The Future of Mobile Browsing is Here
Perplexity has launched Comet, its innovative AI-powered browser, on Android, marking a significant expansion from its desktop-only release earlier this year. The move brings one of the most advanced AI browsing experiences to mobile users, positioning itself as a serious challenger to traditional browsers like Chrome and Safari.
What Makes Comet Different
Comet represents a fundamental rethinking of how browsers should work in an AI-first world. Rather than simply adding AI features on top of an existing browser, Comet embeds an artificial intelligence assistant directly into the core browsing experience, functioning as both a search engine and a personal research companion.
The Android version brings the same core capabilities as its desktop predecessor. Users can replace their default search engine with Perplexity’s AI-powered search, ask questions about content in open tabs, and receive instant summaries of complex pages. The addition of voice mode allows hands-free browsing, letting users interact with the assistant simply by speaking commands and questions.
Beyond AI capabilities, Comet functions as a complete browser. It includes an industry-leading native ad blocker that’s particularly valuable on mobile screens where advertisements consume significant space. Traditional navigation controls, tab management, and bookmark organization remain familiar to users switching from other browsers.
Privacy at the Forefront
One of Comet’s distinguishing features is its privacy-first architecture. The browser gives users granular control over their data, with options to choose which features run locally on the device and which connect to Perplexity’s cloud services. For privacy-conscious users, a strict mode limits data transmission, processing tasks entirely on-device—though this may impact performance on older hardware.
What’s Coming Next
Perplexity is actively developing features that will further enhance the Android experience. The company plans to introduce a conversational search agent capable of searching across multiple websites, custom shortcuts for frequently-used commands, and a comprehensive password manager. Cross-device synchronization for browsing history and bookmarks is also in development.
An iOS version is planned for a future release, ensuring Apple users won’t miss out on this new browsing paradigm. The company prioritized Android first based on strong interest from mobile partners and device manufacturers.
Getting Started with Comet
The Android version is now available for download through the Google Play Store. Access currently requires a Perplexity Max subscription, though a waitlist exists for those interested in early access. For existing Max subscribers paying $200 monthly, immediate access is available without waiting.
Comet represents a significant shift in browser technology, offering what many consider the first true AI-native browser experience built specifically for how people browse today.
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