Japan sets December deadline for Apple to remove restrictions on third-party browser engines, opening iOS to more browser choices.
Apple has long controlled which browser engines can run on iPhones, forcing all browsers to use its own WebKit engine. This means popular browsers like Chrome can’t use their usual Blink engine on iOS devices.
But things are about to change. Japan’s new Smartphone Act rules set a clear deadline this December for Apple to lift these restrictions. This could finally allow iPhone browsers built on third-party engines to appear on iOS.
What the New Rules Mean
The guidelines stop Apple from imposing unreasonable technical restrictions on app developers who want to use alternative browser engines. As the Open Web Advocacy group explains:
“Imposing unreasonable technical restrictions on individual app providers while allowing them to adopt alternative browser engines, placing excessive financial burdens on individual app providers for adopting alternative browser engines, and steering smartphone users away from using individual software that incorporates alternative browser engines.”
Simply put, Apple can no longer block or discourage developers from using other browser engines besides WebKit.
Why It Matters
If Apple follows these rules, iPhone users will soon get more choice in browsers, which could mean faster speeds, better features, and improved privacy. While Apple says its control is for security and performance, regulators are pushing for fairness and competition.
This change could reshape the iOS browsing experience not just in Japan, but worldwide giving users more freedom to pick how they browse the web on their iPhones.
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