Chrome finally catches up: vertical tabs & reading mode arrive

For years, Chrome users have quietly yearned for features readily available in rivals like Arc and Safari. Now, Google is finally addressing the chorus of requests, rolling out vertical tab support and a dedicated reading mode – a move that signals a long-overdue shift in Chrome’s development philosophy.

Vertical tabs: a space-saving revelation

The arrival of vertical tabs isn't entirely new; eagle-eyed users have spotted them lurking in Chrome's advanced settings for a while. But now, the feature is officially accessible to a broader audience, accessible with a simple right-click on any Chrome window. The immediate benefit? A significant boost in vertical screen real estate, particularly welcome on the increasingly tall displays we’re all using. The address bar cleverly relocates to the top, leaving more room for the content you’re actually viewing.

But the minimalism doesn't stop there. You can shrink the sidebar down to just the website favicons, effectively vanishing the Chrome interface and creating a surprisingly clean browsing experience. It's a far cry from the cluttered feeling that often accompanies Chrome’s traditional tab bar.

Reading mode: eyes rejoice

Beyond the organizational improvements, Chrome is also introducing a full-page reading mode. This isn't just about stripping away distractions; it's about crafting a genuinely more comfortable reading experience. A right-click and the option to “Open in reading mode” appears, instantly decluttering the page and focusing on the essential text. The result is a clean, distraction-free canvas for absorbing information.

While Google’s implementation is functional, it's hard to ignore the elegance of Arc’s approach, which integrates the address bar within the vertical sidebar, maximizing space even further. I, for one, found myself drawn to Arc initially for its innovative tab management, and the years spent using it have underscored the sheer efficiency of that design. The question now isn't if Chrome will adopt Arc’s “Spaces” feature, but when – and whether it will finally prompt my return to the Google ecosystem. The long wait is over, but the story is far from finished.