Raj Browser

The internet browser market share is clear-cut: you either use Chrome, Firefox, or something in between. The main takeaway is that there are 2 or 3 big browsers — with Microsoft Edge gaining some traction — that using something else makes you a bit of an outlier.

Still, that doesn't mean that a browser other than Chrome or Firefox is lesser — just that it's not as popular, so fewer people have heard of it. If you're looking for something new, Raj Browser might be up your alley: a major departure in design over the mainstream browsers, coupled with the privacy-focused features and the portability factor, make this an intriguing offer.

This internet browser features a very minimalist design, whereby the tabs appear in the middle, as opposed to the way of the mainstream solutions, which place the tabs on the left side. Seeing such an approach was a welcome change of pace, and the way the address bar incorporates into the tab bar makes everything look neater.

Besides the design, the privacy-focused features are a welcome addition. The built-in ad blocker makes sure that pesky ads and commercials won't bother you, while the open-source nature of the program makes sure that the end-user is prioritized.

While the testing experience was generally a pleasant one, we came across some things that didn't work as intended. For instance, when opening a new tab, you can't directly search the web via the address bar — pressing Enter upon typing something in there would not return any result. Instead, you have to open a new tab, click the big loupe icon in the center, then input your text. The process felt a bit counterintuitive, to say the least.

What's more, when closing a tab, you'll have to click it, then triple-click the three dots icon — right-clicking and closing them via a context menu is not an option.

Raj Browser is an interesting solution: the different design, for better or for worse, makes for a new web browsing experience. The fact that it doesn't require installation means that everyone can conveniently get started with this browser in no time at all.