Safari
Reddit take
AI summary of the Reddit excerpts below — not a quote
Safari is a polarizing browser that is highly valued for its power efficiency and deep integration into the Apple ecosystem, but it faces significant criticism from the developer community. While users praise its battery optimization on macOS and seamless features like iCloud password syncing and SMS code autofill, it is frequently labeled the "new Internet Explorer" due to perceived lags in adopting modern web APIs and persistent bugs. On iOS, its mandatory nature is a point of contention for those seeking true engine alternatives.
Pros
- Superior battery life and RAM efficiency on macOS compared to other browsers.
- Seamless ecosystem integration, including iCloud password sync, Private Relay, and SMS code autofill.
- Support for 4K media playback via trusted execution environments.
- Useful built-in features like "hide distracting items" and quick tab-view gestures on mobile.
- Availability of content blockers like AdBlock Plus and uBlock Origin Lite.
Cons
- Frequent bugs and inconsistent implementation of modern web APIs (e.g., PointerEvent pressure, storage estimation).
- UI glitches, such as text disappearing from the search bar after hitting enter.
- Perceived as less flexible and "boring" compared to feature-rich competitors.
- Occasional sluggishness or slowdowns when managing a high volume of open tabs.
- Mandatory engine on iOS, which frustrates developers and users wanting alternatives.
Caveats
- Web developers frequently report that Safari requires more project-specific fixes than Chrome or Firefox.
- The storage estimation API is reported to return inaccurate or "fake" numbers that can lead to silent failures.
- Some websites do not render or function correctly, requiring a secondary browser for compatibility.
Best for
- MacBook users who prioritize maximizing battery life and minimizing RAM usage.
- Users deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem who rely on iCloud and native password management.
Avoid if
- You are a web developer who requires the most up-to-date and bug-free API support.
- You prefer a highly customizable browser with a vast library of extensions.
This summary uses balanced time weighting with about a 6-month half-life. The evidence comes from a window spanning January 2025 to December 2025, with a median source age of approximately 308 days.
Sentiment
14 positive (44%) · 2 mixed (6%) · 16 negative (50%)
Trust + time weighted score: -19% · raw score -6%
What redditors said (10 of 32)
In addition, what they did to the Safari is also terrible.
Safari gives me on average one Internet Explorer per project, whereas Firefox gives like one every 10 projects. Safari is really the one that deserves to be hated, especially that afaics on iPhones there is no alternative to it so it's like mandatory to support it, no matter how shitty stupid stuff it does...
Parent context: navigator.storage.estimate() is made to give the developer numbers how much storage is used and still available. Yeah, safari has this function implemented. But it just gives you unreal numbers. They are just fake. So you get there are 10mb available, you try to save 1mb and it fails. And the best part: it fails silently.
My favorite is typing something into the search bar in safari, hitting enter and watching what I just typed disappear and having to type it all over again.
Safari is optimized in terms of battery life. It really does get noticeably better battery life than other browsers on macOS.
Safari with AdBlock Plus installed is all I’ve needed for years, especially since it supports the Passwords app and Private Relay.
Safari just doesn’t do it for me. Everyone keeps calling it “the perfect browser for the Apple ecosystem”, the most optimized, the most efficient… but in real-world use, I don’t really see it. It feels limited, not very flexible, and honestly kind of boring compared to other browsers.
Feels like there's a Safari bug for damn near everything. I only ever see Safari mentioned for misbehaving
It's a Safari bug - those values do not fix the issue.
I've started to notice just a *very slight* slowdown in opening applications as well as sluggishness when I have multiple tabs open in Safari.
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