Chromium Based Browsers Samsung Internet Browser

🌐 Samsung Internet Browser – Full History

🏁 1. Introduction

Developer: Samsung Electronics

Initial Release: 2012

Based on: Chromium (Google’s open-source browser engine)

Platform: Primarily for Android (later expanded to other Samsung devices like Gear VR and Smart TVs).

Purpose: To provide a secure, fast, and feature-rich web experience for Samsung Galaxy users, optimized for their hardware and One UI ecosystem.

📱 2. Early Development (2012–2014)

2012: Samsung launched its first proprietary browser called “Samsung Internet” for the Galaxy S3 smartphone, based on Android’s stock WebKit browser (before it was fully Chromium-based).

The goal was to replace the default Android browser with a version optimized for Samsung devices, offering:

2013–2014: Samsung started developing its own custom Chromium fork, eventually rebranding the browser as Samsung Internet for Android.

⚙️ 3. Chromium Era (2015–2017)

2015: Samsung Internet Browser switched to Chromium engine, providing compatibility with web standards and Chrome extensions.

Introduced as a separate app on the Google Play Store (not just preinstalled).

Added major features:

Version 4.0 (2016):

Version 5.0 (2017):

🚀 4. Expansion and Innovation (2017–2020)

2017: Samsung opened the browser to non-Samsung devices, allowing all Android users to download it from the Play Store — a major expansion move.

Version 6.2 (2018):

Version 7.2–8.0 (2018–2019):

During this period, Samsung Internet became one of the top-rated Android browsers, often praised for:

🔒 5. Focus on Privacy & Performance (2020–2023)

Samsung continued updating the browser regularly, keeping pace with Chromium releases.

Key privacy features added:

2021–2023 Updates:

🌍 6. Modern Era (2023–2025)

Engine: Based on the latest Chromium builds (Chromium 120+ by 2024).

Version: Around v25.x as of 2025.

UI Enhancements:

Cross-Platform Integration:

Security Focus:

🧭 7. Key Features That Made It Popular

Category —>Key Features
Speed —>Optimized for Galaxy hardware, fast rendering
Privacy —>Smart Anti-Tracking, Secret Mode, HTTPS priority
Integration —>Works with Samsung Cloud, DeX, and Galaxy ecosystem
Customization —>Extensions, Dark Mode, customizable toolbar
Accessibility —>High Contrast Mode, Reader Mode
Video —>Video Assistant, floating player, 360° video support

🏆 8. Popularity & Market Position

As of 2024, Samsung Internet is:

🧩 9. Legacy & Impact

Brought a customized Chromium experience optimized for Samsung devices.

First major Android browser to integrate content blockers and anti-tracking tools by default.

Helped push privacy and accessibility standards on mobile browsers.

⚙️ Version Milestones Summary

Year—>Major Version—>Key Highlights
2012—>v1.0—>Preinstalled on Galaxy S3
2015—>v3.0—>First Chromium-based version
2016—>v4.0—>Secret Mode, Content Blockers
2017—>v5.0—>Gear VR, Sync features
2018—>v6.2—>Smart Anti-Tracking, Video Assistant
2019—>v8.0—>DeX support, QR Scanner
2021—>v14±–>Privacy Dashboard, HTTPS priority
2023—>v20±–>New UI, Smart Protection
2025—>v25±–>Full One UI 6 integration, AI-assisted browsing

The Early Days: Birth on Bada OS (2008 – 2012)

The story of Samsung Internet begins not with Android, but with Samsung’s attempt to create its own mobile ecosystem.

Origin on Bada OS: Samsung Internet was first developed as the default browser for Samsung’s proprietary Bada operating system, which launched in 2010. Its initial purpose was to be a capable and fast browser for Samsung’s feature phones and early smartphones that ran on Bada.

Based on WebKit: Like most browsers of its time (including early versions of Chrome and Safari), it was built using the open-source WebKit rendering engine.

The Android Era: From Bloatware to Powerhouse (2012 – 2015)

As Samsung’s Galaxy S series smartphones, powered by Android, became globally dominant, the role of Samsung Internet evolved.

Pre-installed on Galaxy Devices: Samsung began shipping Samsung Internet as the default browser on its Galaxy devices, alongside Google Chrome (which is part of the Google Mobile Services package). At first, many users and critics saw it as redundant “bloatware.”

A Strategic Shift: For Samsung, this was a strategic move to:

Adopting the Chromium Engine: This was the most critical turning point. In 2013, Samsung announced it would switch from WebKit to the Chromium engine—the same open-source project that powers Google Chrome. This move:

Gaining Respect and Building a Identity (2015 – 2020)

During this period, Samsung Internet shed its “bloatware” image and became a browser that tech enthusiasts and privacy-conscious users actively sought out. It did this by introducing a suite of compelling features that often rivaled or even surpassed Chrome.

Ad Blocker Support (2015): This was a killer feature. Samsung Internet became one of the first major mobile browsers to officially support content blockers (ad blockers). This significantly improved browsing speed, reduced data usage, and enhanced user privacy, setting it apart from Chrome.

Deep Hardware-Software Integration: Leveraging its position as a device maker, Samsung integrated features like:

Secret Mode: A secure, fingerprint-protected private browsing mode that syncs across signed-in Samsung devices.

Accessibility Focus: Samsung heavily invested in accessibility, introducing and refining features like High Contrast Mode, Color Inversion, and custom color palettes for visually impaired users.

Expansion Beyond Samsung Phones: In a surprising move, Samsung released Samsung Internet on the Google Play Store in 2017, making it available for all Android devices (not just Samsungs). This signaled its ambition to compete on its own merits as a top-tier browser.

Privacy as a Selling Point: With features like a built-in Smart Anti-Tracking and a clear, easy-to-use privacy dashboard, it began positioning itself as a more private alternative to Chrome.

The Modern Browser: A Pillar of the Galaxy Ecosystem (2020 – Present)

Today, Samsung Internet is a mature, feature-rich browser that is a core part of the Samsung Galaxy ecosystem and a well-respected player in the browser market.

Continuation of Innovation: It continues to roll out new features, such as enhanced tracking protection, extensions support, and deeper integration with Samsung DeX and other Galaxy devices.

The “Galaxy-ized” Browser: Its identity is now firmly tied to the Galaxy brand, offering seamless syncing of bookmarks, open tabs, and saved pages across a user’s phone, tablet, and smartwatch.

Market Position: While its global market share is dominated by Chrome and Safari, Samsung Internet maintains a strong and loyal user base, particularly in regions where Samsung smartphones are dominant. It is consistently ranked as one of the top browsers for Android in terms of performance and features.

Summary Timeline

~2009-2010: Origins as the default browser for Samsung’s Bada OS, based on WebKit.

2012 onward: Becomes the pre-installed default browser on Samsung’s Android Galaxy devices.

2013: Announces the critical switch to the Chromium engine, aligning its core with modern web standards.

2015: Introduces official Ad Blocker support, a major differentiator that boosted its popularity.

2017: Released on the Google Play Store, making it available for all Android phones.

2020-Present: Solidifies its position as a privacy-focused, feature-rich browser deeply integrated into the Samsung ecosystem, with continuous updates and a dedicated user base.

In essence, the history of Samsung Internet is a story of a company leveraging its hardware dominance to build a software product that evolved from a simple necessity into a genuinely competitive and innovative browser.