Are you about to suggest we add something or alter something to Brave? Don’t just tell us what you want - a lot of people want a lot of things. Instead, state your requested feature and state your case for why it should be seriously considered. You’re much more likely to get feedback from the team this way.
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Hello Brave Community and Team,
I am writing to request a crucial feature that would greatly enhance the browsing experience on Android phones: a user setting to enable the desktop-style horizontal tab bar.
Currently, Brave on Android employs an inconsistent and, in my opinion, inefficient interface model based solely on device detection:
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On Android tablets, Brave helpfully provides the horizontal tab bar at the top of the screen.
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On Android phones with the exact same app version, this tab bar is completely unavailable and replaced by the traditional tab switcher/overview.
I have attached a screenshot (or can confirm it’s a known UI difference) showing this discrepancy. The phone is forced into a different workflow without user consent.
Why the Current “Traditional” Method is Deficient:
The tab switcher (accessed by tapping the tab counter) creates unnecessary friction:
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It’s a Two-Step Process: You must tap to open the overview, then tap again to select a tab. The tab bar allows one-tap, instant switching.
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Obscures Content: The overview takes over the entire screen, hiding the page you were just viewing. The tab bar is always visible, allowing constant context.
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Poor for Multi-Tab Management: Glancing at tab titles in a bar is infinitely faster for managing 5+ tabs than scrolling through a vertical list or grid.
Why the “Tab Bar” is Superior and Aligns with Brave’s Ethos:
The horizontal tab bar is not just a visual preference; it’s a productivity and usability feature. It offers:
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Speed & Agility: Direct visual access and one-tap switching between tabs.
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Spatial Awareness: You always know where your tabs are and can quickly see their titles.
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User Autonomy: This request is fundamentally about choice and control. Brave champions privacy and user freedom, yet currently decides a core aspect of our interface for us based on hardware. A setting to choose our preferred tab interface would be a perfect embodiment of putting users in control.
My Concrete Request:
Please add a user-toggleable option in Settings > Tabs (e.g., “Tab Layout: Compact [Current] / Tab Bar”) that allows users of Android phones to enable the same efficient horizontal tab bar that is already enjoyed on tablets and desktops.
This would not remove the current method for those who prefer it but would grant power-users and those valuing efficient workflows the freedom to choose a superior navigation model.
Does anyone else in the community feel the same way?