Opera is making waves with its upcoming browser designed to enhance focus, balance life, and alleviate stress. While those are ambitious promises, Opera’s new "Opera Air" browser is packed with features aimed at providing a mindful browsing experience. Although it’s still in early access, anyone can install the browser now, and I must say, I’ve found it to be a reliable everyday browser with some genuinely helpful aspects for mental wellness.
Browsers are among the most utilized applications on any device. Google Chrome typically dominates the market, holding a commanding 67.05% share, with Apple’s Safari trailing behind at 17.96%, as per StatCounter. That leaves other players scrambling for the remaining sliver of the market, often by emphasizing unique security features or exclusive functionality.
Opera, however, has opted for a different strategy with Opera Air. While it includes standard browsing essentials like an ad blocker and a built-in VPN for web compatibility, its standout qualities focus on mindfulness.
Opera Air thoughtfully integrates shortcuts for smart exercises, meditation, and unique "Boosts" right within the browser. These Boosts have piqued my interest the most. Opera Air features an audio library meant to "stimulate different brain waves," using binaural beats that create the perception of a third frequency by playing two slightly different frequencies simultaneously.
I’m not a medical professional, so I can’t provide expert insight into how a "Theta 6Hz" audio file might enhance creativity, but from my perspective, Opera Air’s Boosts deliver on their promise. The "Creativity" Boost was relaxing, keeping me alert rather than sleepy. Plus, you can personalize aspects like the volume of the binaural sounds or ambient noise, tailoring the experience to your liking.
It’s worth noting that Opera doesn’t hold the monopoly on neck exercises, guided meditations, or audio focused on brainwave stimulation. However, integrating these elements into a single platform means you won’t have to jump between multiple websites or tabs. This novel approach is garnering attention, and my colleague, TechRadar’s Stephen Warwick, has already made the switch from Chrome to Opera Air for his personal use. That said, for work, both of us still keep Chrome handy, given our company’s reliance on it for professional purposes.
All in all, Opera Air might just be the refreshing browser experience you’ve been looking for if you want to merge your online activity with some mindfulness practices.
