March 23, 2024 at 01:06PM
The introduction of a new browser choice screen in Apple’s iOS 17.4, as part of the EU’s Digital Markets Act, has led to a 164% surge in new Opera users in the European Union. The prompt allows users to select their default browser from a list, resulting in significant growth for Opera in key EU markets. This trend aligns with a growing interest among iOS users in exploring browser alternatives. The impact of the new feature is also evident in the growth experienced by Brave.
From the meeting notes, the key takeaways are as follows:
1. Following Apple’s introduction of a new browser choice screen prompted by the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), Opera has reported a significant increase in new European Union users on iOS devices, with a surge in installs and growth across key EU markets for both iOS and Android versions.
2. Apple’s new browser choice screen presents up to 11 of the top downloaded browsers in users’ countries over the last year, including Safari, in a randomized order for users to select their default browser.
3. The introduction of the browser choice screen has led to a remarkable increase in Opera users in several EU countries, including a 164% rise in new users across the EU, with France experiencing a 402% increase, Spain 143%, Poland 68%, and Germany 56%. Similarly, the Android version of Opera also saw significant growth, especially in France, with a 54% rise in new user inflow.
4. These findings align with an Opera survey conducted before March 6th, which revealed that 80% of European smartphone users were open to trying a new browser, emphasizing the importance of offering users more choice and transparency in selecting their browsers.
5. Notably, other browser companies such as Brave have also witnessed a spike in iOS browser installations, indicating the broader impact of Apple’s new browser choice screen in the EU.
These insights demonstrate the growing interest among iOS users in exploring browser alternatives and the significance of regulatory changes like the DMA in creating a more level playing field in the browser market.