I’ve tried a lot of different browsers over the years, all in the quest to leave Chrome behind. While I find Opera’s features most impressive, there is another browser that comes a close second: Edge.

Edge’s range of features is top-notch, and it has many features missing from Chrome. In that, I decided to give Edge a chance. It’s fast, efficient, and, most importantly, feature-rich—and I believe it has the potential to be my default browser.

Sleeping Tabs

Let the Edge handle what’s not in use

Sleeping tabs is the feature that makes my browsing experience on Edge more efficient. Unlike other browsers, which keep tabs running in the background, consuming data and resources, Edge’s approach allows for more efficient use of resources. But that is not the case with the Edge browser. It puts the tabs that are no longer in use to sleep.

Once you leave the tab and don’t open it again for 30 minutes or more, Edge will put the tab to sleep. It’s like closing the tab without actually closing it. The tab is frozen where you left it and resumes when you return to it. This, in turn, saves resources and prioritizes them to the primary tab that you are on.

Collections

Scrapbook built in your browser

The Collections feature lets me save anything on the Edge browser in an organized manner. Be it websites, images, text snippets, or even my own notes, into pinboards. This saves all the content I want directly in Edge, acting as my personal scrapbook. This helps me streamline my research, trip planning, study preparation, and anything that requires me to visit sites or browse content later on.

As a bonus, if you are signed in to Edge (You get signed in automatically if you are signed in to Windows), you can export or save these Collections to OneNote or even to Microsoft Word. Collations is a handy productivity tool, and its flexible organization and cross-device sync support make it easy to pick up where you left off.

Vertical tabs

Change the way you switch tabs

When I first used vertical tabs in Edge, I had to install a Chrome extension to access the same feature. It’s a fantastic addition that declutters visual space while browsing and significantly enhances convenience. With vertical tabs, you have a neatly organized layout, with tabs arranged vertically on either side of the screen.

Once you enable vertical tabs in the Edge browser, the active tabs shift to the side in a compact view, stacked on top of one another. You can also minimize the vertical tabs when you don’t want them to obstruct your view.

Resource efficiency

Focus your resources on what’s important

Microsoft Edge is primarily built on the Chromium open-source project, just like Google Chrome. But Microsoft optimized it to be more resource-efficient on Windows. Edge has an Efficiency mode that can automatically activate and manage tabs when it detects a low battery, suspending inactive tabs and pausing background processes, thereby extending battery life and consuming fewer resources, such as CPU, GPU, and RAM.

This mode is especially useful when I am using my laptop unplugged on the go. I can even manually toggle Edge’s Efficiency mode on from Edge’s performance settings, even if my laptop is fully charged, to extend my battery life. The only downside of using efficiency mode is that when it’s in use, you might experience videos less smoothly.

Advanced PDF tools

Make the most out of your PDFs right within the browser

Edge browser’s Advanced PDF Tools provides a robust, built-in PDF reader and editor that surpasses Chrome’s basic PDF viewing capabilities. Edge’s PDF reader and editor is powered by Adobe, which enables seamless annotation, editing, signing, and interaction without needing an extension or external apps.

I can highlight text in multiple colors, draw freehand with customizable pens within notes and diagrams, add and edit text boxes for comments or forms, and erase marks. This makes it ideal for me to review, edit, and fill out paperwork digitally.

With the latest Copilot integration, Microsoft has also enabled features such as an automatic table of contents, read aloud, and document summarization, which help users quickly grasp the gist of a document.

Copilot AI integration

AI that actually helps while browsing

To tackle Google’s newly improved Gemini AI Assistant, Microsoft started rolling out Copilot AI across its products, including the Edge browser, which recently got the Copilot AI integration with heaps of new features. It transformed how I browse. With features like multi-tab context and reasoning, Copilot analyzes and compares content across open tabs, like adjusting lists or research, eliminating manual switching while browsing.

There’s one more feature that I really love: Copilot actions. It enables me to perform multi-step tasks via text or voice, such as booking reservations, unsubscribing from junk email, or even clearing the cache, which gives me seamless automation.

Finally, I’m starting to appreciate the new Copilot Vision. It visually scans and analyzes content in my browser, allowing me to engage in a conversation about it. I can dive deeper into the material, receive summaries, and get guidance on the content. This feature makes browsing and understanding what’s on the screen much easier.

Edge is now more than just an updated version of Internet Explorer

While we can add any features with impressive Chrome extensions, we must admit that Edge is no longer just Windows’ pre-installed default; it’s matured into a speedy, packed with essentials, and it’s winning me over for daily use. If you’re tired of Chrome’s pale experience, give Edge a try—it’s worth the switch for a smoother, more intuitive web experience.