Is Microsoft Edge the Best Browser for Apple’s Macs?

The Chromium engine has allowed for a complete refresh of Microsoft Edge, as the new browser evolved beyond the world of Windows to become a cross-platform application that can also run on macOS and soon on Linux.

Just like Google Chrome, Vivaldi, and other Chromium-based browser, Microsoft Edge can now serve as the main driver on more than just Windows 10. Both Windows 7 and 8.1 are also supported, and Microsoft is now at work on bringing the browser to the world of Linux too.

But expanding beyond the boundaries of Windows 10 isn’t the only result of Microsoft Edge embracing the Chromium engine. This new approach also allowed Edge to evolve substantially with new capabilities, including support for Google Chrome extensions, and many other new features.

And Microsoft has tried an approach that makes so much sense for Windows users. The company retained the familiar look and feature lineup in the legacy version of Edge and brought it to the Chromium engine, thus developing a mix that makes it one of the best browsers currently available.

But the bigger challenge for Microsoft Edge isn’t necessarily to serve as your daily driver on Windows 10, but to actually convince Chrome, Firefox, and Safari users it’s worth a try.

As I see it, a more ambitious plan is to make Apple users sticking with Safari to migrate to Edge, something which for the hardcore fans of the Cupertino-based company is outrageous.

But for many others, it all comes down to using the best browser around at a certain time.

Right now, Microsoft Edge is just as good as Google Chrome, if not actually even better, so Mac users have no reason not to give it a try. While Safari itself is a pretty advanced browser, many choose it because it’s the native choice. Others go for Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox, both of which have been around for a long time on Macs, and now are rather reticent to giving a try to Microsoft Edge.

Microsoft, however, is fully committed to delivering a very refined experience regardless of the platform. The company maintains the browser with several development channels, including a Canary build that is updated on a daily basis. The Dev build receives updates every week, while the Beta channel is refreshed every six weeks.

“Microsoft Edge for macOS will offer the same new browsing experience that we’re previewing on Windows, with user experience optimizations to make it feel at home on a Mac. We are tailoring the overall look and feel to match what macOS users expect from apps on this platform,” Microsoft said when it released the first build of the new Edge for macOS.

“We are committed to building a world class browser with Microsoft Edge through differentiated user experience features and connected services. With this initial release, we have made several changes to the user interface to align with the Microsoft design language whilst making it feel natural on macOS.”

The good news is that the adoption of Microsoft Edge is already…