Literally the only thing holding me back from using bottom address bar is that the New Tab button being moved at the top, make it hard to reach especially when you’re using with one hand.
And apparently this only happen on Android version, as I checked Brave on iOS, the button stay at the bottom all the time.
Can we keep the button at the bottom like on iOS since it’s easier to reach? The button itself doesn’t obscures any element when we open the tab menu though…
Looks like someone’s opened and issue for this already:
opened 05:49PM - 03 Mar 26 UTC
feature-request
OS/Android
### Platforms
Android
### Description
Place the "New Tab" (+) button in Brave… for Android at the bottom of the screen (bottom navigation area) as an option or setting, instead of requiring users to reach to the top-left corner to open a new tab.
Motivation and user value
- Improved one-handed ergonomics: Most modern phones are tall; reaching the top-left corner is uncomfortable or impossible for many users when using one hand. Moving the + button to the bottom makes creating tabs reachable with the thumb.
- Faster, more comfortable interactions: Bottom placement reduces hand movement and time to open a new tab, improving flow for quick browsing tasks.
- Accessibility: Users with limited dexterity, reduced reach, or motor impairments benefit from controls placed within the natural thumb zone.
- Consistency with platform patterns: Many Android apps place primary actions in bottom navigation or use a bottom-aligned FAB (floating action button); adding a bottom option aligns Brave with established mobile UX patterns.
- Reduced accidental taps / improved discoverability: A clear, dedicated bottom control can be larger and visually distinct, reducing accidental presses on cramped top-left controls and making tab creation more discoverable for new users.
- Customizability: Offering this as an opt-in setting or as part of a customizable toolbar respects power users who prefer the current layout while helping those who prefer bottom controls.
- Proposed designs / implementation options
Optional bottom FAB
- Add a toggle in Settings → Appearance (or Tabs) to "Show New Tab button at bottom".
- When enabled, display a floating circular + button above the bottom navigation bar (or integrated inside it). Tapping creates a new tab as current behavior.
- Keep the existing top-left + (or menu) behavior unchanged to preserve backward compatibility.
- Bottom navigation integration
- Add the + icon as a central item in the bottom navigation bar (similar to a center FAB) that creates a new tab.
- Allow long-press to open a new tab in background (optional).
- Configurable toolbar
- Provide a simple toolbar editor where users can choose which common actions (New Tab, New Private Tab, Search, Home, etc.) appear on the bottom bar.
- Save layout per device orientation and optionally per hand (left/right) preference.
- Reachability-aware placement
- Place the + button dynamically: bottom-left or bottom-right depending on a “handedness” setting (right/left thumb preference) or based on measured tap ergonomics.
<img width="787" height="1767" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/4b54f172-4180-472e-947b-0d220273e80e" />
I agree and think this should be changed. I’ve added this report and some others to the thread for the Android team to review.
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