Safari is surrounded by browsers that love to promise the world — speed, security, abundant extensions, and so forth. Yet, it seems to sit quietly in the corner, avoiding attention, as if it knows something that others don’t. As a long-time Chrome defector, I eventually found myself drawn into the Apple ecosystem and realized that Safari isn’t just another browser, but an extension of a philosophy of sleek design, efficiency, and walled gardens. This last point is simultaneously both its charm and its Achilles’ heel.
On a MacBook, Safari is a battery saver, a fan silencer, a best friend. In my early Mac days, I was baffled by how quickly Chrome drained my battery, and switching to Safari felt like my computer had leveled up in stamina like in a videogame. Due to being highly integrated into macOS, it allows for the usage of fewer resources and delivering longer battery life effortlessly. The flip side to this, however, is that any other device other than Apple’s is left behind. Developers often prioritize Chrome (or Firefox, though not quite often), leaving Safari users occasionally with a broken website. Experimental web apps, for instance, are possible, but unnecessarily painful.
Apple knows its audience and Safari syncs seamlessly with iCloud, with features like shared tabs, keychain passwords, and Handoff between different devices. This synergy, however, is also its prison. If one were to step away from Apple’s ecosystem, all those handoffs and syncs would disappear. Apple’s way of life requires embracing it or feeling its limitations.
Design-wise, it’s clean, intuitive, and free from clutter. The default homepage brings a curated collection of frequently visited sites and privacy reports, striking a balance between utility and elegance. No unnecessary buttons, no distracting animations, just pure focus. This, in the other hand, might feel too vanilla for some, and customization options are sparse compared to Chrome or Firefox — making it impossible to have funky themes or experimental features, for example. It’s an empty fridge.
If you live and breathe Apple, Safari is the no-brainer choice. Performance, privacy features, and ecosystem integration make it a natural fit. The trade-offs are mostly its exclusivity and lack of customization. Tinkerers such as myself, or someone who needs to work across platforms, can feel inside a cage. That said, there’s a strange comfort in using Safari: it’s not trying to be everything to everyone, and it’s unapologetically optimized for a specific audience, who value efficiency, privacy, and simplicity over bells and whistles.
I want to bring to the table a viable alternative that accepts Safari’s quirks, leans into its strengths and knows when to walk away from it: Orion. Built by Kagi, Orion is a browser that combines Safari’s efficiency with the flexibility of a robust extension ecosystem — including full support for Chrome and Firefox extensions. It mirrors the minimalist design and macOS optimization (it’s currently Mac exclusive) while addressing its shortcomings, such as the lack of customization and cross-platform compatibility. If the case is love for the ethos but more power under the hood is required, it comes as a refreshing middle ground without much sacrifice.
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