The browser company released Arc’s first companion app for iPhone last year, allowing users to save links to consume in the desktop app later. The company has now launched a new mobile app, called Arc Search, which aims to focus on the search experience.
The artificial intelligence feature of the Browse for Me app returns a beautifully crafted web page with information about your search query. The feature, powered by models from OpenAI and others, reads at least six web pages and creates a new page with different sections.
Image Credits: Screenshot from TechCrunch
For example, when I searched “How to make a perfect poached egg,” Arc Search generated a page for me with sections like “Materials and Tools,” “Poaching Technique,” “Cooking Process,” and additional tips. The page also had a bunch of helpful photos and videos.
Image Credits: Screenshot from TechCrunch
The browser also did a clean summary for me when I asked about “What changes Apple made to the App Store in response to DMA”. While it didn’t have all the points, the website did have the focus of the Cupertino-based tech giant’s announcements.
These pages are great for getting information at a glance and I can also use the “Dive Deeper” section to explore additional links listed on the topic. However, right now I can’t share these pages with anyone unless I take a screenshot.
Other characteristics
If users don’t want to use the AI-powered feature, they can just tap the query to use Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, or Ecosia — whichever you’ve set as the default.
Specifically, last week, the Browser Company announced that users can set Preplexity as their default search engine on the Arc client computer. However, it is not clear if this option will be available for the mobile client.
There is also a reader mode for all web pages for easy reading and you can also bookmark the web page. But there is no folder system to store these bookmarks.
Arc Search Browser also archives tabs after 1 day (this is customizable) to save you from tab overload. You can see your open tabs through the tab switcher on the bottom bar, or you can swipe and hold from the left edge of the screen.
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In addition, Arc Search automatically blocks GDPR and newsletter pop-ups, ads, and trackers. Unlike the first companion browser, you can set it as the default on iPhone.
Why did Arc build a browser this way?
Browser company CEO Josh Miller said in a thread on X that the startup wanted to make it the fastest way to search for things, since that’s what most people do with phone browsers. So it started with a search bar in the middle. And it opens with a keyboard so you can start typing the query right away.
With the new page builder search feature, the new Arc Search browser wants to make you feel like you’re interacting with an AI agent that will do the heavy lifting, summarizing the content, and presenting it well. We’ve seen this kind of approach with Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE) or Perplexity AI. On the other hand, browsers have mostly introduced AI-powered features to summarize pages or help you write posts. Arc Search attempts to merge both of these feature surfaces.
What’s next?
For now, Arc will keep its mobile link-storing companion alive, but plans to merge both browser clients at a later stage.
Additionally, the company said it plans to launch cross-browser sync. Miller said in his thread that as the company begins to ramp up development of the Windows client, it can’t just rely on iCloud. That’s why the team is building their own Arc sync experience, which will be released soon.
Arc started with a waiting list system for Mac and released it last year for anyone to download. The Windows client, which is in beta, still adopts a waiting list system. With this new Arc Search client, the company wanted to have a low-barrier entry point for users where they don’t need to create an account and start browsing right away.
