Microsoft Edge Preview Comes to Android

One week after Microsoft announced that it would deliver Microsoft Edge on Android and iOS, the Android version of the mobile web browser is now publicly available in preview form too.

Microsoft previously released a preview version on iOS—actually, iPhone—only, first to Windows Insiders only and then, a few days later, to any interested party. But at the time, it said that the Android version would be available soon, and the software giant provided a sign-up page for interested parties.

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So if you did sign-up to be notified about Microsoft Edge on Android, you probably received an email message today announcing its release.

“Thank you for your interest!” the message notes. “The Microsoft Edge Preview for Android is now available for download in the Google Play Store.”

I’m traveling today—I guess I really missed driving between Boston and Pennsylvania, so I’m doing it again for kicks—but I did download Microsoft Edge Preview on Android at a rest area in Connecticut. And looking at it (very) quickly, it does appear to look like, and mimic the behavior of, the iPhone version.

But you don’t have to take my word for it: You can download the Microsoft Edge Preview for yourself from Google Play Store and check it out too.

 

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Conversation 36 comments

  • offTheRecord

    12 October, 2017 - 3:21 pm

    <p>Any reason someone would want to use Edge instead of Chrome (or any other browser, for that matter) on Android?</p>

    • Elindalyne

      Premium Member
      12 October, 2017 - 3:26 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#206609"><em>In reply to offTheRecord:</em></a></blockquote><p>An easily accessible forward button :p</p>

      • the_3rd_pedal

        12 October, 2017 - 6:34 pm

        <blockquote><a href="#206613"><em>In reply to Elindalyne:</em></a></blockquote><p>I use Opera on my phone sometimes just for that reason. Ha! </p>

    • wolters

      Premium Member
      12 October, 2017 - 3:34 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#206609"><em>In reply to offTheRecord:</em></a></blockquote><p>I agree. While I do welcome this, it is a little "too little, too late" for me. But that said, I will give it a good try. </p>

    • Care

      Premium Member
      12 October, 2017 - 3:36 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#206609"><em>In reply to offTheRecord:</em></a></blockquote><p>I really like using the reading view in Edge on my PC. It will be nice when they get bookmarks and passwords syncing. I've been using LastPass as a stop-gap. </p>

    • evox81

      Premium Member
      12 October, 2017 - 3:46 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#206609"><em>In reply to offTheRecord:</em></a></blockquote><p>I can think of a few, all of which may or may not apply to some users. Personally, I use Edge as my primary browser on the desktop. So assuming it offers things like password and favorites sync, it would be an ideal choice.</p>

    • slbailey1

      12 October, 2017 - 5:19 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#206609"><em>In reply to offTheRecord:</em></a></blockquote><p>There is one real good reason, I have access of all my bookmarks that are on my Windows PC!!</p><p><br></p><p>I just installed Edge on my Moto X (original gen) and I like it so far.</p>

    • jbinaz

      12 October, 2017 - 5:24 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#206609"><em>In reply to offTheRecord:</em></a></blockquote><p>Reading mode, bookmark sync, history sync. Mostly reading mode as I can get the other items on Chrome.</p>

      • slbailey1

        12 October, 2017 - 5:29 pm

        <blockquote><a href="#206671"><em>In reply to jbinaz:</em></a></blockquote><p>How do you get to your browsing history?</p>

        • jbinaz

          13 October, 2017 - 5:09 pm

          <blockquote><a href="#206682"><em>In reply to slbailey1:</em></a></blockquote><p>In Edge on Android: click the hamburger/star (favorites) menu in the top right hand corner. On the pop out that opens, click the 4th icon from the left on the top – looks like a clock with a back button circling it.</p><p><br></p><p>Or perhaps you were asking how do I use my history? I just like having recently visited URLs auto-populate as I type them.</p>

          • slbailey1

            13 October, 2017 - 5:51 pm

            <blockquote><a href="#207067"><em>In reply to jbinaz:</em></a></blockquote><p>Thanks, that was the answer I needed. I use my browser history to jump around.</p><p><br></p><p>After using Edge for a day, I have set it as my default browser on my phone. I really like the Edge browser! The only thing missing is a home button and a way to set a home page. I have already provided Microsoft with this feedback.</p>

            • jbinaz

              16 October, 2017 - 11:31 am

              <blockquote><a href="#207088"><em>In reply to slbailey1:</em></a></blockquote><p>I set it as my default to see what I think of it, and I really like it so far; I liked it well enough I haven't changed it back.</p><p><br></p><p>I have noticed it tends to get a little slow every once in a while, but it seems to get better when I close unneeded tabs.</p>

