If you're using a Mac, chances are you're browsing with Chrome or another chromium-based browser. While these are competent, Safari on Mac comes with specific features that make it my primary choice. Here are six notable reasons and a few downsides to consider.
Favorite Features:
- Hide My Email: This iCloud Plus feature allows you to use a random email that forwards to your private account, ensuring your real email remains private.
- ApplePay: Offers a seamless checkout experience by using a device-specific code instead of your actual card details, enhancing transaction security.
- Safari Tab Groups: Enables you to organize tabs into groups that sync across devices, improving workflow and organization.
- iCloud Passwords: Integrated directly into the OS, iCloud passwords simplify login processes and enhance security with built-in two-factor authentication and PassKeys.
- Enhanced Privacy: Safari is designed to block trackers and secure your data as you surf the web, showing reports on prevented tracking attempts.
- Web Applications: Safari allows you to save web pages as applications, offering a more app-like browsing experience on macOS.
Downsides:
- Memory Usage: Contrary to popular belief, Safari can be a memory hog in my experience, using more resources compared to some chromium-based browsers like Brave.
- Inconsistent Speed: Despite being touted as the fastest browser on Mac, Safari can occasionally lag, requiring restarts to regain speed.
- Loading Issues: Safari sometimes fails to properly reload tabs after being inactive, especially noticeable with sites like Google Docs.
In conclusion, despite the issues that bother me about Safari, such as certain functionality bugs and limitations, these downsides are not severe enough to deter me from using it. I have experimented with various other browsers like Orion, Arc, and Edge, and tried features like vertical tabs and AI browsing, but none have suited my workflow as well as Safari. I generally avoid using extensions, particularly ad blockers, as they tend to disrupt more than they help.
Ultimately, Safari remains my preferred browser for its seamless integration with my Mac and other devices, proving sufficiently effective for my everyday needs.
