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New Mac are shipped with Apple’s own chip based on ARM! It is a total different architecture that is better than the traditional Intel x86 in regards of battery efficient and power consumption. However, it brings up a compatibility issue for apps. Some of the apps like web browsers are not supported by this new ARM architecture yet.
If your Mac is powered by a M1 or M2 chip and look for a lightweight web browser, then this is the right place you can get started. Go and test the web browsers listed in blow and leave the ones you like.
P.S. All browsers being tested are working perfectly on a MacBook Air with Apple M1 chip. In addition, it is running the latest macOS Ventura 13.0.
Why Not Using Chrome or Safari on Your Mac?
Chrome is a resource-heavy program and can slow down your Mac, especially if you have a lot of tabs open.
Additionally, Chrome collects a lot of data about your browsing habits, which some people consider to be a privacy concern. Finally, Chrome is proprietary software, which means that you don’t have as much control over it as you do with open-source software.
How about Safari? Safari is not as customizable as other browsers, and it does not have as many extensions and themes available. Additionally, Safari can be slow at times and may crash more often than other browsers.
#1 Avast Secure Web Browser
Avast Secure Browser is a web browser developed by Avast Software. It is based on the Chromium web browser and offers users a more secure browsing experience.
Avast Secure Browser offers a number of features that make it more secure than other web browsers. It includes a built-in password manager, which can be used to store passwords and other sensitive information. It also includes a built-in ad blocker, which can block unwanted ads and pop-ups. Additionally, Avast Secure Browser offers a number of privacy-related features, such as a built-in VPN and a private browsing mode.
Overall, Avast Secure Browser is a more secure and privacy-focused web browser than most other browsers on the market. However, it is not without its drawbacks. One downside is that it is not as widely compatible with web sites and services as other browsers. Additionally, some users have reported that the browser can be slow and resource-intensive.
Download Avast Secure Browser for M1 & M2 Mac: https://www.avast.com/secure-browser#mac
#2 Microsoft Edge
Microsoft Edge is a web browser developed by Microsoft. It is designed to be a replacement for the Internet Explorer web browser. Edge has been included in Windows 10 and is the default web browser for that operating system.
Edge includes a number of features that are designed to improve the web browsing experience. These include a reading mode that makes it easier to read web pages, a built-in PDF viewer, and support for extensions. Edge also includes a number of security features, such as a built-in malware scanner and support for the Windows Defender SmartScreen filter.
Microsoft has also made a version of Edge for macOS. This version of Edge includes all of the same features as the Windows version, with the exception of the built-in PDF viewer. The macOS version of Edge also includes support for Touch Bar controls.
Download Microsoft Edge Browser for M1 & M2 Mac: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/edge
#3 FireFox
Firefox is a web browser that is part of the Mozilla Corporation. Firefox is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android. Firefox is known for its speed, security, and privacy features.
Firefox has a variety of features that make it a good choice for a web browser. Firefox is fast, secure, and private. Firefox also has a variety of extensions and themes that can be used to customize the browser.
Firefox is a good choice for a web browser because it is fast, secure, and private. Firefox also has a variety of extensions and themes that can be used to customize the browser.
Download Firefox Browser for M1 & M2 Mac: https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/
#4 DuckDuckGo Browser (Beta)
DuckDuckGo Browser is a free, fast and secure web browser. It is developed by the search giant DuckDuckGo. It was first released in 2022. It is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. DuckDuckGo Browser has a built-in ad blocker, a free VPN, and a battery saver feature.
DuckDuckGo Browser is a great alternative to other web browsers such as Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. It is lightweight and has a sleek design. Opera also has some unique features that other browsers don’t have, such as the ability to pin tabs and a built-in news reader.
DuckDuckGo Browser is a good choice for anyone who is looking for a fast, secure and lightweight web browser.
Download DuckDuckGo Browser for M1 & M2 Mac: https://duckduckgo.com/mac
#5 Brave Browser
The Brave browser is a free and open-source web browser based on the Chromium web browser and its Blink engine. It was created by Brendan Eich, the co-founder of the Mozilla Corporation and the Mozilla Foundation. The browser was first released in 2016, and it is designed to block trackers and ads that follow you around the web, and its "pay-to-surf" model allows users to receive payments in the form of Basic Attention Tokens (BAT) for viewing ads.
The browser also has a built-in wallet that can be used to store BAT tokens, and a "tip" feature that allows users to send tips to websites and content creators.
The Brave browser has been generally well-received, with critics praising its ad-blocking and privacy features. However, some have criticized the "pay-to-surf" model, arguing that it could lead to a two-tier internet where those who can afford to pay for ads are the only ones who have access to certain content.
Download Brave Browser for M1 & M2 Mac: https://brave.com/
#6 Vivaldi Browser
Vivaldi is a new, feature-rich web browser that combines an elegant interface with advanced tools and technologies. Designed for power-users, Vivaldi gives users a rich set of features that can be customized and tweaked to suit their browsing needs.
Vivaldi is built on the Chromium open-source project, and features a variety of built-in tools that make it a great choice for power-users. These include a powerful note-taking tool, a built-in email client, and a versatile tab management system. Vivaldi also includes a number of unique features that set it apart from other browsers, such as a built-in ad blocker and a "speed dial" feature that makes it easy to access your favorite websites.
Whether you’re a power-user or simply looking for a new, feature-rich web browser, Vivaldi is definitely worth checking out.
Download Vivaldi Browser for M1 & M2 Mac: https://vivaldi.com/download/
Summary
It is really hard to say which is the best web browser for Mac as each browser is optimized for dedicated features, like Avast for security and DuckDuckGo for privacy. It depends what kind of features you are expecting from a web browser. I suggest testing them out one by one and keep the ones you like most.