Google Chrome is the most popular web browser on the market, and for good reason. It provides an easy to use and clean interface, solid connectivity across devices, and a massive library of extensions. That said, it’s resource-hungry and has a spotty track record when it comes to privacy. This Google Chrome review will run you through its features and flaws.
Google Chrome works on almost anything, with desktop versions compatible with Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and 10, macOS OS X 10.10 and later, as well as the Ubuntu, Debian, openSUSE and Fedora distributions of Linux. There are also mobile versions for iOS and Android. For this review, we used a Windows 10 laptop and an iPhone running iOS 12.3.
By default, Google Chrome doesn’t bombard you with features, opting instead for a clean and simple user interface that consists only of a combined search and address bar, called the omnibar, navigation controls and a small space for your extensions.
This library of extensions is one of the browser’s biggest strengths because no competitor offers the same amount of third-party features. Whether you want built-in notes, extra bookmark bars, auto-refresh or any other advanced feature, there’s probably an extension that fits your needs.
The browser also features impressive cross-connectivity between devices. As long as you sync with your Google account, your preferences, bookmarks, and search history come with you when you install the browser on a new computer or device. Because of that, setting up the browser is quick and easy to do.
Google Chrome Sync
Almost everything you do in Google Chrome can be backed up to Google’s cloud, right down to the tabs you leave open, and it gives you a solid set of options to choose what you want to sync.
Transferring your bookmarks to other browsers is equally pain-free, as you simply enter the bookmarks manager and export them as an HTML file.
Unsurprisingly, Google Chrome is also well-integrated with Google’s other services, with shortcuts to apps such as Google Docs and Gmail located inside an “apps” menu on your bookmark bar. That integration extends to Google Translate, enabling you to translate any page to another language with a single click.
Google Chrome Extra Features
A smaller feature that’s easy to miss is the handy context menu options provided in Google Chrome. They include an option for googling highlighted text, which other browsers, such as Mozilla Firefox, also offer, as well as an option to do a reverse image search, which saves you the time of downloading and reuploading the image.
Google Chrome also supports multiple users, complete with separate shortcuts to each individual’s browser instance. That’s useful for shared computers or for those who need separate instances of the browser for work and personal use.
To install Chrome on your Ubuntu system just head to our Installation Guide for Chrome.
