Microsoft Edge – Overview and Latest News

A Brief History of Microsoft Edge

Microsoft’s history with web browsers is one of innovation, dominance, and eventual decline. Internet Explorer, once the undisputed leader in the early 2000s, fell behind as competitors like Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome delivered faster, more modern experiences. By the 2010s, Internet Explorer had become a symbol of outdated technology—slow, incompatible, and burdened by security flaws.

In 2015, Microsoft attempted a reset with Microsoft Edge, built on a proprietary rendering engine called EdgeHTML. While this new browser was leaner and faster than Internet Explorer, it still struggled with extension support and web compatibility issues. Developers were hesitant to optimize for yet another browser, and users—already accustomed to Chrome—saw little reason to switch.

Then came 2020: the year Edge underwent its biggest transformation yet. Microsoft abandoned EdgeHTML in favor of Chromium, the same open-source engine powering Google Chrome, Brave, and Opera. This decision addressed Edge’s compatibility issues overnight, allowing it to support Chrome extensions, improve web standard compliance, and deliver a browsing experience that felt instantly familiar.

Yet, this move also raised questions. Was Microsoft ceding control to Google by relying on Chromium? Would Edge offer anything truly unique, or would it become just another Chromium-based browser in an already crowded field? These concerns continue to shape the conversation around Edge’s place in the browser market.

Exploring the Capabilities of Microsoft Edge

The shift to Chromium wasn’t just about fixing past mistakes—it was about building a browser that could differentiate itself from Chrome while leveraging Microsoft’s ecosystem advantages. Edge’s capabilities now extend beyond standard web browsing, with performance optimizations, AI-powered enhancements, and deep integration with Windows and Microsoft 365.

Performance & Resource Efficiency

One of Edge’s biggest advantages over Chrome is its superior memory management. Independent benchmarks have shown that Edge consumes up to 54% less RAM than Chrome when running multiple tabs, thanks to features like Sleeping Tabs, which automatically suspend unused tabs to free up system resources.

This is particularly useful for users who keep dozens of tabs open simultaneously—a common behavior among professionals and researchers.

Microsoft has also introduced Efficiency Mode, which reduces CPU usage when the browser is running on battery power, making it an attractive option for laptops and ultrabooks. This optimization results in longer battery life compared to Chrome, a key consideration for mobile users.

Testing shows that Edge outperforms Chrome in memory efficiency but falls behind in certain web rendering tasks.

How Edge Optimizes Resource Usage

Microsoft Edge achieves better memory and CPU efficiency through a mix of proprietary optimizations.

Edge suspends inactive tabs after 5 minutes, freeing up ~32% of RAM that would otherwise be used by background processes. Chrome lacks an equivalent feature—it relies on the OS to manage background memory.

Edge’s AI predicts user behavior, preloading search results and pages based on common workflows. Chrome offers predictive loading but lacks Edge’s AI-driven optimization.

Edge is better optimized for Windows 11, allowing DirectX 12 and WebGPU acceleration, which boosts WebGL performance for 3D rendering. Chrome is still ahead in WebGPU support on non-Windows platforms.

Limitations of Microsoft Edge’s Performance

While Edge wins in memory efficiency and startup speed, there are areas where Chrome still holds an advantage.

Chrome outperforms Edge in JavaScript execution (JetStream 2.0 benchmark: Chrome scores 136, Edge scores 129). For web apps that rely heavily on JavaScript (e.g., Google Docs, Notion), Chrome may feel snappier.

Edge supports Chrome extensions, but some Chrome-exclusive performance tweaks (Manifest V3 updates) are slower to roll out in Edge. Enterprise users have reported 15% compatibility issues with certain Chrome extensions in Edge.

On macOS and Linux, Chrome still performs better due to Google’s optimizations for those platforms. Edge’s best optimizations are Windows-exclusive.

AI-Powered Browsing & Microsoft Copilot

Microsoft’s multi-billion-dollar investment in OpenAI has made Edge a key player in the AI-powered browsing space. The browser now includes a Copilot sidebar (formerly Bing Chat), which can:

• Summarize web pages and articles in real time.
• Generate text for emails, blog posts, and other content.
• Provide AI-assisted search results and suggestions.

This feature, while innovative, has sparked debate. Some users find it genuinely useful, while others see it as unnecessary bloatware that clutters the browsing experience. There’s also the question of how AI-driven content generation aligns with ethical concerns around misinformation and biased algorithms.

Security & Privacy Features

Edge positions itself as one of the most secure mainstream browsers, incorporating Windows Defender SmartScreen, Microsoft Defender Application Guard, and advanced tracking prevention settings. Unlike Chrome, which relies on Google’s Safe Browsing, Edge uses Microsoft’s own threat intelligence network to block phishing attempts and malware.

However, privacy advocates remain skeptical. Microsoft’s data collection practices have been a longstanding concern, and Edge’s deep integration with Bing and Microsoft accounts raises questions about how much user data is being harvested.

While Microsoft claims to offer strong privacy controls, Firefox and Brave remain the preferred choices for those who prioritize anonymity and minimal tracking.

