Mozilla said its new Firefox look comes with “no cost to your browser performance.” That’s the claim to watch, because a redesign that slows the browser down isn’t worth the new paint.
The overhaul is rolling out to all users starting today, after a beta period earlier this year. It covers both desktop and mobile, and for the first time, the two versions share the same design language.
Rounder, bubblier and a bit more like Chrome
The next time you launch Firefox, you’ll notice bubble-like tabs and a rounded address bar. Colors, icons and themes have all been refreshed too.
Those rounded elements also make Firefox look a little more like Chrome. Whether that’s a plus depends on why you picked Firefox in the first place.
Compact Mode is back because people asked
The most useful change in Firefox 157 isn’t new at all. Compact Mode has returned after user requests, and it’s the feature I’d turn on first if you’re working on a laptop.
Mozilla said the condensed mode “reduces the size of your tabs and toolbar to give more of your screen to the web, with an auto-compact option for smaller screens.” Rounder, puffier tabs take up space, so a way to shrink them back down is a welcome counterweight.
More themes, with light and dark versions
You also get more customization, including extra themes and wallpapers. Mozilla previewed some of the updated theme options in May: a dozen colors, each available in a light and dark mode.
A “renewal” after a busy year
Mozilla said the redesign is a “renewal” for Firefox. It follows a string of major updates over the last year, including homepage widgets, Split View, a built-in VPN and controls for turning off the browser’s AI features.
But Firefox isn’t steering clear of AI. It launched its Smart Window AI mode earlier this year, which could help it compete with the AI browser features in rivals like Chrome.
If the new bubbly look feels like too much, don’t roll back. Open Compact Mode first. It’s the one part of this update built around giving you more of the web and less of the browser.
