After months of anticipation, Android users can now access the Arc Search browser, featuring built-in ad blocking and AI-powered search summaries. The app, developed by The Browser Company, is available as an open beta on the Google Play Store, offering an alternative to traditional mobile browsers like Chrome.
Arc’s standout feature is "Browse for Me," an AI tool that generates concise summaries of search results by analyzing multiple web pages. Users can switch between traditional search results and AI summaries using a toggle in the app. This feature is particularly useful for quickly digesting information, such as sports updates or recipe searches, without sifting through lengthy articles.
In addition to the AI-powered summaries, Arc Search blocks ads and data-tracking pop-ups by default, auto-archives old tabs, and offers seamless synchronization with the desktop version of the Arc browser.
While the current version is free, The Browser Company CEO Josh Miller has hinted at plans to introduce a paid version in the future, featuring additional functionalities aimed at making Arc a comprehensive mobile companion to its desktop counterpart. Despite these upcoming paid features, the core version of Arc Search will remain free.
For now, Arc Search on Android lacks some features available on iOS, such as pinch-to-summarize and voice search. However, the app is expected to become generally available later this year, with further updates to expand its functionality across platforms.