Challenges and Criticisms

For all its technical strengths, Microsoft Edge has not been without controversy. While it offers a faster, more efficient browsing experience, Microsoft’s aggressive tactics, privacy concerns, and forced integrations have drawn significant criticism. Edge is, in many ways, a technologically superior browser, but its reputation has been tarnished by how Microsoft chooses to push it onto users.

Forced Adoption & Anti-Competitive Practices

One of the biggest complaints against Edge is Microsoft’s insistence on making it the default browser in Windows. Users who attempt to switch back to Google Chrome or Firefox often find themselves jumping through unnecessary hoops.

• Windows makes changing the default browser intentionally difficult, requiring users to manually reassign file types and protocols.
• Periodic Windows updates reset the default browser back to Edge, forcing users to repeat the process.
• Microsoft has been actively discouraging users from downloading Chrome or Firefox, often displaying pop-ups warning against switching browsers.

These practices have not gone unnoticed. In 2023, the European Union launched an antitrust investigation into whether Microsoft was violating competition laws by making Edge difficult to remove and Bing the default search engine. Similar complaints have been filed in the United States and India, with regulatory bodies examining whether Microsoft is unfairly leveraging Windows’ dominance to force Edge onto users.

For many, this feels eerily reminiscent of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer era, where the company bundled its browser with Windows to crush competition—a strategy that ultimately led to landmark antitrust lawsuits in the early 2000s. Microsoft insists that users still have a choice, but the level of friction involved in switching away from Edge tells a different story.

Privacy Concerns & Data Collection

While Edge promotes itself as a secure browser, its privacy practices have drawn criticism. Unlike Firefox and Brave, which offer strict anti-tracking protections, Edge remains deeply integrated with Microsoft’s data ecosystem, raising concerns about:

• Telemetry tracking: Microsoft collects diagnostic data on how Edge is used, including browsing activity, search queries, and user interactions.
• Forced Bing integration: Even when users change their default search engine to Google, Edge continues to suggest Bing-based results in certain areas.
• Microsoft account dependencies: Many of Edge’s features, including cloud sync and AI tools, require a Microsoft account, adding another layer of tracking.

These concerns have led privacy advocates to recommend alternatives like Firefox and Brave, which are less reliant on corporate data collection. While Edge does offer an “InPrivate” browsing mode, it is not as strict as Firefox’s Enhanced Tracking Protection or Brave’s default ad-blocking system.

Microsoft argues that its data collection is used solely to improve the browsing experience, but in a time when privacy is an increasing concern, Edge’s policies remain a key factor in why some users refuse to switch.

Public and Industry Response to Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge has been met with mixed reactions from both users and industry analysts. While power users and enterprise environments appreciate its efficiency, security, and AI-powered features, general consumers have been less enthusiastic due to Microsoft’s aggressive tactics.

Enterprise Adoption

Large businesses have increasingly turned to Edge due to its:

• Seamless integration with Microsoft 365
• Enterprise security features, including SmartScreen and Defender Application Guard
• Better memory optimization, reducing system resource strain

Companies that already rely on Microsoft’s software suite find Edge a natural fit.

Consumer Frustration

On the other hand, regular users have voiced frustration over:

• Forced Edge updates and default settings
• Bing integration that’s difficult to disable
• A reputation for “pushing” Microsoft services

For many, Edge feels less like a choice and more like something Microsoft forces upon them. This perception problem has slowed its adoption rate among users who prefer Google Chrome’s flexibility and neutrality.

Microsoft Edge’s Future – AI, Security, and Market Share Battles

Microsoft has made it clear that Edge is not just another browser—it’s a critical piece of its AI-driven future. The company’s roadmap suggests:

• Deeper AI integration, with Copilot expanding into web-based automation and AI-enhanced search.
• Stronger enterprise security, making Edge the default choice for corporate environments.
• Continued attempts to grow market share, though its success will depend on how Microsoft handles user complaints.

Can Edge Win Back Trust?

Microsoft Edge has transformed from a struggling Internet Explorer replacement into a technically superior browser, but it remains one of the most polarizing choices in the market. While it offers faster performance, better memory efficiency, and advanced security tools, Microsoft’s tactics—particularly around forced adoption and Bing integration—continue to alienate users.

Ultimately, the question isn’t whether Edge is a good browser—it’s whether Microsoft can convince people to willingly use it. If Microsoft addresses its reputation issues, Edge could seriously challenge Chrome’s dominance. Until then, it remains a browser of contradictions—powerful yet controversial, efficient yet distrusted, innovative yet forced upon users.

For Microsoft Edge to truly challenge Chrome, the company must..

• Make switching browsers easier, rather than using friction tactics to discourage Chrome users.
• Provide more transparency in data collection to rebuild trust with privacy-conscious users.
• Ensure AI features add value, rather than feeling like unnecessary bloat.

Edge has the technology to be a market leader, but Microsoft’s aggressive marketing remains its biggest weakness. Whether Edge will grow beyond its niche enterprise audience and become a true mainstream alternative depends on how Microsoft chooses to address these concerns.