Opera’s WebKit-Based Android Browser Is Now Out Of Beta

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Still trying to find a mobile browser you can really rely on? Maybe Opera’s new browser for Android will do the trick. Announced back in February, this is the first Opera browser powered by the WebKit rendering engine. It’s been in beta testing since March, but it officially launches today with additional features.

In addition to all the new features that were first announced in February, Opera now allows you to toggle the navigation bar between the top and the bottom of the window, and view active tabs in fullscreen. It’ll also wrap text when you zoom, and allows you to search from the address bar.

For those unfamiliar with the new Opera browser, this is the first Opera powered by WebKit, the same rendering engine that powers Google Chrome and Apple’s Safari. It’s generally considered the best rendering engine there is, and it’s usually the one that designers and developers consider first when building websites.

The new Opera should mean better web performance, then, and an improved experience overall. Other features include a new “Off-Road” mode, which lets you browse at high speeds outside of 3G and 4G coverage areas, a Speed Dial page for all your favorites, and a download manager.

As always, Opera is completely free, and you can download it now from Google Play.