Opera's Minimalist Mobile Browser Gets a Design Overhaul

Opera today is releasing a substantial update to its two-and-a-half-year-old Opera Touch mobile browsing app.

opera mobile browser 2021 update
Now titled simply "Opera," the revamped version features a "neater and flatter design" that aims to reflect its lightweight underpinnings and its status as a minimalist app that promises users a fast and secure browsing experience.

The revamp of the user interface in Opera also unveils a neater and flatter design that gives the browser a more refined appearance than before. The new-look replaces the diagonal background pattern, initially introduced into Opera Touch, with flat surfaces and removing shadows on bubbles and other elements.

New icons have been added in the bottom bar and the floating Fast Action button, which users can touch to access a radial menu and swipe through several one-handed actions with their thumb.

The browser also includes a feature called Flow that uses a QR code to securely link the iOS app with the Mac, allowing users to share links, notes, images, files, and other information over a secure and private connection, no logins required.

In addition, Opera comes with a built-in Ethereum wallet, built-in ad blocking, and protection against disguised online cryptocurrency mining, or "cryptojacking".

Opera says its iOS user base increased by over 65% in the 12 months to February, and believes that the growth has been partly thanks to Apple's decision to let users choose a default browser in iOS 14.

Opera is available for iPhone and iPad in several languages and can be downloaded directly from the App Store. [Direct Link]

Popular Stories

Apple Wallet ID Illinois

Apple Plans to Expand iPhone Driver's Licenses to These 7 U.S. States

Wednesday December 24, 2025 8:40 am PST by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, and then use it to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. The feature is currently available in 13 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, and it is expected to launch in at least seven more in the future. To set up the...
iPhone Top Left Hole Punch Face ID Feature Purple

iPhone 18 Pro Launching Next Year With These 12 New Features

Tuesday December 23, 2025 8:36 am PST by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not expected to launch for another nine months, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we have recapped 12 features rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro models. The same overall design is expected, with 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes, and a "plateau" housing three rear cameras Under-screen Face ID Front camera in...
iOS 26

iOS 26.2 Adds These 8 New Features to Your iPhone

Monday December 22, 2025 8:47 am PST by
Earlier this month, Apple released iOS 26.2, following more than a month of beta testing. It is a big update, with many new features and changes for iPhones. iOS 26.2 adds a Liquid Glass slider for the Lock Screen's clock, offline lyrics in Apple Music, and more. Below, we have highlighted a total of eight new features. Liquid Glass Slider on Lock Screen A new slider in the Lock...
maxresdefault

Where's the New Apple TV?

Monday December 22, 2025 11:30 am PST by
Apple hasn't updated the Apple TV 4K since 2022, and 2025 was supposed to be the year that we got a refresh. There were rumors suggesting Apple would release the new Apple TV before the end of 2025, but it looks like that's not going to happen now. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said several times across 2024 and 2025 that Apple would...
maxresdefault

10 Mac Apps Worth Trying in 2026

Wednesday December 24, 2025 9:27 am PST by
2026 is almost upon us, and a new year is a good time to try out some new apps. We've rounded up 10 excellent Mac apps that are worth checking out. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Alt-Tab (Free) - Alt-Tab brings a Windows-style alt + tab thumbnail preview option to the Mac. You can see a full window preview of open apps and app windows. One Thing (Free) -...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature Iridescent Search

Samsung Developing 'Wide Fold' With iPhone Fold-Like Design Ahead of Apple's 2026 Launch

Tuesday December 23, 2025 11:55 am PST by
Samsung is working on a new foldable smartphone that's wider and shorter than the models that it's released before, according to Korean news site ETNews. The "Wide Fold" will compete with Apple's iPhone Fold that's set to launch in September 2026. Samsung's existing Galaxy Z Fold7 display is 6.5 inches when closed, and 8 inches when open, with a 21:9 aspect ratio when folded and a 20:18...
iOS 26

iOS 26.3 Brings AirPods-Like Pairing to Third-Party Devices in EU Under DMA

Monday December 22, 2025 3:20 pm PST by
The European Commission today praised the interoperability changes that Apple is introducing in iOS 26.3, once again crediting the Digital Markets Act (DMA) with bringing "new opportunities" to European users and developers. The Digital Markets Act requires Apple to provide third-party accessories with the same capabilities and access to device features that Apple's own products get. In iOS...
iphone fold 3d print

