Microsoft Edge for iPhone was officially released on the App Store today following nearly two months of public beta testing.
The alternative web browser will primarily appeal to iPhone users that use a Windows PC instead of a Mac thanks to a "Continue on PC" feature that can push a website from the mobile to desktop version of the browser.
Microsoft Edge for iPhone also syncs your favorites, passwords, and reading list across your devices. Other features include an all-in-one Hub View, built-in QR code reader, voice search, and private browsing mode.
Bing, Google, or Yahoo can be set as the default search engine in Microsoft Edge for iPhone, which has a similar design as the desktop version. The mobile version doesn't have Microsoft's Cortana assistant or built-in ad blocking.
On iOS, Microsoft is using Apple's WebKit engine, as required for all third-party browsers on the platform. From a compatibility perspective, Microsoft said Edge for iOS should match the version of Safari that is currently available for iPhone.
Keep in mind that, like other third-party web browsers, Microsoft Edge cannot be enabled as the default browser on iPhone.
Microsoft Edge for iPhone is rolling out on the App Store [Direct Link] now for iOS 9 and later. It's also available for Android smartphones on Google Play. Microsoft said iPad support will be added in the future.
The browser is initially available in the United States, China, France, and the United Kingdom, with more regions and languages to follow. The app has yet to be optimized for the iPhone X's screen size.
Top Rated Comments
Who is asking for this?
Edge Mobile is for Windows users who use Microsoft Edge. If you are a Mac or Chrome user, this isn't for you.
For others, I think competition is great and other companies are slowly eroding the value of Apple's walled garden. I have clawed my way out of that and don't want to be in a situation where I'm solely dependent on one company for everything I do. Now that Microsoft has shed their mobile hardware platform, they are free to build a great ecosystem that is more open and lets the user chose what platform they want for phone.
The reality however is that Apple will likely continue to make it awkward for anything but what they want to lock you into. I'm starting to use Edge more in some situations. Its more efficient on Windows tablet mode and good with battery usage. And the continuity from phone to computer and back is pretty nice. I'm still not using Edge for my daily driver... was already using Firefox and their new Firefox Quantum fixed the one area that it was weak in... speed.