Samsung Internet Browser is a web browser developed by Samsung Electronics, based on the open-source Chromium project. It is one of the most popular browsers on Android devices, offering features such as ad blocking, biometric web login, dark mode, and Samsung account sync. Recently, Samsung announced that it has launched a version of Samsung Internet Browser for Windows, in case users needed another Chromium-based browser on their PCs.
The Samsung Internet Browser for Windows is similar to the Android version, allowing users to sign in with their Samsung account and sync their browsing data between their phones and PCs. Users can also enjoy the benefits of Samsung Internet extensions, such as translator, security, shopping assistants, and more. The browser supports Chrome Web Store extensions, as well as light and dark modes.
However, there is a catch. To install Samsung Internet Browser on Windows, users need to use an Android emulator, such as NoxPlayer, and download the APK/XAPK file from the Play Store. This means that the browser is not a native Windows app, but rather a ported Android app that runs on a virtual machine. This may have some limitations, such as performance issues, compatibility problems, and security risks.
Samsung has not officially explained why it decided to launch Samsung Internet Browser for Windows in this way, rather than developing a native Windows app. Some possible reasons are that Samsung wanted to test the market demand for its browser on Windows, or that Samsung wanted to leverage its existing Android codebase and avoid the hassle of creating a new app from scratch. Alternatively, Samsung may have simply wanted to offer its loyal customers another option to browse the web on their PCs, regardless of the quality or convenience.
Samsung Internet Browser for Windows is not the first attempt by Samsung to bring its browser to other platforms. In 2017, Samsung released a Samsung Internet extension for PC Chrome, which allows users to access their bookmarks on any computer using the Chrome browser. However, this extension is not a full-fledged browser, but rather a simple tool to sync bookmarks.
Samsung Internet Browser for Windows is an interesting experiment by Samsung, but it is unlikely to become a mainstream browser on Windows anytime soon. Users who are already satisfied with their existing browsers, such as Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Opera, may not see the need to switch to Samsung Internet Browser, especially if it requires using an emulator. Users who are curious about Samsung Internet Browser may try it out, but they may not stick with it for long, unless Samsung improves its performance, compatibility, and security. Users who are loyal to Samsung may appreciate having another option to browse the web on their PCs, but they may also wish that Samsung had invested more effort and resources into developing a native Windows app.
