Opera is an underdog browser if compared to the likes of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. But still, it's no slouch.
As one of the few browsers that put privacy more upfront, Opera is making a huge change to its iOS app. Marking the third anniversary of its iOS browser, the app has been renamed from 'Opera Touch' to just 'Opera'.
The app also has a revamped look, which is immediately clear from the redesigned app icon that sports Opera's already-known red color instead of the previous purple.
But things go beyond just a rebrand, as Opera has also redesigned some aspects inside the iOS app.
On its blog post announcing the update, Opera said that:
"At Opera, we know that browsers are very personal apps as we use them to search for private information, manage passwords, and access banking information, among other things. On top of this, browsers need to have a sense of rightness, as in, does this browser look right, feel right, and work right in the contexts that we use it. We call this the personal browser experience, and that is what Opera is all about."
When Opera first introduced Opera Touch for users on iOS, its initial goal was to deliver "a fast and great-looking browser that could facilitate browsing navigation, particularly smartphones with large displays."
And as the team made more progress in the development of Opera Touch, the team thought of redesigning the browser interface to make it more aesthetically "beautiful and impactful."
This led to Opera having quirks and features that include Crypto Wallet, Flow, Ad-blocker, Cookie dialogue blocker, and protection against cryptocurrency mining, among others. The browser has also managed to reach three million monthly active users (MAUs).
Opera also said that its iOS user base has increased by over 65% in the 12 months to February, and claiming that the rise was partly due to Apple's decision to allow users change their default browser in iOS 14.
This is an impressive feat, considering that Opera is an underdog that is way smaller that other popular browsers.
And to welcome the third anniversary of Opera Touch, the team decided to rebrand the browser for iOS users, by ditching the word 'Touch'.
For the inside, for starters, the Opera browser has a set of new icons at the bottom bar, and a fast action icon button that has been redesigned to be less opaque.
Opera has redesigned the elements to have their shadows removed, and eliminating the diagonal background in order to deliver a neater, flatter look, according to Opera. Colors have also been updated throughout the app, while still retaining the long-held minimalist design approach.
"Rest assured though, that none of the changes will affect your favourite features and functionality," the browser maker said.
"The browser is keeping its iconic and popular speed dial bubbles on the main screen, for example. These speed dials, inspired by our concept browser Opera Neon, show your most visited websites so you always have them easily accessible."
"The fast action button is also staying in its usual position at the bottom-center of your screen, so you can keep browsing with one hand when you’re on the move."
Besides the rebrand, the changes inside the app are subtle.
But Opera is making use of the moment to also push for a better browser integration with other devices.
Here, users of the Opera browser on iOS can easily connect their browser with the computer.
What they need to do, is start Opera on their computer, and click on the Flow icon on the sidebar. A QR code will appear, and users need to scan that using the Opera browser on their iOS device.
After that, Flow will link users computer with their Opera browser on mobile, allowing users to "share links, notes, images, files and other information seamlessly."