Chrome Vs Opera
Although Opera has been a second class citizen (is it too strong word?) in the world of web browsers for sometime (IE and firefox get all the limelight and opera is mostly used by geeks and programmers), recent surveys suggest that it has earned a significant market share, thanks to strong marketing efforts by Opera team. Not to mention, more feature rich releases and recent usability enhancements done by Opera Software ASA, the creators of Opera.
On the other hand, Google Chrome which started with a bang in october 2008, is the latest addition in internet browsers list and currently it is getting a lot of attention from Internet users, mostly because of a product from Google. In the very first week, as it was reported to take 1% browser market share. Anyway since then,the reviews about Google Chrome are mixed and people have again moved back to firefox (most of the chrome users were firefox users to begin with but its a different story which I will cover on some other time)
In browser market, Internet explorer owns 70+% and firefox owns 21+% in browser market and the rest is shared by Opera, Chrome, Safari etc so probably its not fair to compare Opera and Chrome with firefox and IE as the latter are way too old and established.
So if we have to compare between Chrome vs Opera, which will come out as winner ? Here is an objective comparison between various features of Google Chrome and Opera to see where they stand again easy other.
Usability - Chrome vs Opera
Opera is a child of the conventional browser layout, so the new users do not have to learn anything new. Chrome has purposely redesigned the layout and how the controls work, requiring new users to spend some time learning the application.
Tabs - Chrome vs Opera
Opera invented tabbing for web browsers before many of the competitors thought of implementing it. But, Chrome adopted it with a few differences where it helps the users to manage their work effectively. Chrome introduced the detachable tabs in addition to the conventional tabs so, Chrome is currently leading in tabbing.
Memory Utilization - Chrome vs Opera
A test was conducted by opening five tabs with 10 minutes of intensive surfing to monitor the memory utilization of the two browsers. As result, Opera consumed 96.6 MB while Chrome consumed 84.1 MB. This is a valid testimonial for Chrome’s efficiency in memory utilization.
Launch Speed - Chrome vs Opera
According to the many tests executed for browser launching speed, Chrome launches itself taking only one third of the time taken by Opera.
Plug-ins - Chrome vs Opera
Currently there are hundreds of plug-ins available for Opera as it has been there in the market for many years. Chrome has only a handful of plug-ins available yet of now.
Performance - Chrome vs Opera
V8 benchmark suit has been executed for comparing the performance of the two browsers. V8 is a standard performance test which measures many aspects of a web browser and then assigns scores. Opera lost by scoring 135 points while Chrome lead by earning 818 points.
Security - Chrome vs Opera
Chrome owns its own sand-box for checking the web content for harmful code. This is an additional security layer above the anti-virus software. But when it comes to Opera, there is no inbuilt security model and it solely relies on the operating system’s security and anti-virus software.
Therefore, as far as the evaluations of Opera and Chrome is concerned, , Chrome comes out as a clear winner against Opera, probably for the reason of it being new and hence have more features. Though personally i prefers to use opera over chrome as chrome is still in beta and I find it difficult to play youtube videos on chrome.
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1Johan on Jul 26, 2009 :
Regarding detachable tabs, opera has had that since way before chrome was even released.
2adam on Jan 2, 2010 :
@Johan - Agreed
And then Opera’s Security: “Its security features include built-in phishing and malware protection, strong encryption when browsing secure Web sites, and the ability to easily delete private data such as HTTP cookies.”
3ker on Feb 7, 2010 :
chrome having more feautures? are you serious? it doesnt even have a built in e-mail client or a notepad. which i desperately need.
but chrome is a clear winner since there is always the extensions that extend its features.
4Ivx on Mar 13, 2010 :
For who wants performance google chrome is the best the tests proves it. About the detachable tabs, thats a good idea so google chrome take it, whats wrong about that?
And for what reason you want a notepad inside a browse, if you want such things inside a browser, things that you can find easily on windows you better use a multifunction browser with shaving function too hahaha.
Sorry for my bad english
5Belask on Aug 21, 2010 :
OK chrome is good, and it’s heading in the right direction, but currently it can’t compete with Opera.
1. Opera had DETACHABLE tabs long before chrome was even born.
2. Opera needs more memory because opera has more features. And if your reading is correct, i would say Opera’s memory consumption is not high for the features it offers.
3. I ran V8 benchmark and yes chrome scored a litter better than opera but their are other benchmarks where Opera scored better. For example peacekeeper.
4. Security? Agreed with Adam.
5. Chrome Bookmarks handling, and Download manager are still crap. Opera rocks here. Also custom search engines handling is not as good as opera.
6. Chrome doesn’t have inbuilt mouse gestures.
7. Chrome doesn’t have inbuilt email client.
8. Chrome doesn’t have inbuilt notepad. You may wonder, why the hell do we need a notepad inside a browser? What if you want to copy and save a paragraph from a website? First you copy the paragraph then you open a text editor, Paste the copied paragraph save it, give it a name, close the text editor, resume surfing the web? Opera users only press Ctrl+Shift+N !
9. Chrome doesn’t have inbuilt Torrent client.
10. Chrome doesn’t have inbuilt feed reader.
Opera has scores of innovative features that other browser don’t have.
edit: Chrome also doesn’t have sessions.
6fjpoblam on Dec 30, 2010 :
I try like heck to love Opera, mainly because I’m not a full truster of GOOG. But two reasons on my MacBookPro.
One is, I don’t test speed strictly by “metrics” but rather by feel. Chrome “feels” intensely faster.
And the other is, Opera has a severely limited set of extensions compared to Chrome. Some that come to mind are: Color Picker, Web Developer, Evernote, Xmarks (with the functionality of that on Chrome), and Bit.ly (with the functionality of that on Chrome).
Thus, so far, it must be Chrome for me.
7Max on Dec 31, 2010 :
I’ve used Opera and Chrome….i personally feel Opera’s loads better than Chrome…it’s got plenty of features…
8Ivx on Jan 5, 2011 :
But Belask thats the point.
Opera memory comsuption is higher because he use thing that the majority of people dont need (at least here where i life). Here must people dont care about such features that opera have. A browser is a browser for surfing in the internet, thats the principal thing and google Won on it. If you like gadgets, widget and all other stuffs like this fine take opera, but the principal question is browsing that why they call them browsers if you want a FAST BROWSER –> CHROME baby. and dont forget chrome have things that opera dont have too but i dont give a crap for those things
9Stanislaw on Mar 2, 2011 :
I’m not clear on the difference in tab functionality in Chrome to which the author refers.
It has been my experience that the tab functions in all four top browsers is, for the most part, if not identical, at least very similar.
I suppose however that when this article was originally written there may have been a more pronounced degree of difference.
10Ivx on Mar 9, 2011 :
Stanislaw what the autor its saying is that in chrome you can detache a tab and he will become an individual windows and vice-versa, very helpfull in certain case
11LKY on Mar 22, 2011 :
I think that Chrome is still the best… because it is very clean and light. Chrome is good in performance and security… but i agree with plug-ins part, the Chrome has less plug-ins than other web browser not just Opera!