Google has just announced the deployment of Chrome 131 on iOS and iPadOS, an update that brings major improvements to the integration of its services on the Apple platform.
Google has just rolled out four new features on Chrome for iOS, already present on Android. They could well attract more iPhone and iPad users to the Google ecosystem.
The first new feature concerns online storage. iOS users can now directly save downloaded files to Google Drive, bypassing the device’s local storage. A way to get around Apple’s storage offers, which only offer 5 GB free compared to 15 GB at Google.
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Chrome’s context menus on iOS also include options to back up photos directly to Google Photos. Files stored on Drive will be grouped in a dedicated “Saved from Chrome” folder. However, the Web giant is not completely altruistic in this approach. Once the free Google Drive storage is exhausted, users will likely be tempted to sign up for a Google One subscription rather than iCloud+.
Google Lens, the visual assistant from the Mountain View firm, is also making its debut on Chrome 131 for iOS. Users will now be able to search using photos, screenshots and texta feature previously reserved for Android.
Finally, the integration of Google Maps is enriched with a quick overview of addresses encountered on the Web. A single click will open a map with the main information, before launching the route directly in the application.
These new features, although already present on Android, could encourage iPhone and iPad users to become more open to the Google ecosystem. Accustomed to Apple services like iCloud Drive, Photos or Maps, they will now have an alternative directly integrated into Chrome. Some people might therefore be tempted to abandon Safari.
