Anika Begay
Opera is releasing its redesigned Opera One browser on iOS as a stable release after weeks of beta testing. The new browser features a bottom-positioned search bar for easy navigation, quick search suggestions as you type, and integration with the Aria AI assistant.
While the placed search bar will be the default option, users can choose to switch to the Standard Navigation or Quick Action Button style. Additionally, users can always swipe down to bring up the search bar, just like you do for Spotlight search on iOS.
When you type a query into the search engine, you are usually provided with autocomplete options. Now, Opera will also provide its autocomplete options in the chipsets below the search box to speed up your search.
The company said it has also made subtle changes to the browser’s design. When scrolling a page, the browser will hide the bottom and top bars for a full-screen view. Additionally, the top status bar will now color match a site’s theme.
Opera is also replacing its old news feed with a new carousel view that will offer personalized news, real-time scores and product recommendations.
The company launched its AI-powered assistant, Aria, in May 2023 and introduced it to the iOS version in August 2023. With the release of Opera One, the assistant has voice input and image generation capabilities.
App analytics firm Sensor Tower said that the Opera browser has been downloaded more than 50 million times on iOS since 2020. However, the browser’s year-on-year growth stalled with download growth of 58%, 25%, and 4% for 2021, 2022, and 2023, respectively. The EU is Opera’s largest market, and due to regulatory changes that forced iOS to offer users a browser choice screen, the browser saw a 122% increase in downloads in Q2 2024.
