Since Microsoft Edge made the switch to the Chromium engine, the browser has steadily shed old perceptions and gained new traction, even managing to grow its market share in a landscape long dominated by Google Chrome. This turnaround isn’t by chance: Microsoft has consistently worked to improve Edge by adding smart features, boosting performance, and fine-tuning its overall experience.
Now, Edge has hit a significant new milestone—one that Microsoft is proudly celebrating. In an official blog post, the company announced that Edge has set a new standard for browser speed and responsiveness, surpassing its competitors in key performance metrics.
Faster Loading, Smoother Browsing: What Microsoft Achieved
In the world of web browsers, having lots of features isn’t enough. What truly matters to users is how quickly and smoothly everything works. Nobody enjoys staring at a blank screen while a site slowly loads.
Microsoft understood this well and set out with a clear goal: achieve a First Contentful Paint (FCP)—the time it takes for visible content to appear on screen—of under 300 milliseconds across the board. Research has shown that delays beyond 300 to 400 milliseconds can negatively impact user satisfaction. By hitting this target, Edge now ensures that webpages start displaying content almost instantly, making browsing feel faster and more responsive.
Smarter, More Efficient Features
This new performance benchmark isn’t just about page loads. Microsoft has also made big strides in other areas of the browser’s responsiveness. According to their announcement, Edge now:
- Reduces average page load times by 40%.
- Speeds up response times for 13 key features, including:
- Settings menu
- Read Aloud tool
- Split-screen view
- Workspaces
- And more.
These improvements mean users can navigate through Edge’s various tools and options more quickly, with minimal lag and faster access to what they need.
Looking Ahead: Continuous Improvement
Microsoft is proud of these advancements but is quick to point out that the journey isn’t over. The company sees this as part of an ongoing mission to continually refine and optimize the browsing experience. They’re also encouraging users to test out the latest improvements and share feedback, helping to shape the future of Edge.
By focusing not only on adding new features but also on making every click, scroll, and action feel faster and smoother, Edge is proving that it’s no longer just playing catch-up—it’s setting the pace.
