Introduction
Previously, I wrote about switching from Arc to Zen Browser. Since then, I have been using both Arc and Zen side by side and have discovered some points that I initially overlooked. This time, I’d like to write a brief follow-up to supplement my previous article.
As before, this is not a general comparison between the two browsers. Instead, I’ll focus on how well they suit my personal environment and which one is better depending on the situation. While this may not be useful for everyone, I hope some of you find it helpful.
*screenshot from official website
New Discoveries
In my previous article, I shared my initial impressions of Zen after using it briefly. However, after a few weeks of using both Arc and Zen more extensively, I have noticed several things that stood out.
To summarize, there are some minor issues that I hope will be improved in future updates (or that I can find workarounds for myself). However, Arc’s overheating problem does not occur in Zen, even with similar usage (at least as of now). Considering this, I currently feel that Zen is the better choice overall.
Below are the points I have noticed since writing my previous article.
1. No Folder System for Organizing Essentials (UI)
In Arc, the sidebar’s Pins (Zen’s equivalent of Essentials) can be organized into folders, allowing for a more structured layout. However, Zen lacks this feature, making the list longer and harder to navigate when there are many items. I hope this will be improved in future updates.
2. Mac's Text Replacement Doesn't Work
I’m not sure if this issue stems from my environment or from Zen itself, but Mac’s Text Replacement feature does not work in Zen, with my macOS Sequoia 15.2. It functions properly in Arc and other apps, yet for some reason, it fails in Zen.
At first, I thought this might be a Firefox-related issue, so I tested it in the latest version of the official Firefox browser, but it worked fine there. Since Zen is based on Firefox, it’s quite puzzling that this feature doesn’t work. I searched online and found that some users have reported similar issues in forums, but I have yet to find a solution.
3. Closing All Tabs Opens the Last Essential Page
This is a very minor issue, but in Arc, when you close all tabs, the search bar appears in the center of the screen (similar to pressing Cmd + T). However, in Zen, when all tabs are closed, the last page in the Essentials list automatically opens instead.
To work around this, you can either place Zen’s start page at the bottom of the Essentials list or always keep it open as a tab, similar to Arc. However, this feels somewhat clunky. Ideally, Zen should implement a more elegant built-in solution.
4. Lacking Some of Arc's Convenient Features
Zen is a simple and minimalist browser, but compared to Arc, it lacks several convenient features. Some of the missing functionalities include:
- Automatic tab closure after 12 hours of inactivity (This feature is a love it or hate it feature, but for me it is my favorite!)
- In Arc, there is a button in the lower-left corner that provides quick access to recent media files like screenshots and images (Library). This UI button allows you to drag and drop media files directly from the browser, which is incredibly innovative. Zen does have a similar button on the same place, but I personally find it a little hard to use and think Arc's UI is better.
*screenshot from official website
With all these points, I may have painted a somewhat negative picture of Zen. However, it has a key advantage that outweighs these shortcomings—Arc's overheating issue is nonexistent (at least so far).
Arc’s UI is undoubtedly well-designed, but Zen offers a simple, no-frills, and minimalist experience that can be appealing in its own right. Additionally, since Zen is a relatively new browser, there is a good chance that these issues will be improved through future updates.
Furthermore, I would like to acknowledge that my experience with Zen is still limited, so there may be features I haven’t fully explored yet. For example, Zen has a customization feature called "Zen Mods", but I haven’t had the chance to experiment with it in depth. It’s possible that by making better use of features I’m not yet familiar with, some of the issues I mentioned earlier could be resolved. In any case, I believe Zen has great potential.
Conclusion
Some time has passed since my previous article, but to be honest, I haven't fully explored Zen yet. This article is based purely on my impressions at this stage. I plan to continue using Zen and observing how it develops over time.
If you notice any errors in my analysis or have any advice (such as solutions to the issues I mentioned), I would greatly appreciate your insights!
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