After weeks of beta testing, Opera is rolling out a stable release of its redesigned Opera One browser for iOS. The new browser features a bottom search bar for easier browsing, instant search suggestions as you type, and an integrated Aria AI assistant.
A placed search bar will be the default option, but users can switch to the standard navigation or fast action button style. Additionally, users can swipe down at any time to reveal the search bar, just like Spotlight search on iOS.
When you type a query into a search engine, you are usually presented with autocomplete options. Opera now also displays its own autocomplete options in a chipset below the search box to speed up your searches.
The company says it's also making subtle changes to the browser's design: When scrolling a page, the browser will hide the bottom and top bars to go full screen, plus the color of the top status bar will match the site theme.
Opera is also replacing the old news feed with a new carousel view that displays personalized news, live scores, product tips, and more.
The company released its AI-powered assistant, “Aria,” in May 2023, and introduced the iOS version in August 2023. With the release of Opera One, the assistant has voice input and image generation capabilities.
According to app analytics firm Sensor Tower, the Opera browser has been downloaded more than 50 million times on iOS since 2020. However, the browser's year-over-year growth has stagnated, with downloads up 58%, 25% and 4% in 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively. In the EU, Opera's largest market, downloads of the browser grew 122% in Q2 2024 due to regulatory changes that require iOS to offer users a browser choice screen.