Today, Microsoft announced Edge web browser for Android and iOS devices, along with the newly updated Microsoft Launcher for Android. The Microsoft Edge browser is available for iPhones in preview whereas the Android version is coming soon to the Windows Insiders. For the web developers, Microsoft has also detailed the Edge browser for Android and iOS.

In a blog post, Microsoft has just detailed the web engine the Edge browser would use on the rival platforms. As Microsoft is not developing iOS or Android operating system, it wasn’t possible for the Redmond-giant to use EdgeHTML in the web browser. As a result, Microsoft Edge is based on the Chromium browser project for Android and WebKit engine on iOS. Microsoft is, however, still committed to the EdgeHTML but due to several complexities, the decision to use the native web platform makes sense.

Microsoft also notes that using Blink rendering engine from the Chromium browser project improves the performance of the browser. They could have also used Android WebView but it is not good in terms of performance and battery life. Microsoft will also keep the browser up-to-date with Chromium releases, as a result, Microsoft Edge for Android will match the Chrome browser version.

As Apple limits beta invites to 10,000 people, Microsoft is only allowing the Windows Insiders to download the Edge browser, Joe Belfiore explains. Thus, your PC should be running the Fall Creators Update Insider Build to access the Edge browser on iOS. You cannot trick Microsoft as they would check the Windows 10 version by opening Edge on PC.

Microsoft Edge is still in preview for both mobile platforms, to be on par with rivals such as Firefox and Opera, Microsoft will continue to improve the Edge browser before the public release.

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Mayank Parmar

Mayank Parmar is an entrepreneur who founded Windows Latest. He is the Editor-in-Chief and has written on various topics in his seven years of career, but he is mostly known for his well-researched work on Microsoft's Windows. His articles and research works have been referred to by CNN, Business Insiders, Forbes, Fortune, CBS Interactive, Microsoft and many others over the years.