The tab stacks in the Vivaldi browser are a fantastic feature that I wish were available in Chrome and Safari.

      While most Chromium-based browsers consider tab management to be a secondary feature, Vivaldi adopts a more thoughtful strategy. Its recent iOS update emphasizes one of its standout features: two-level tab stacks. Although not a brand-new feature, it's one of the few that effectively helps manage multiple tabs on a phone without feeling overwhelming.

      A small yet genuinely useful functionality

      Rather than concealing grouped tabs within a menu or requiring a switch to a separate page, Vivaldi keeps everything within easy reach, allowing for quick and intuitive navigation between related tabs. The browser showcases your main tabs in a row at the top and reveals a second row beneath when you're in a stack.

      For those frequently shifting between research, work, and casual reading, this enhancement is significant. Picture planning a trip while comparing flights, accommodations, and reviews on different websites. Vivaldi enables you to group those tabs easily and transition between them instantly, maintaining your workflow.

      This solution is also beneficial for heavy users who depend on their phones for professional tasks. Whether you are cross-referencing sources, tracking various stories, or handling research-intensive assignments, keeping related tabs organized and visible can save a surprising amount of time.

      To utilize this feature, simply long-press the New Tab button and select “New Tab Stack.” The browser provides two methods of tab stacking: Two-level and Accordion, which can be adjusted in Settings > Tabs > Tab Stacking Style.

      Chrome accomplishes the task but lacks intuitiveness

      Google Chrome on mobile features tab groups, but they exist within its grid-style tab switcher. After grouping tabs, the group is represented as a single tab in the main switcher, making it easy to lose track of among numerous other open tabs. Accessing them necessitates opening the tab switcher and scrolling through all open tabs or shifting into the dedicated group view, which introduces additional steps.

      Google’s system functions but isn’t seamless. Transitions between tabs in a group aren’t straightforward either, as you must tap the Tab button in the bottom bar to go back to group view and select another tab, which can accumulate in time if you’re frequently switching.

      Safari values simplicity over convenience

      Safari on iPhones takes an opposite approach. Its tab groups are straightforward, yet they operate more like folders than active browsing environments. Swiping on the bottom bar for quick navigation between tab groups is quite user-friendly, but switching between different tabs within a group proves to be less efficient.

      When you open a group and select a tab, returning to the tab switcher is necessary to choose another. There’s no quick method for moving between tabs within a group; tapping the three-dot menu and selecting All Tabs is required for accessing the tab group grid view each time you want to select a different tab.

      There’s a clear trade-off with Vivaldi’s method

      Vivaldi’s two-level tab stacks enhance the ease of switching between tabs, but this approach comes with a drawback. Displaying stacked tabs in a second row occupies additional screen space, resulting in less visible page content than a single row would provide.

      The accordion-style stacking in Vivaldi mitigates this by consolidating tabs into a single line, yet it isn't as fluid as the two-level arrangement. However, since the second row only appears when a stack is in use, it doesn’t clutter the interface permanently. For those who frequently manage numerous tabs, the increased visibility seems a reasonable compromise for sacrificing some screen space at times.

      A more practical approach to managing tabs

      Vivaldi’s implementation may not be flawless, but it demonstrates how much potential exists to enhance tab management on mobile devices. Rather than burying tab groups, the browser ensures they are more accessible.

      This distinctiveness sets it apart and highlights the limitations still present in tab management on Chrome and Safari. Hopefully, Google and Apple will take notice and incorporate similar features in their browsers soon.