Opera One R2 is a new version of the Norwegian company’s web browser, one of the great alternatives to the big three: Chrome, Edge and Firefox. The features of its AI engine are the highlight, although the version offers many more new features and “completely renewed experience”.

Artificial intelligence continues to be incorporated everywhere and is the name used in technologies that are trying to sell more. Often this is not seen as beyond marketing, and at other times it has proven to be of real utility. Be that as it may, the changes are also making their way to navigation clients, as Joanna Czajka, Opera’s Product Director and responsible for Opera One R2, explains in the release announcement: “The browser of the future will be very different from the one we use today. Opera One R2 is our first step into this new era of navigation.

Opera One R2: AI and more

The idea behind the development of the new browser was to improve the artificial intelligence capabilities built into the browser by incorporating AI engine based on GPT Aria which the developers have tested in the last year. Highlighted features include image generation and understanding. In the same way that Microsoft’s Copilot does in the Edge browser, you can ask the Aria AI chatbot present in the sidebar of the browser to generate or interpret an image.

A more advanced command interface has also been incorporated to allow Aria to be used outside of chat. By simply pressing Ctrl+/ or Cmd+/, users can activate the command line and use the Tab key to enter contextual page mode, making it easier for Aria to summarize content, analyze articles or compare products online.

Opera One R2 presents new visual themes inspired by Scandinavian design and offers a completely renewed experience. Users can enjoy live animations, static backgrounds, custom colors and sound effects built into the browser. The release features three main tracks: “Classic”, “Midsommar” and “Aurora”. Each has an advanced color picker that allows users to experiment with different combinations to find the look that best suits their taste.

and eyelashes. Opera pioneered the use of tabs, and in this version it aims to go further with the Split Screen feature, which allows users to work on two open tabs at the same time. It also includes a Tab Track feature that offers a visual indication of the last five tabs visited, making it easy to find them quickly, which is especially useful for those who manage many tabs open at the same time.

New Opera offers a modular redesign with new ways to control music and video. The music player has been redesigned to move freely around the screen without interrupting the user’s navigation. Likewise, the video player can be scrolled and is compatible with video calls. A practical example of this integration is when a user is listening to music before a Google Meet meeting, the music will automatically turn off and pause when the call starts and resume when the call ends.

As regards ad blockingwhich Opera has integrated since 2016, allows uninterrupted browsing by blocking intrusive ads without the need for additional installation. In addition, the company announced that it will continue to support the Manifest V2 extension, bringing with it greater privacy and ad control. It also includes a VPN, not as powerful as the commercial ones, but free to use and integrated.

Opera One R2 is freely available for Windows, Linux, Mac and major mobile platforms.