Customer Reviews (500)

xTr1st4n • 2025-03-21T16:48:47-07:00

Very nice mobile browser, much better than chrome

Zetro • 2025-03-21T06:53:29-07:00

incomprehensible design decision. why?

Kristianna34 • 2025-03-21T00:35:19-07:00

Light a lot using it for my computer and phone good app

Summary of Key Insights

Microsoft Edge for iOS receives mixed reviews, with users praising its speed, security features (like the built-in ad blocker), and seamless integration with Microsoft 365. However, many users report significant bugs, particularly related to YouTube embeds, frequent crashes, and problems with the "Read Aloud" feature after recent updates. AI features are a point of contention, with some users finding them helpful and others considering them intrusive and unwanted. There are also complaints about political bias in the news feed and a desire for greater customization options. Overall sentiment is moderately positive, but the app suffers from reliability issues that significantly impact user experience.

Quantitative Metrics:

  • Overall Rating: Based on the score distribution, the average rating is roughly 3.6 stars.
  • Score Distribution:
    • 5-star: 53.6% (268 reviews)
    • 4-star: 7.8% (39 reviews)
    • 3-star: 6.8% (34 reviews)
    • 2-star: 5.4% (27 reviews)
    • 1-star: 26.4% (132 reviews)

Key Strengths:

  • Speed and performance (compared to Safari and Chrome).
  • Built-in ad blocker.
  • Integration with Microsoft ecosystem.
  • Useful features like Read Aloud (when working properly) and dark mode.

Key Weaknesses:

  • Frequent crashes and bugs (especially with YouTube embeds).
  • Reliability issues.
  • Problems with the Read Aloud feature.
  • AI features perceived as intrusive by some.
  • Ad blocking not effective for all ads, especially pop-ups.
  • Lack of customization options.

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 500 reviews
  • Time Frame: Not explicitly specified, but based on the review dates, the reviews span from late 2023 to September 2024.
  • Analysis Methods: Manual review of individual comments to identify recurring themes, sentiment, feature requests, and pain points. Quantitative analysis of star rating distribution. Keyword extraction was performed mentally while reading the reviews.

Key User Pain Points

  • YouTube Embed Bug: Many users report that the browser repeatedly opens new tabs for YouTube embeds, making pages unusable. This is a critical bug significantly impacting usability.
  • App Crashes: Frequent crashes are a recurring theme, causing frustration and data loss.
  • Read Aloud Issues: Recent updates have broken or degraded the "Read Aloud" feature, making it difficult to use and causing it to skip to the bottom of pages. This is especially problematic for users who rely on this feature for accessibility.
  • Ineffective Ad Blocking: Users complain that the built-in ad blocker is not effective, especially against pop-up ads and ads on platforms like Reddit.
  • AI Intrusiveness: Some users find the AI features (Copilot, news feed) intrusive and unwanted, desiring more control over these features.
  • Login/Sync Issues: Some users have trouble logging in or syncing their data across devices.
  • Freezing/Unresponsiveness: Some users report that the app freezes frequently, making it unusable.
  • Home Page Customization Limitations: Limited number of shortcuts available on the home page.

Frequently Requested Features

  • Improved Ad Blocking: More effective ad blocking, ideally with extension support (like uBlock Origin).
  • More Customization: Greater control over the AI features, news feed, and overall browsing experience.
  • Reading List: A dedicated reading list feature for saving articles for later.
  • Video Autoplay Blocking: An option to prevent videos from automatically playing on websites.
  • Tab Grouping/Workspaces: A feature to organize tabs into groups or workspaces.
  • Improved Dark Mode: A more consistent and effective dark mode that applies to all websites and menus.
  • More Extension Support: Ability to install more extensions from the Chrome Web Store.
  • Download Videos via Drop: Ability to download videos received via Edge Drop.
  • Ability to specify Home Screen: User wants to specify their own home screen.
  • Prevent Auto-Redirecting to Apps: Option to prevent links from redirecting to apps like TikTok or Instagram.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Speed and Performance: Many users find Edge faster than Safari and Chrome.
  • Built-in Ad Blocker: The presence of an ad blocker is a significant selling point.
  • Microsoft Integration: Seamless integration with Microsoft 365 and other Microsoft services is appreciated.
  • Read Aloud Feature: When functioning correctly, the Read Aloud feature is highly valued, especially for accessibility.
  • Dark Mode: The availability of dark mode is appreciated.
  • AI Features (for some): Some users find the AI features (Copilot, summarization) helpful.
  • Cross-Platform Syncing: Synchronization of favorites, passwords, and data across devices.
  • User-Friendly Interface: Easy to use, intuitive design.
  • Drop Feature: Easy file transfer between devices using Drop.
  • Security Features: Tracking prevention and Microsoft Defender Smartscreen.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Fix YouTube Embed Bug: This bug is a major usability issue and needs immediate attention.
  • Address App Crashes: Investigate and fix the causes of frequent app crashes.
  • Restore Read Aloud Functionality: Repair the "Read Aloud" feature and ensure it works reliably.
  • Improve Ad Blocking: Enhance the effectiveness of the built-in ad blocker and consider adding support for third-party ad blocking extensions.
  • Address Login/Sync Issues: Resolve issues with logging in and syncing data across devices.
  • Resolve Freezing/Unresponsiveness: Fix the frequent freezing issues reported by users.

