Browser wars: Microsoft Edge just steamed past a major rival
Safari falls to third place on desktop while Chrome still holds the top spot
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As thebrowser warsrage on,Microsoft Edgeis one step closer to challengingGoogle Chromeas it has finally surpassed another major rival.
According todatafrom the web analytics service StatCounter,Microsoft’sbrowseris now used on 9.65 percent of all desktops worldwide which still pales in comparison to Chrome’s 67.26 percent market share.
Back in February of this year,Edge was closing in on Safaribut based on new data from March,Apple’s browser now has 9.57 percent of desktop browser market share worldwide. Meanwhile,Mozilla Firefoxhas slipped slightly from 9.18 percent to 7.57 percent.
Surprisingly, Internet Explorer is still being used on one percent (0.92%) of desktops globally, most likely by users that haven’t upgraded toWindows 11or evenWindows 10yet. Microsoft is planning toretire its IE 11 appon June 15 of this year though, so these users will have to make the switch to Edge or even to an alternative browser likeOperawhich has 2.83 percent of desktop browser market share worldwide.
Mobile is a different story altogether
Although Edge is certainly making inroads on desktop, the same can’t be said for Microsoft’s browser on Android and iOS.
According to StatCounter’smobile data, Chrome is used on 63.26 percent of all smartphones which makes sense as there are currently over 3bn active Android devices in use andGoogle’s browser comes preinstalled onAndroid smartphones. Likewise, Safari, which comes preinstalled oniPhones, has 24.81 percent of the mobile browser market share worldwide. Samsung’s browser,Samsung Internet, meanwhile is currently in third place at just under five percent (4.99%).
This long-lost Microsoft Edge feature may be making a comeback>Microsoft Edge wants to make the web more accessible for everyone>Microsoft Edge is throwing its weight behind web apps
Although Microsoft Edge doesn’t even appear in StatCounter’s mobile browser market share data, its usage is growing on mobile. According to Edge’sPlay Storelisting, the browser’s mobile app has been installed over 10m times and has 4.5 stars based on 453k user reviews. Apple’s App Store doesn’t provide the same detailed install data that the Play Store does but Edge for iOS is ranked #18 in utilities and has a 4.6 rating based on more than 78k user reviews.
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A recent report fromWindows Centralsays that Microsoft is reportedly planning toconsolidate its Android effortsinto a single division to offer tighter integration between Google’s mobileoperating systemandWindows 11. While the move is likely more geared towards having Android apps run better on Windows, the software giant’s renewed interest in Android could see it double down on Edge’s mobile app for the platform.
After working with the TechRadar Pro team for the last several years, Anthony is now the security and networking editor at Tom’s Guide where he covers everything from data breaches and ransomware gangs to the best way to cover your whole home or business with Wi-Fi. When not writing, you can find him tinkering with PCs and game consoles, managing cables and upgrading his smart home.
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