Google Chrome design for iPhones changes drastically: Here is the new design

As the screens of smartphones get bigger, one-handed use is becoming more and more difficult. It is even more difficult to use the Chrome browser, especially on phones, because the URL and related options are at the top of the screen. But apparently, Chrome moves the URL address bar (aka “omnibox”) to the bottom of the screen, just like Apple’s built-in browser.

Chrome address bar getting down

This tested design change will be offered optionally and users will be able to move the address bar to the bottom. Apple moved the URL bar to the bottom of Safari by default with iOS 15. In order to try the new Chrome feature, you must be registered for TestFlight updates for Google Chrome on iOS. So you can get beta versions of the browser on your iPhone and iPad devices. Although it is enough for some to get this version, some users additionally need to type “chrome://flags” in the address bar and activate the “bottom-omnibox-steady-state” option.

For now, it is unclear whether or when this feature will come out of beta to all Chrome users on iOS. Likewise, for now, there is no sign of the existence of such a study in the Android version. On the other hand, Google actually tried a way to put the URL bar at the bottom in Chrome for Android in 2017, but later removed this feature. But phone screens weren’t as big back then as they are now, and it’s time for an alternate location for the address bar.