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Earlier this week, we covered Chrome 103 and all the new features that Google added to the latest version of its desktop web browser. As a result, the company also updated its Chrome app for iOS to version 103. However, this is not a copy-and-paste scenario: Chrome 103 for iPhone introduces some new features unique to the platform that worth a look.
If you take a look at the App Store on your iPhone, you’ll find many web browser options apart from Safari. If you prefer to use Chrome, it can be downloaded, but not in the same way as on Mac: Apple requires all third-party iOS browsers to use WebKit, the same browser engine on which Safari is built. As such, Chrome on iOS is really a Google version of Safari. However, developers like Google can add fun features for browsers like Chrome that you won’t find in the default iOS option, such as the following new options in Chrome 103.
New Chrome 103 features for iPhone
An impressive update is Chrome’s “language identification mode”: this feature uses machine learning to analyze a website and not only determine which language it uses, but also to find out if it needs to be translated into a language. that you understand. This machine learning is done on the device, ie none of the translations are done on Google or third-party servers. This machine learning method is much more secure as it allows you to translate articles on the web with more privacy and security.
The three-point menu in the corner of the screen looks new – you’ll see colorful options such as passwords, downloads, recent tabs, and settings available here. You’ll find other options like Reload, New Tab, and New Incognito Tab in a partially expanded menu, and the enlargement of the window reveals others like Bookmark, Add to Playlist, and Search Page.
Chrome lets you set camera and microphone permissions for certain websites, not just Chrome. This will allow you to enable your camera and microphone for trusted sites, while blocking these tools from others. In addition, duplicate new tab pages will be automatically removed, and you can now add iCal files to your calendar in Chrome.
You can also expect the introduction of enhanced safe browsing on iOS – this addition communicates with Google Safe Browsing, sharing any suspicious URLs and downloads you find while browsing. However, this setting isn’t available to all users yet – you’ll find it in Settings> Google Services when you do. You should also see “recent tabs” appear as an option when you upgrade, which also comes to Android.
Of course, as with many app updates, Chrome 103 also includes stability and performance improvements.
How to upgrade to Chrome 103 on iPhone
You can update your Chrome app on your iPhone to version 103 in the same way you update an iOS app – go to the App Store, tap your profile icon in the top right, and then tap down to update and check for updates. If you see Chrome here, tap “Refresh.” If you see Chrome, but the button next to it says “Open,” your app is already up to date.
[9to5Google]