I’ve been using Google Chrome for almost a decade now. Even after switching to Galaxy S23, I still didn’t care to use Samsung’s in-house browser, despite knowing the fact that Samsung Internet has far more features than Chrome browser. So, what changed my mind?
More Control Over Design
When it comes to user interface, I will still prefer Chrome over Samsung Internet — simply because of its minimal layout. However this aspect alone was not enough for me to stick to Chrome. With Samsung Internet, I can customize the look and feel just the way I like it. For instance, I like how easy it is use the browser with single hand. Both the address bar and toolbar are placed at the bottom of the screen, making them easy to access without having to stretch my thumb.
In addition, the toolbar is customizable. I can add or remove any menu icon from it and replace with something I use often, like dark mode toggle. Also, kudos to Samsung for making it possible to switch between search engines with just one tap.
Best Webpage Viewing Experience
One of the biggest reasons I switched to Samsung Internet was its ad blocker support. See ads are one of the major income sources for many giant publishers or independent creators and I often turn off my ad blocker whenever I visit trusted websites to support them.
However, some websites bombard you with so many ads that it becomes unbearable. Not only does it slow down the site, but it also makes the content hard to read or view. Samsung Internet offers a wide range of ad blocker extensions that cut through the clutter and provide a clean, distraction-free reading experience.
Another small but useful addition for me is “Dark theme sites” feature. Since I have a bad habit of staying up late at night scrolling through articles, I often come across websites that don’t support dark mode. But thanks to Samsung Internet, I can turn any webpages to dark mode. I no longer have to worry about my eyes getting blasted by sudden bright lights.
Incognito for Life
I use incognito mode almost all the time and that’s where Samsung Internet gets another point from me. It gives me the option to start browsing in secret mode (Samsung’s version of incognito mode) by default — something Chrome still doesn’t offer. However I wish Samsung Internet had the functionality to lock my incoginito tabs, just like Chrome. Hopefully they add it in the upcoming One UI 8.5 update.
Media Features
Another thoughtful touch Samsung added to its broswer is media controls. Whenever I play video content in my browser, a bunch of media control buttons automatically appears near the video, which I can use it to cast, go full screen, view in pop-up player, or rotate screen. I find it especially handy when a video doesn’t switch to landscape after going full-screen — one tap, and it’s fixed.
On a similar note, I can keep video or audio playing in the background even when I leave the browser. And trust me, once you start using this feature, you’re never going back to Chrome. Also, if you’re wondering whether it works on YouTube — yes, it works flawlessly. No Premium drama needed.
Underrated Tab Features
The thing that bugs me most about Chrome is its poor tab management. You have to tap the tab button each time to view your open tabs, which feels like an extra step. Samsung Internet solves this by showing a tab bar above or below the address bar — similar to what you’d see on desktop browsers
AI Features Built-in
Unlike Chrome, Samsung Internet has a few built-in AI features like Summarize, Translate, and Read highlights aloud. Although these aren’t groundbreaking, I figured they’re worth mentioning in case you find them useful. Personally, I didn’t switch to Samsung Internet for these features.
Benchmark Tests
Before you depart, just for fun, I did some benchmark tests to see how Samsung Internet stacks up against Google Chrome. Please keep in mind, benchmark scores don’t always reflect real-world performance, but they do give a general idea of speed and efficiency. That’s said, here are the results:
| Benchmark | Samsung Internet | Google Chrome |
| Speedometer | 11.8 | 15.4 |
| MotionMark | 2977@45fps | 2972@45fps |
| JetStream2 | 202.94 | 201.27 |
Do You Still Think Chrome Is Worthy
Since Samsung Internet is a Chromium-based browser, it runs just as smoothly as Google Chrome. However, after switching, I did run into a few hiccups. For instance, I still use Chrome on my desktop, and unfortunately, bookmarks, history, and saved passwords don’t sync between the two. This often causes inconvenience, especially when I need access to work-related data.
That said, I still prefer Samsung Internet over Chrome. And honestly, if you give it a fair shot, you might end up liking it too.
And for those who’ve used Samsung Internet in the past, or are using it right now — what’s the one thing you love or hate about it? Let me know in the comment box below.
