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After an extensive testing period that commenced last October, Google Chrome is finally initiating the stable channel release of the bottom address bar option for Android users. Reports indicate that some users are receiving prompts informing them about the ability to reposition the address bar to the bottom of the screen through a touch-and-hold gesture. Additionally, a new “Address bar” menu may appear within the Chrome settings.
This update brings a fundamental shift in the browser’s interface by relocating the Omnibox to the lower edge of the display, a change primarily aimed at enhancing one-handed usability and reachability on increasingly larger smartphone screens. The core functionality of the address bar remains consistent, allowing users to seamlessly enter web addresses and initiate searches.
However, the current implementation appears somewhat rudimentary. While the address bar itself has been moved, Google has not yet optimized other associated UI elements for this new placement. Notably, the overflow menu, accessed via the three-dot icon, retains its original top-aligned position.
So that means frequently used options such as bookmarking, opening a new tab, and accessing browsing history remain situated at the top of the screen, basically undoing the benefits of the bottom address bar. Ideally, this menu would have been reordered to place these common actions within closer reach of the user’s thumb. Furthermore, elements like the New Tab Page have not undergone any corresponding design adjustments in this initial roll-out.
The appearance of this feature has been seen on a limited number of devices running Chrome version 135 in recent days. While not yet a widespread deployment, this limited availability strongly suggests that Google is in the final stages of preparing for a broader release to the Android ecosystem. It’s worth recalling that a similar bottom address bar option was introduced to Chrome for iOS in October of 2023.
VIA: 9to5 Google
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