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Opera Launches Opera One for iOS
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Is Opera One for iOS worth downloading?
Key points
- Opera has launched the Opera One app for iOS, which comes with the Aria AI assistant.
- Design changes include a full-screen browsing mode and a circular start page that matches your phone's wallpaper.
- Opera One offers a unique alternative to Safari and Chrome, making it worth trying for a different browsing experience.
Opera has launched its new redesigned Opera One browser for iOS. After being tested in beta for several weeks, Opera One for iOS is now available as a stable release. This allows iPhone users to experience another powerful alternative to Apple’s Safari browser.
Opera Launches Opera One for iOS
In a post on the Opera blog on August 13, Opera announced the stable release of Opera One for iOS. Opera describes Opera One as an “innovative AI-powered browser” that allows iPhone users to “enhance their browsing experience with Opera’s signature style and functionality.”
The new Opera One browser for iOS features Aria, Opera's smart assistant, and includes an updated search function with predictive keyword suggestions, a home page carousel, and design changes including automatic full-screen display when scrolling through a page.
Aria is one of the most important features, as it can help you with a wide range of tasks. This includes completing search queries as you type them, and generating generative text and images (using Google’s Imagen2 model) with simple prompts. Aria has been part of the Opera browser for iOS since 2023, but it’s now more integrated than ever.
The big design change with Opera One is the full-screen browsing mode, which provides a distraction-free environment when reading a website. All unnecessary elements are hidden from view, with the top and bottom bars adapting to match the background. The home page circle works on the same principle, matching the color of your phone’s background.
The Opera One app for iOS also puts the search button at the bottom of the screen, making it easier to navigate with one hand. However, you can switch it to standard or fast mode if you prefer. You can also activate the search function using a swipe-to-search gesture, which is similar to Apple’s Spotlight search function.
Whatever you choose, Opera will provide you with autocomplete suggestions designed to help you find what you’re looking for with fewer keystrokes. And as anyone who’s used Google knows, that means you’ll get the best matching options as you type.
Is Opera One for iOS worth downloading?
Opera One for iOS offers something different for those who aren’t fans of Safari or Chrome. However, it’s an evolution of the previous Opera for iOS, not a revolution. Many elements, including Aria, have been around for some time. Opera One has been available on desktop since April 2023.
Just like banks and insurance companies, many of us are so comfortable with our browser that we never try alternatives. However, even if you’re happy with your web browser, it’s worth checking out the competition from time to time. And Opera One on iOS provides the perfect opportunity to do just that.