Microsoft Edge for Android beta received an update in the weekend that added Adblock Plus integration for users. Adblock Plus is a popular ad-blocking solution for desktop browsers, and it is available as a standalone app for mobile devices for blocking ads. Microsoft updated its Android mobile browser with the ad-blocker built-in, allowing users to skip the need for a standalone ad-block app on their Android devices. Microsoft Edge for Android is also available for Windows Mobile and iOS platforms.
It is one of the biggest updates to Microsoft Edge for Android, an integrated ad-blocker can help boost the 5 million downloads the app has already seen on Google’s mobile OS platform. While the number of downloads for Microsoft’s Android browser does seem impressive, it is a far cry from the 100 million installs Firefox has experienced on Android. Google is winning the Android browser war with over a billion installs on the platform. However, Google’s browser comes pre-installed on every Android device which counts towards the download stats on the Play Store.
Microsoft is not the first to introduce an integrated ad-blocker with some manufacturers like Samsung allowing device-wide ad-blocking. Chrome for Android has its own ad-blocker built in, but it is not very effective and fails to block ads in most websites. Mozilla Firefox for Android also offers an ad-blocker, but it is restricted to private browsing tabs only. Microsoft's offering fares better in comparison compared to the other existing options out there if the Edge browser suits your needs.
What do you think about the new ad-blocker in Microsoft Edge for Android? Let us know about your experience with the app in the comments below. Get instant updates on TechNadu’s Facebook page, or Twitter handle.