    • Lyndon

      13 October, 2017 - 12:04 am

      <p>Autostart video ads can chew up insane amounts of data, and ads can make for a terrible experience. Hopefully the new chrome canary built in partial ad blocking will make it more usable. Although, I would rather use Edge, because I like the interface better. Google likes to put buttons for so many things at the top of the screen which can be really annoying for some things.</p><p><br></p>

  • Dan1986ist

    Premium Member
    12 October, 2017 - 3:35 pm

    <p>Supposed to be Compatible with Android 4.4 and higher. Yet my Acer Iconia One 8 tablet with Version 4.4.4 is not compatible with this version. Anybody else with Android Tablets not phones have this issue as well? </p>

    • Elindalyne

      Premium Member
      12 October, 2017 - 3:51 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#206618"><em>In reply to Dan1986ist:</em></a></blockquote><p>Tablets aren't supported yet.</p>

    • maethorechannen

      Premium Member
      12 October, 2017 - 3:53 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#206618"><em>In reply to Dan1986ist:</em></a></blockquote><p><br></p><p>Yes. It's not compatible with any of my tablets.</p>

  • harmjr

    Premium Member
    12 October, 2017 - 4:53 pm

    <p>I really like this UI when compared to chrome its minor changes but I like them. Having reading mode too is a plus.</p>

  • RedSign

    12 October, 2017 - 5:15 pm

    <p>I really understand that Microsoft does not use EdgeHTML as the rendering Engine for its Android version of Edge. But I really fear the threat to the diversity of browser engines due to the dominance of Blink and Webkit. I recently switched from Edge to Firefox on the desktop and will use Firefox on the upcoming Android device replacing my aging Lumia 950 to support Gecko as the only browser engine really competing against Blink/Webkit. </p>

    • gabbrunner

      25 October, 2017 - 5:35 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#206653"><em>In reply to RedSign:</em></a></blockquote><p>But the diversity of rendering engines isn't a good thing. Paul argued before that MS should have just adopted WebKit for Edge. The fewer the better, especially for developers /web designers. </p>

  • redstar92

    12 October, 2017 - 5:24 pm

    <p>Very nice so far. Needs password syncing and book support. Ink / markup support would be nice too</p>

  • mmcpher

    Premium Member
    12 October, 2017 - 6:21 pm

    <p>My new default and looking and loading good so far. </p>

  • dnglws75

    Premium Member
    12 October, 2017 - 7:52 pm

    <p>I haven't heard of Edge on Android supporting extensions in the future, but that feature would lock me in once it syncs my passwords. Chrome is painful without an adblock extension. I use Firefox, but I'm not particularly fond of the interface on Android. </p>

  • kjb434

    Premium Member
    12 October, 2017 - 10:04 pm

    <p>GREAT! Now my future Android device can almost complete rip out the Google parts.</p>

  • lilmoe

    12 October, 2017 - 11:20 pm

    <p>Needs time and lots of work. I really want to use edge one my phone, but Samsung's browser is just too good, much faster and way more fluid. </p><p><br></p><p>Dear Microsoft, don't set Chrome as your reference on Android, it really sucks. Samsung's browser is gaining a lot more much traction now, and it isn't only available for Samsung devices only, but for any device ruining Android. It really is the benchmark for browsers on Android ATM. Try to surpass that. </p>

  • Daekar

    13 October, 2017 - 5:58 am

    <p>Downloaded last night. Pretty good, not ready to leave preview though. Slow at the moment, and no extensions. Will keep using it to see how things change. </p>

  • CSherman

    13 October, 2017 - 6:58 am

    <p>I don't know how MS did it, but Edge is spectacularly fast on my 3yo phone, way quicker than chrome or lightning in fact, which I've been using so far.</p><p><br></p><p>And it's the only browser that manges to keep several tabs in memory at the same time without the need to reload and thereby discard your work on every tab change. True tabbed browsing at last!</p>

  • crfonseca

    Premium Member
    13 October, 2017 - 12:57 pm

    <p>Is it me or it doesn't yet sync favourites and reading list?</p>

  • jdmp10

    13 October, 2017 - 1:15 pm

    <p>I installed it and tried it out a bit, doesn't feel noticeably faster or slower than Chrome Canary I use primarily. I do have about half a dozen other browsers on my phone ranging from Firefox Nightly to Samsung's browser to Opera but always revert to Chrome mainly for synced browser history. Being that I don't use Edge on a desktop, I don't see using this mobile version day to day but I'll keep it installed to see how it progresses.</p>

  • Frank Verhoef

    14 October, 2017 - 4:24 am

    <p>The browser is nice and snappy, but no build in ad-blocker means i'll never use it.</p>

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