{
  "id": 15512550,
  "title": "Sideraven brings vertical tabs to mobile; it's my new favorite browser",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/sideraven-brings-vertical-tabs-to-mobile-its-my-new-favorite-browser",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-18T23:00:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Android Police",
    "slug": "android-police",
    "url": "https://www.androidpolice.com/sideraven-brings-vertical-tabs-to-mobile-its-my-new-favorite-browser/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Since February, author <name> has been utilizing Google Chrome's vertical tabs feature, which initially launched on the Canary branch in January before making its way to Chrome's beta branch. While the feature hasn't made its way to iOS, <name> believes that a vertical tab layout would be more beneficial for mobile devices, particularly given the limited width available on smaller screens. With the traditional horizontal layout, <name> can fit 12 tabs on a 1080p monitor before needing to rely on icons to identify them, while on mobile, <name> can fit 29. Although keeping tabs open takes up a significant portion of the screen's width, most websites have ample empty space along the edges, allowing for more efficient use of space. Additionally, compressed vertical tabs enable the viewing of each tab's icon without taking up too much space, and a visible search tab button is present. Despite finding vertical tabs more manageable for managing numerous tabs across multiple screens, mobile browsing presents unique challenges. While phones are often too large, there isn't much width to spare. Accessing different tabs on Chrome for Android is clunky, requiring the opening of a separate window each time, and even with the tab window open, only six tabs can be viewed at a time. A vertical tab menu would be more accessible, allowing for a swipe gesture to view a list of tab icons, which could then be opened in a full-screen or half-screen preview of tab names without having to adjust one's grip. This would be possible without needing to tap the tab button, as reaching to tap it feels uncomfortable on small phones. A layout like this sounds great, but would it work in practice? The answer is yes, as third-party browser Sideraven, built specifically for tablets, already employs this concept. Sideraven moves the address bar and tabs to the side, offering customization options including the ability to switch between icons or full names of tabs with a swipe. However, performance is currently sluggish, and the browser is a fork of Iceraven, itself a fork of Firefox, which may not appeal to Chrome fans. Currently, Sideraven is only available on its GitHub page and IzzyOnDroid, but not on the Google Play Store. Despite its imperfections, Sideraven demonstrates that vertical tabs can work on smartphones and may eventually become a standard feature in mobile browsers.",
  "summary": "Vertical tabs on mobile actually work",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}