Microsoft Edge - From Internet Explorer's Shadow to AI-Powered Browsing

Microsoft Edge has had a long and transformative journey from its early days as Internet Explorer’s successor to its current state as a cutting-edge, AI-powered browser. Initially struggling with adoption, Edge’s major turning point came with its switch to the Chromium engine, which addressed performance issues, improved compatibility, and enhanced extension support.

Now, Microsoft is betting on AI-driven innovations to differentiate Edge from its competitors and establish it as more than just another browser.

Today, let’s see how far Microsoft has come, through the years:

The Legacy of Internet Explorer: A Tough Act to Follow

Internet Explorer (IE) was once the undisputed leader in web browsing. In the early 2000s, it commanded over 90% of the market share, largely due to Microsoft bundling it with Windows. However, its dominance was built on a foundation that would eventually crack under the pressure of modern web demands.

Performance and Security Struggles

As web technologies evolved, IE became infamous for its sluggish performance, frequent crashes, and glaring security vulnerabilities. The browser was notorious for rendering web pages inconsistently, leading developers to create "IE fixes" just to make websites display properly. Security holes made it a prime target for malware and phishing attacks, further damaging its reputation.

The Rise of Competitors

By the late 2000s, faster, more efficient browsers like Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome emerged. Chrome, in particular, gained rapid popularity with its sleek UI, extension support, and significantly faster performance. Internet Explorer, with its aging Trident rendering engine, struggled to keep up, leading to a mass exodus of users.

The Breaking Point

By 2015, Microsoft had to face the inevitable - IE had become obsolete. The company announced that it would no longer develop new versions and instead introduced a brand-new browser to replace it: Microsoft Edge. This marked a pivotal moment, as Microsoft attempted to reclaim its former browser glory while shedding the baggage of Internet Explorer’s troubled past.

The Rise of Microsoft Edge: A Second Chance at Browsing

By 2015, Microsoft knew it needed to start fresh. Instead of trying to patch up Internet Explorer’s issues, the company introduced Microsoft Edge, a completely new browser designed to compete with the likes of Chrome and Firefox. However, Edge’s journey wasn’t smooth sailing from the start.

The Original Edge (2015-2019): A Promising but Flawed Beginning

The first iteration of Edge, built on Microsoft’s proprietary EdgeHTML engine, aimed to provide a faster, more secure browsing experience. It featured a clean UI, built-in note-taking with a stylus (ideal for touchscreen devices), and integration with Cortana for voice search.

However, despite Microsoft’s efforts, Edge faced multiple roadblocks:

• Limited Extension Support – Unlike Chrome and Firefox, which had vast extension libraries, Edge had very few add-ons available, making it less appealing to power users.
• Compatibility Issues – Many websites weren’t optimized for Edge’s rendering engine, leading to display errors and functionality problems.
• Forced Adoption Attempts – Microsoft made Edge the default browser on Windows 10, prompting frustration among users who felt compelled to use it rather than choosing it willingly.

Because of these challenges, Edge struggled to gain traction, and by 2019, its market share was less than 5%, far behind Chrome’s dominance.

The Chromium Overhaul (2020-Present): A Game-Changer

Recognizing the need for drastic change, Microsoft made a bold move in January 2020 - they rebuilt Edge using Google’s Chromium engine, the same foundation powering Chrome. This decision transformed Edge’s capabilities overnight, addressing many of its earlier shortcomings.

Key Advantages of the Chromium-Based Edge:

• Improved Performance – The new Edge ran faster, smoother, and handled modern web applications more efficiently.
• Extension Compatibility – Users could now install extensions directly from the Chrome Web Store, removing a major disadvantage.
• Better Website Compatibility – Since most websites were already optimized for Chromium, Edge no longer suffered from display issues.
• Cross-Platform Support – Unlike its predecessor, Edge was now available on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, making it a viable alternative across devices.

This move was widely praised, and adoption rates began to rise. Microsoft positioned Edge as a faster, more privacy-focused alternative to Chrome, emphasizing efficiency and security.

Key Features That Set Edge Apart

With its Chromium-based foundation, Microsoft Edge had the opportunity to redefine its identity - not just as a Chrome alternative but as a browser with its own unique strengths. Microsoft focused on performance, privacy, and seamless integration with its ecosystem to attract users.

