Google rolls out 4 new Chrome upgrades for iOS users, narrowing the gap with Android
With these new updates, Google aims to put Safari to shame, giving iOS users a taste of the Chrome for Android experience.
Just a few months after bringing tab groups and syncing to Chrome on iOS, Google is introducing four more upgrades to bring its iOS version closer to its Android counterpart.
These new features, previously available in some form on Chrome for Android, aim to improve shopping, storage, and search functionality for iPhone and iPad users—around 400 million of whom use Chrome as their preferred browser.
Kelechi Edeh
The most notable addition is the enhanced Google Lens functionality, which now allows iOS users to search with both images and text at the same time. Previously, Google Lens on Chrome for iOS was generally limited to image-only queries.
Now, users can upload a photo—such as of a specific sneaker style—and add a keyword like "blue" to refine the results. This update, which Android users have had access to since 2022, promises iOS users a flexible, visually driven search tool. While Apple’s Visual Intelligence also provides a similar feature on iPhone 16 models, Google Lens could offer broader compatibility across iOS devices.
Meanwhile, a new Shopping Insights feature introduces a way to track product prices directly within Chrome on iOS. Now, Google says when Chrome detects a product discount on a search query, a “Good Deal Now” icon appears in the address bar, and tapping it reveals the item’s price history.
While this feature is currently available to U.S. users only, Google has indicated that it may expand Shopping Insights to more regions over time. Similar price-tracking tools have been available on Chrome for Android since last year.
Google also added a new integration allowing iOS users to save files and images directly to Google Drive or Google Photos, in a bid to address iOS storage limitations.
By selecting “Save to Drive” or “Save in Google Photos” from Chrome, iOS users can now store content in the cloud, which could help free up local phone storage.
Finally, the new mini-map preview feature aims to simplify navigation by showing a small map within Chrome when an address is tapped. Instead of switching to Google Maps, users would now be able to view quick location details directly within the browser.
It’s worth noting that some of these features will initially roll out to a limited group of users first. So, if you don’t see them on your iOS device, ensure you’re running the latest Chrome version from the App Store and wait for Google to activate them.
Together, these updates reflect Google’s ongoing commitment to enhancing Chrome for iOS, providing iPhone and iPad users with features that have made Chrome on Android a strong alternative to Safari.