Medium Priority:

  • Provide More Control over AI Features: Allow users to disable or customize the AI features (Copilot, news feed) to suit their preferences.
  • Implement Reading List Feature: Add a dedicated reading list feature for saving articles.
  • Add Video Autoplay Blocking: Provide an option to prevent videos from automatically playing.
  • Improve Dark Mode: Make dark mode more consistent and effective across all websites and menus.
  • Add More Extension Support: Enable users to install more extensions from the Chrome Web Store.
  • Enable Download Videos via Drop: Allow users to download videos received via Edge Drop.
  • Home Screen Customization: Allow users to add more shortcuts to the home screen.

Low Priority:

  • Address Political Bias Concerns: Strive for a more neutral news feed or allow users to customize their news sources.
  • Improve Navigation of Bookmarks/Favorites: Make it easier to view and rearrange bookmarks/favorites.
  • Implement Tab Grouping/Workspaces: Add a feature to organize tabs into groups or workspaces.
  • Prevent Auto-Redirecting to Apps: Option to prevent links from redirecting to apps like TikTok or Instagram.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • AI-Powered Content Filtering Service: A service that allows users to customize content filtering on websites, streaming services, and chat platforms, as suggested by one of the reviewers. This could be integrated as a browser extension or a standalone app.
  • Advanced Ad Blocking Extension: A more effective ad blocking extension for Edge that goes beyond basic ad blocking and allows users to filter specific types of ads.
  • Privacy-Focused Browser: A browser built with privacy as its core principle, offering advanced tracking prevention, VPN integration, and other privacy-enhancing features.
  • Accessibility-Focused Browser: A browser specifically designed for users with disabilities, offering advanced customization options for text size, contrast, and voice control.

Trends and Observations

  • Mixed Sentiment Towards AI: There's a clear divide in user opinions regarding AI features, with some finding them helpful and others considering them intrusive.
  • Accessibility Concerns: The "Read Aloud" feature is critical for many users, and any regressions in its functionality are met with strong negative feedback.
  • Bug Reports: A significant number of reviews focus on specific bugs and performance issues, suggesting a need for more rigorous testing and quality assurance.
  • Desire for Customization: Users want more control over the browser's appearance, functionality, and content.
  • Positive Comparison to Competitors: Many users explicitly state that they prefer Edge over Safari and Chrome, highlighting its speed, ad blocking, and integration with Microsoft services.
  • Political Commentary: A small but noticeable number of reviews express concerns about political bias in the news feed.
  • Language Preferences: The reviews are predominantly in English, with some in other languages, indicating a global user base.

Conclusion

Microsoft Edge for iOS has the potential to be a top-tier mobile browser, but it's currently held back by reliability issues and a lack of customization options. Addressing the critical bugs and prioritizing user-requested features will significantly improve the user experience and solidify Edge's position in the market. Microsoft should pay close attention to user feedback and focus on quality assurance to ensure a stable and enjoyable browsing experience. The key is to balance innovative features like AI with a stable and customizable core browser experience.

Overall Recommendation: Focus on stability, bug fixes, and user-requested features to improve the overall user experience.

Original App Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/microsoft-edge-ai-browser/id1288723196?uo=2