1. Performance and Efficiency: A Lightweight Alternative to Chrome

One of the most common criticisms of Google Chrome is its heavy resource consumption, particularly its tendency to eat up RAM. Microsoft Edge tackled this issue by introducing features that prioritize efficiency and battery life.

Sleeping Tabs

Edge automatically puts inactive tabs to sleep after a certain period of time, reducing CPU and memory usage. Microsoft claims this can lead to a 32% reduction in memory usage and a 37% decrease in CPU consumption, making it a great choice for users with multiple tabs open.

Efficiency Mode

When enabled, Efficiency Mode lowers Edge’s resource usage, extending battery life on laptops. Unlike Chrome, which aggressively caches tabs, Edge dynamically adjusts system resource allocation based on user activity.

These optimizations have made Edge a top choice for users who need a lightweight browser that doesn’t slow down their system.

3. Privacy and Security: A Stronger Focus on User Protection

Privacy has become a key battleground among browsers. Microsoft Edge positions itself as a privacy-conscious alternative to Chrome, which is often criticized for its data collection practices.

Tracking Prevention

Edge includes three levels of tracking prevention (Basic, Balanced, and Strict), giving users control over how much data websites can collect. The Balanced mode is enabled by default, blocking most third-party trackers without breaking website functionality.

Microsoft Defender SmartScreen

This built-in security feature helps users avoid phishing scams and malicious websites. It scans links in real time and warns users about potential threats - offering an extra layer of protection compared to Chrome’s Safe Browsing.

Secure DNS and Password Monitor

Edge integrates Secure DNS (DNS-over-HTTPS) to encrypt website lookups, reducing the risk of DNS-based attacks. The Password Monitor feature alerts users if their saved credentials have been compromised in a data breach.

With these features, Microsoft is marketing Edge as a secure alternative for privacy-conscious users.

3. Windows Integration: Edge as the Default Productivity Browser

Microsoft has heavily integrated Edge into the Windows ecosystem, positioning it as the best browser for productivity.

Collections

The Collections feature allows users to save web pages, images, and notes in a structured way, making it ideal for research and organization. Unlike Chrome’s bookmarks, Collections offer a more visual and interactive way to store web content.

Vertical Tabs

Unlike traditional horizontal tabs, Edge lets users switch to vertical tabs, which makes navigation easier - especially on widescreen monitors where vertical space is more abundant.

Immersive Reader

Microsoft Edge includes an Immersive Reader mode that strips away ads and distractions from web pages, making it easier to read long articles. Users can also enable text-to-speech to have content read aloud - a feature particularly useful for accessibility.

With these productivity-focused features, Edge is not just a browser - it’s being positioned as an all-in-one tool for students, researchers, and professionals.

The AI Revolution: Edge’s Biggest Bet Yet

Microsoft has made artificial intelligence a core focus of Edge’s evolution. With the rise of Copilot, powered by OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Edge now integrates AI-driven tools directly into the browser. Users can summarize web pages, generate text, and even get AI-assisted search results - all without leaving their tabs.

Edge also leverages AI-powered image and text generation, allowing users to create content effortlessly. With Bing Chat built into Edge, Microsoft is pushing its browser beyond simple web navigation into an AI-assisted digital workspace.

Market Standing: Can Edge Compete with Chrome?

Despite its advancements, Edge still struggles with market adoption. As of 2024, Chrome holds nearly 65% of the market, while Edge remains around 5%, battling Firefox and Safari for relevance. The challenge? Convincing users to switch from Chrome, a browser deeply ingrained in people’s workflows.

However, Microsoft continues to push Edge aggressively, making it the default browser on Windows and integrating it deeply with productivity tools like Office 365. If its AI-driven innovations gain traction, Edge may carve out a niche that differentiates it from competitors.

Final Words

Microsoft Edge has evolved significantly over the years, overcoming its rocky beginnings and establishing itself as a powerful, feature-rich browser. While Chrome remains dominant, Edge has carved out a unique space with its focus on efficiency, privacy, and AI-powered productivity tools. With Microsoft continuously investing in AI integration and Windows ecosystem enhancements, Edge has the potential to redefine how users interact with the web.

Whether it can challenge Chrome’s dominance remains to be seen, but one thing is certain - Edge is no longer just an afterthought in the browser wars.