The first important Samsung Internet Browser update was released last month, but we're pretty sure not everyone was aware of the new features it brings since they were only available in the beta version of the app.
Samsung Internet Browser's new icon
Starting this week, Samsung smartphone users will be able to enjoy all the new features and improvements announced by the South Korean company in February. The most important change included in this update, as the title says, is the One UI design language, which was announced last year at Samsung Developer Conference.
Those of you who own a Samsung flagship like the Galaxy S9/S9+ or Note 9 are already enjoying the benefits of having One UI on their phones if they updated to Android 9.0 Pie. Although One UI is deeply implemented in Samsung flagships smartphones along with Android 9.0 Pie update, the Internet Browser kept the same layout until this week.
With this update, Samsung addresses the problem and integrates the Internet Browser within the same One UI design language. If you're not familiar with what exactly that means, here is a quick rundown of the latest update.
Dark mode now applies to websites and browser's UI
The first things you'll notice after you apply the update are the new icon and brand, which better fit with the other One UI app icons and maintains the consistency of the overall design. You'll also notice the layout is quite different to make the menus of functions of the browser more accessible to users.
Basically, the new design will allow Samsung Internet Browser users to reach certain menus and functions of the app using only one hand. Furthermore, the update bring full support for the “Night mode,” which sets the UI on the system-wide apps to dark theme. It's an evolution to the previous version of the dark mode, which didn't “darken” all websites and the UI.
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The enhanced “Dark mode” can be enabled specifically for websites if you have the One UI “Night mode” installed. You can see in the images below a comparison between the previous version of the Samsung Internet Browser UI and the current one. These changes apply to websites as well if you activate the “Dark mode,” which comes in handy whenever you're browsing in low-light environments.
Samsung Internet in the standard (left) and dark ‘Night mode’ One UI theme
No more targeted ads, fewer privacy concerns
Samsung has upped the game a bit with the update and included some under-the-hood improvements that will slightly change the way you're using the Internet Browser. Smart Anti-Tracking is the name of Samsung's new tracking protection technology, which has been embedded in its mobile browser.
The technology is meant to prevent websites from tracking you and target you with ads for things that you've previously searched for. But this is just the tip of the iceberg, as tracking can affect browser users in many other ways. For example, some trackers can rebuild a user's browsing profile using the same mechanism that serves them targeted ads.
However, Samsung says the new Smart Anti-Tracking should prevent that from happening. In other words, you should see less ads for things that you've search for and have some peace of mind knowing that no one will be able to recreate your browsing profile.
The Smart Anti-Tracking feature is not enabled by default when you download the latest version of Samsung Internet Browser, but you can easily activate it via the settings menu by heading to Settings / Privacy and Security / Smart anti-tracking.
If you're wondering when you'll be able to download the new version of Samsung Internet Browser, the answer is very soon. AndroidPolice reports Samsung has already started the roll-out of the update in the Google Play Store, so you should be able to get it in the next couple of days if you don't see it yet.
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Cosmin, a tech journalist with a career spanning over a decade, brings a wealth of experience to PhoneArena. His expertise lies in brands like Samsung and Nokia, and he has a keen interest in innovative technologies. After a brief stint in PR, Cosmin returned to tech journalism in 2016, committed to delivering clear and objective news. When he's not writing or appearing as a guest on TV and radio shows, Cosmin enjoys playing RPGs, watching Netflix, and nurturing his passion for history and travel.
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