5 reasons Opera is a fantastic browser

We never get tired of recommending Opera as one of the best desktop browsers currently available. And now, with the recent arrival of version 37 to its stable channel and the exciting addition of an integrated ad-blocker, it seems like a good moment to recap all its attractions. We’ll try to condense them to five points.

It includes its own ad-blocker

In March the option appeared on Opera’s dev channel to activate the browser’s own smart web advertising blocker—quite an aggressive measure in these times when the whole subject of ad-blocking still sparks controversy. (You know, “Who watches the Watchmen?” and all that.) To start, the browser offers a default white list with several sites that offer the user fair advertising, which enormously improves load times without causing problems in page layouts.

More information | Opera integrates its own ad-blocker in beta version of browser

It’s more efficient than Chrome

… And not because they say so themselves. We’ve done a few benchmarking tests comparing their features and the results are clear: on SunSpider (which measures JavaScript load times) Opera manages a time of 238.5ms, compared to Chrome’s 260.9ms. On HTML5Test Opera garners a score of 525 of 555 possible points, essentially on level with Chrome at 526.

Although the performance is on par with Google’s browser, it’s undeniable that Opera’s resource management is much better (it’s no secret that Chrome has terrible memory management problems). Under equal conditions, the memory used by each browser is quite different. All this appears to be in line with the other versions of the browser: in the recent comparison of Android browsers we did here on the blog, Opera got a respectable position compared to its main competitors (and that’s not even counting its Mini version, which practically knocks the ball out of the park).

More information | Browser comparison: 2016 Android edition

Its own VPN is about to come out

In fact, it’s already available from version 37 on the dev channel, and its launch on the stable channel is imminent. When activated you can access any page over a virtual private network that masks your connection with an IP address from Germany, Canada, or the United States. This ad-blocker + VPN combo is sure to create a big stir.

More information | Opera adds an unlimited free VPN to its browser

It has lots of features without sacrificing simplicity

It seems like developers still haven’t realized that the best way to make an app triumph is to know how to do a few things very well instead of adding “bulk” features without regard for the global product vision. (Yes, UCBrowser, I’m looking at you.) Be it its integrated, localized news section, its practical bookmarks organizer, the new option to view YouTube videos in an external window, the maturity of its extensions catalogue, or its Turbo mode to economize on bandwidth—Opera provides everything you need without getting in the way of what’s truly important: fast browsing.

Opera Mini is its ideal companion

There’s a reason Opera Mini is one of most downloaded Android browsers on Uptodown, with more than 6 million downloads. The light version of Opera’s smartphone browser can run on practically any device, offering performance to make its competitors green with envy. And it’s latest version also includes the new ad-blocker. This, together with its synching capabilities with the desktop version, seems to be more than enough reason to give it a shot.

More information | New features on Opera Mini, the most-downloaded browser on Uptodown