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Before we start: yes, Safari has its issues but I'm here to say that there's a lot to like about it too.
Safari is my favorite web browser and I don't think it gets enough credit. A large part of the reason I started thinking about getting a Mac was Arc browser[1] - a great product, don't get me wrong - but as I was on my way to download it I realized how strikingly beautiful, fast, and minimalist Safari really is. I've switched from browser to browser for years in search of the greatest one and I've finally found it; weirdly, it seems that most people disagree. Taking a look at the Dockhunt[2] "most popular" list, there are 10 people with Safari on their dock whereas there are 26 with either Chrome, Arc, Brave or... Microsoft Edge? I won't judge. I will say, it's a bit more even than I suspected at first, simply because practically every person I've talked to uses Chrome. According to Dockhunt's corresponding pages, Chrome was docked by 525 people and Safari by 439[3][4]. However, the divide is much bigger when you look at all users, and the Wikipedia article entitled "Usage share of web browsers"[5] backs that up. What matters more than the numbers, though, is the quality of the experience.
The browser, as described by The Browser Company (the creators of Arc), is the window to the internet: The Internet Computer. I think this is an absolutely great description of what the browser is and should be. Most of what we do on our computers, depending on your daily workflow, is through the browser. I use my browser for everything except my messages and the terminal, and because of this, I am most harsh about the UX/UI of the browser. Chrome looks great, as well as every variant of it. Arc is insanely useful, and truly does provide a great experience for doing *everything* through the browser. Edge is... Edge. None of those compare to Safari in my opinion.
This extremely minimalist design provides a blank slate for whatever you may be searching for. It's completely unobtrusive and provides a window to the internet (callback!). It allows me to do whatever I need (very quickly, might I add) and it camouflages itself as to remove itself from the equation. The mobile version is just as nice, and the seamless integration of iOS gestures to get around makes it feel even more integrated into the device as a whole, which makes it feel even more like an internet computer. The iPad version is honestly my favorite, it's a beautiful mix of the iOS and Mac versions. And, best of all, the integration with password manager is across every device is something you don't see really anywhere else. After a long search, I've finally realized that the three things I look for in a browser is an extremely minimalist interface, speed, and seamlessness across the board; Safari does all of those *really* well in my opinion.
This is kind of a long-winded way of saying give Safari a try if you can. At least heed this because I've switched browsers for years: find one you really like and stick with it. Also if you have any suggestions for better browsers than Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Arc, Brave, Opera, OperaGX, Netsurf, or the Samsung browser, send me an email.
