When version 100 of Google’s Chrome browser is available to download, it will be without the Lite mode that enables less mobile data to be used on Android devices when browsing the web, and I couldn’t be happier.
In a blog post, the company explained that it doesn’t see the need for a feature to minimize data used in its web browser, when the amount of cellular data has increased, while the cost has stayed the same.
The feature arrived back in 2014 as a way to load webpages with less data being used, which could be useful for those on a small data plan for their smartphone.
Having sold phones and data plans to customers in a previous career, the end of this feature is only good news for me, but mainly for the customer who reads their content from Chrome on a mobile device every day.
When does Chrome 100 arrive?
According to Google’s Roadmap status page for Chrome, version 100 will arrive on March 29, with a beta arriving around March 3.
This will apply to all versions of Chrome – from its mobile versions to the desktop on PC, Mac and Chromebook.
But with the Data Saver feature only on Android versions, it’s not going to be something that’s missed by many users, especially as there’s data saving features built into Android 12 for all apps anyway, by going to Settings > Cellular Data.
Having worked at a phone store for years before switching careers to be a writer, helping customers with their phones and the data they would use, would be a common task for me. Some would come in, asking me why they had received a text stating they were at 80% of their monthly data usage.
Looking at how much data apps would be used, a web browser would usually reign supreme at the top of this list. But this was in a time where 2GB of data a month would be normal to see, not the 150GB a month or unlimited plans we all see advertised.
But when a ‘lite’ mode would appear on a browser or a social media app like Facebook, it would degrade the experience. I remember pixelated images loading instead, or certain content removed so the text would be all over the place.
However, it’s finally time to see the back of these features – they only hinder, not help the experience if you’re trying to search for something or read the latest news in Chrome on your Samsung S22.
As Google Chrome hits a century of a version number, it’s great to see this disappear, and instead, enrich the content that’s available for your interests across the spectrum of the web.
However, Firefox is also approaching version 100, so there’s a chance that we may see a landmark feature arrive from Mozilla as well. March is looking to be an eventful time for web browsers on many devices, and I’m here for it.
