Apple has launched a Switch to Safari campaign that pitches Safari as a more powerful and private browser than Chrome. The centerpiece is a new page on Apple’s website that sets the two browsers against each other on battery life, speed, and tracking.
Apple’s Switch to Safari page also walks through changing your default browser on Mac, iPhone, and iPad, and every number comes from Apple’s own testing so your mileage may vary.
Apple Claims Safari Loads Sites Up to 35% Faster Than Chrome
Apple says Safari gives you up to 5 hours more video streaming on a Mac than Chrome, enough to stream video all day on a single charge. The same page claims Safari loads frequently visited websites up to 35% faster than Chrome on a Mac.
On raw speed, Apple calls Safari the world’s fastest browser. That claim rests on the JetStream 3.0, MotionMark 1.3.2, and Speedometer 3.1 benchmarks, where Safari scored higher on average than Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Firefox.
Apple ran the battery and page load tests in August 2026 on one hardware and software setup:
- A 15-inch MacBook Air with Apple M5, 16GB of memory, and a 512GB SSD
- A prerelease build of macOS 27 Golden Gate with Safari 27.0 against Chrome version 151
- 1080p video for the streaming test, and snapshots of 12 popular websites under simulated network conditions for the page load test
The footnotes note that results vary with usage, system configuration, and network connection.
Apple Also Goes After Chrome on Tracking and Distractions
On privacy, Apple says Safari blocks third-party cookies by default and uses Intelligent Tracking Prevention to stop data collection companies from profiling your browsing. Chrome does not block third-party cookies, the page argues, which lets them follow you across the web and collect data for advertisers. The comparison chart also marks Chrome as missing machine learning tracking protection and known tracker blocking in Private Browsing.
Distraction Control lets you tap to hide any element on a page, and Safari remembers the choice the next time you visit. The page says Chrome does not remember which distractions you want hidden. The feature needs iOS 18, iPadOS 18, or macOS 15 Sequoia or later.
Apple also promotes Safari Notify Me, which uses Apple Intelligence to check a web page for changes such as price drops or item availability.
Switching Takes a Few Taps and Chrome Bookmarks Can Come Along
On a Mac, open System Settings, click Desktop & Dock, and choose Safari under Default web browser. On iPhone and iPad, open Settings, tap Apps, tap Safari, tap Default Browser App, and select Safari. The Mac steps apply to macOS 13 or later.
Safari can import bookmarks and saved passwords from Chrome. On a Mac, the import can run automatically the first time you open Safari, or you can add them later. On iPhone, it lives in the Settings app. We also have a guide that covers syncing Safari and Chrome bookmarks and history on Mac for people who keep both browsers.
Safari runs only on macOS, iOS, and iPadOS. Apple says iCloud for Windows can install an extension that syncs bookmarks from another browser with Safari on an Apple device.
Our Take
This is a push aimed at Mac owners who installed Chrome years ago and never looked back. Apple is also testing Safari code that tracks Chrome promotions on Google’s pages.
The battery and page load numbers come from a single 15-inch MacBook Air with Apple M5 running prerelease software, so treat them as a best case until independent tests land.
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