Firefox just like on my Macbook. However as far as I know it's not possible to use uBlock Origin in iOS version of Firefox.

 

[Wanted797]

You know, I've wondered: what exactly is the appeal of using Chrome on iOS?

Apple won't allow the developers to use Blink or V8 or any of the regular Chrome technologies in the app, so instead iOS Chrome is basically just Safari with some extra Google tracking on top, and none of the "real" Chrome features. 😅

Bookmarks and syncing to a google account?

If someone is a windows user or a chrome user they might like the ecosystem.

It’s why I use edge for work despite it being basically chrome. It signs into my work account and syncs everything including some log ins.