Mozilla released the first public preview of Firefox for iOS on the App Store in New Zealand today. The company aims to collect feedback on Firefox for iOS in the country, and eventually a few others, to help make improvements and add new features to the browser prior to a worldwide launch later this year.

Firefox-for-iOS
The public preview version of Firefox for iOS features Intelligent Search, Firefox Accounts and Visual Tabs.

  • Intelligent Search: Suggested search results and list of search options, including Google, Bing, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo, Twitter, Amazon and WordPress

  • Firefox Accounts: Firefox browser history, passwords and tabs from your desktop on your iPhone

  • Visual Tabs: A card-based grid of open tabs

To provide feedback within the app, tap the numeric tab icon on the top right, tap the "Settings" menu on the top left and tap on "Send Feedback" under the "Support" menu.

Mozilla was initially opposed to releasing Firefox on iOS because of Apple's policy that requires third-party browsers to use its own WebKit framework and JavaScript engine, but the company reversed course and announced plans to release an iOS app in December 2014. Other third-party browsers include Chrome and Opera.

Tags: App Store, New Zealand, Firefox for iOS, Mozilla

Top Rated Comments

Jessica Lares Avatar
Jessica Lares
105 months ago
I don't need another browser.
I'll still stay with Safari:

1) it syncs perfectly with my Mac and iPad as well as handoff features.

2) it's fast. Generally one of, if not the fastest mobile browser on iPhones.

3) I can't change an app default, so if I click a link somewhere it will automatically open in safari anyway.
You guys do know that there are millions of iOS users that don't have Macs and would like to be able to sync their bookmarks and other browser data with their devices? :rolleyes:
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mpavilion Avatar
mpavilion
105 months ago
I don't need another browser.
To the tune of Tina Turner's "Beyond Thunderdome" song(?)
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AppleFan91 Avatar
AppleFan91
105 months ago
I'll still stay with Safari:

1) it syncs perfectly with my Mac and iPad as well as handoff features.

2) it's fast. Generally one of, if not the fastest mobile browser on iPhones.

3) I can't change an app default, so if I click a link somewhere it will automatically open in safari anyway.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mijail Avatar
mijail
105 months ago
I'll still stay with Safari:

1) it syncs perfectly with my Mac and iPad as well as handoff features.
Yep, let's hope that Handoff will get extended to other apps soon.

Firefox anyway syncs in its own way - and since it's open source there is a chance that its sync mechanism can be tapped by other browsers. Probably the same applies to Chrome too. But Safari rather locks you in because of iCloud-mediated sync and of how the open tabs and bookmarks are accessed by the user.


2) it's fast. Generally one of, if not the fastest mobile browser on iPhones.
Firefox for iOS is being tested now - and you already know that Safari is faster?
Hint: in arewefastyet.com you can see that Firefox in desktop is faster than Safari (and Chrome) in most tests, in most architectures, in most OSes… and that it has been so for a long time already.


3) I can't change an app default, so if I click a link somewhere it will automatically open in safari anyway.
So, you are converting Apple's mandate in your willfull choice? Way to go.
To me that is more like a reason to ask for changes.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BeSweeet Avatar
BeSweeet
105 months ago
RIP Mobile Safari for me.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
2457282 Avatar
2457282
105 months ago
I'll still stay with Safari:

1) it syncs perfectly with my Mac and iPad as well as handoff features.

2) it's fast. Generally one of, if not the fastest mobile browser on iPhones.

3) I can't change an app default, so if I click a link somewhere it will automatically open in safari anyway.
Exactly the same reasons why I am sticking with Safari. Even if Apple allowed me to change the default, the other two reasons still weigh heavy for me.

You guys do know that there are millions of iOS users that don't have Macs and would like to be able to sync their bookmarks and other browser data with their devices? :rolleyes:
What, are you serious? There are people with iPhones that don't also have an iPad, Mac, appletv and a time capsule? Oh the horror.....

:p
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments

Popular Stories

iphone se 4 modified flag edges

iPhone SE 4 Details: Action Button, USB-C Port, Face ID, and More

Wednesday September 27, 2023 1:34 pm PDT by
Significant changes are expected to arrive with Apple's fourth-generation iPhone SE, in terms of both design and hardware, MacRumors has learned. The iPhone SE 4, known internally under the codename Ghost, is expected to receive a new design derived almost entirely from the base model iPhone 14. According to our sources, the iPhone SE 4 will use a modified version of the iPhone 14 chassis...
Read Full Article • 138 comments
iOS 17

Apple Releases iOS 17.0.2 and iPadOS 17.0.2 for All iPhones and iPads

Tuesday September 26, 2023 12:47 pm PDT by
Apple today released iOS 17.0.2 and iPadOS 17.0.2 updates, with the software coming five days after the releases of iOS 17.0.1 and iPadOS 17.0.1. Today's iOS 17.0.2 and iPadOS 17.0.2 updates arrive as build 21A351 and can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. Note that iOS 17.0.2 was previously made available for iPhone...
Read Full Article • 103 comments
iPhone 15 Pro Lineup Feature

Kuo: iPhone 15 Pro Overheating Issues Likely Due to Thermal Compromises, Not 3nm Node

Tuesday September 26, 2023 9:12 am PDT by
Complaints about heat issues with the iPhone 15 Pro models are not related to TSMC's 3-nanometer node that was used for the A17 Pro chip, according to well-respected Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Kuo says that overheating could be caused by "compromises made in the thermal system design" that allowed Apple to cut down on the weight of the iPhone 15 Pro models. Kuo says that the reduced heat...
Read Full Article • 474 comments
iOS 17

Everything New in iOS 17.1 Beta 1

Wednesday September 27, 2023 1:57 pm PDT by
Just a week after releasing iOS 17, Apple has seeded the first beta of iOS 17.1 to developers. iOS 17.1 adds some features that Apple promised were coming to iOS 17 in the future, plus it refines and improves some existing features. This guide covers everything new in the first iOS 17.1 beta. Apple Music Favorites You can favorite songs, albums, playlists, and artists in the iOS 17.1...
Read Full Article • 95 comments
macos sonoma 4

Apple Releases macOS Sonoma With New Widget Features, Safari Updates, Screen Sharing Improvements and More

Tuesday September 26, 2023 10:01 am PDT by
Apple today released macOS 14 Sonoma, the newest version of the operating system that runs on the Mac. macOS Sonoma has been in beta testing for several months, and it is compatible with the 2019 and later iMac, the iMac Pro, the 2018 and later Mac mini, the 2018 and later MacBook Pro, the 2019 and later Mac Pro, and the Mac Studio. The ‌macOS Sonoma update can be downloaded for free on...
Read Full Article • 293 comments