Life on the Edge: Microsoft's new Chromium-based version of the Edge browser is here

After months of anticipation, the new version of Microsoft’s Edge browser is finally here. The stable channel of Edge is now available for public download. So what does the new Chromium-based Edge bring?

Google Chrome users will feel right at home in the new Edge… for the most part. Since it is built on Chromium, the new Edge browser contains many features found in Google’s popular web browser. Edge is also now compatible with Google Chrome or Chromium extensions and can sync passwords from other Chromium browsers. 

Edge sets itself apart with built-in web tracker prevention and the ability to run older websites in an “Internet Explorer Mode.” That second feature is targeted specifically at enterprise users who may have built their intranet using Internet Explorer. 

The tracker prevention works similarly to some existing Chromium extensions. It allows users to set the level of security they’d like. By default, Edge blocks trackers from websites you’ve never visited. Users can even disable all trackers, though this may break some parts of websites. 

Despite its Chromium base, there are a few key features still absent at launch. Syncing history and extensions from other browsers is not yet supported, though Microsoft plans to add this feature in the coming months. There are a few other quirks and oddities as well, which may be why Microsoft is proceeding with a slow rollout. Batches of Windows users will receive an update including the new Edge over the next few months. Microsoft is also planning on releasing a version for Windows 10X and ARM-based systems, though these are not yet available.

The new Edge is available for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. You can download the new browser from Microsoft’s site here.

Have you tried the new Edge? Is it one step forward or two steps back? Let us know in the comments.