Opera Browser 46: Getting Better All The Time

We review the latest stable update of the popular Opera web browser.

The latest stable update for Opera browser is here, Opera 46: But is it any good? Well, yes, yes it is, and is definitely a worthy adversary for competitors such as Google Chrome or Firefox. 

As you would expect from a quality web browser such as Opera, improvements are just that, improvements. The interface remains intuitive, and the 1700 or so extensions available mean you can literally customize the browser to your heart’s content.

The latest update follows Opera Software’s tried and trusted evolution not revolution approach to their software,and most importantly, it just works. 

Slick, elegant, intuitive:, and uncluttered. The new almost exactly the same as the old version of Opera: Looks good and works well.

Why do I recommend Opera?

That’s a good question. But essentially, the update is about improving quality and the overall user experience. Fortunately, version 46 of Opera, for me anyway, does just that. Now, as a disclaimer, I should point out that I pretty much use Opera for everything in my online life that needs a browser, so this may all be somewhat biased. That said, that’s also the reason I recommend it.  

Primarily I use it because I love the Speed Dial options; having big buttons for the 7 or 8 web pages I use the most just sitting there staring back at me when I open Opera up saves me a lot of time. The fact that it rarely if ever crashes and is one of the most stable browsers I’ve ever used, is just a bonus.

Available for Linux as well! (And iOS.)

The Turbo feature is also a real winner, speeding up my browsing on congested and slow networks. As a writer who spends a lot of time traveling and commuting, I find that invaluable. It works just as well on Linux as it does on Windows, and I’m reliably informed that it’s just the same on iOS as well.

More than anything I like Opera because it just works, looks good, even your Granny could use it, and it’s also about as secure as a browser can be; and that’s always a good thing.

That’s great, but what’s new?

Well, again, evolution, not revolution. There are several improvements to the built in VPN that comes bundled with the browser. It was already pretty good, but did suffer from a memory bug that would cause the browser to occasionally crash. Now the one click VPN should be a lot more stable.

The interface, which was already pretty good looking has had some tweaks and a slight redesign, and there are some new icons and a couple of layout improvements. The most notable is that Speed Dial is now dark when wallpapers are disabled and the dark theme is enabled. Imported bookmarks now appear in Opera’s bookmark bar automatically. And there’s also some really nice new backgrounds, including some really animated ones.

Conclusion

Opera version 46 looks good, works well, and should be a strong contender for anyone looking for an internet browser to use for everything from business to leisure. You can download the latest version of Opera right here, from Filehippo.com