Have a 3D Printer? You Can Make Your Own iPhone Fold Dummy

Tuesday December 23, 2025 1:31 pm PST by
Apple is working on a foldable iPhone that's set to come out in September 2026, and rumors suggest that it will have a display that's around 5.4 inches when closed and 7.6 inches when open. Exact measurements vary based on rumors, but one 3D designer has created a mockup based on what we've heard so far. On MakerWorld, a user named Subsy has uploaded a 1:1 iPhone Fold replica (via Macworld), ...
iPhone SE Cosmopolitan Clean

Apple Discontinued These 25 Products This Year

Wednesday December 24, 2025 7:24 am PST by
With the end of 2025 near, the time has come to look back at the devices and accessories that Apple discontinued throughout the year. Most of the products that were discontinued this year were simply replaced by a new model with an updated chip. However, the iPhone SE line was entirely discontinued when the iPhone 16e launched, and the iPhone Plus line is being phased out. Below, we have...

Top Rated Comments

Unggoy Murderer Avatar
62 months ago
Wouldn't touch Opera with a barge-pole since it was sold to a shady Chinese equity firm a few years back.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Unggoy Murderer Avatar
62 months ago

They still have to obey EU law and EU privacy making it far less of a data harvester than one of those American companies that collect everything about you.
... a company that also has to obey EU legislation. Doesn't mean I'd trust either of them with my data.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Westwood_1 Avatar
62 months ago
The marriage between the Chinese government and Chinese tech companies is a terrible thing. I have no trust in Opera to abide by EU regulations, simply because I think Opera has an even more demanding governmental interest at home.

It's a shame, too. Opera had some unique features (built-in VPN, mouse gestures, data-saving mode, built-in adblocker) that I really liked.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Unggoy Murderer Avatar
62 months ago

Opera is as much to do with China as any other company with outside investors. It is still developed in the EU and still has to abide by EU law which is much stricter than the USA... the USA has almost no protections and this is why you have Facebook and Google knowing everything about you.
With respect, I don't think you understand how the EU's legislation / directives (particularly around the GDPR) work.

What the GDPR sets out is at a high level the following:
[LIST=1]
* There must be informed consent to subject data collection / processing
* When data is stored on a data subject, it must be in accordance with the directive, and local laws / customs (in the UK for example, it's implemented in law under the Data Protection Act 2018)
* Data subject has right to request data access, edits, deletions, in a timely, fair manner.
* Lots more around data transmission, retention periods, encryption at rest, etc.

With that in mind, there is absolutely nothing wrong (lawfully) with Google, Facebook and the like collecting all and anything about you as long as they are in accordance with the GDPR. Nothing in the GDPR says that these companies can't mine the living daylights out of your data after you've consented. It does not mean that your data will be treated with respect, or any morals.

Facebook and Google have far more to lose if they don't play ball around the GDPR (and rightly so), however Chinese firms - can and have - effectively ignored it, just like all other laws and regulations (especially around copyrights, designs and patents).

(In addition, don't confuse EU law with regulations, directives, and decisions. The GDPR is a directive, not law.)
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macsareveryinteresting Avatar
62 months ago

Which browser to use: Chrome or Opera? :rolleyes:
Chrome big time. Like I’m going to trust China.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ruka.snow Avatar
62 months ago

... a company that also has to obey EU legislation. Doesn't mean I'd trust either of them with my data.
If you can't trust a EU company that has absolutely no interest in collecting your personal data and spying on you I have no idea who you would trust. I could understand if it we were talking about Google or Facebook, but this is Opera. EU companies have very strict data collecting policies and if you were worried you could do a subject access request and data deletion request that would cost them a significant amount of money if they failed to comply. Opera are also not allowed to transfer data to China, but can transfer it to the USA(where it could become unsafe). As long as they are not transferring your data to the USA I wouldn't be worried in the slightest.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)