Firefox Keeps Getting Faster
Firefox’s latest performance gains prompt mixed reactions from long‑time users, who report everything from blank pages and multi‑minute cold starts to rock‑solid stability with thousands of tabs. Many argue that raw speed is no longer Firefox’s main problem compared to Chromium-based browsers, pointing instead to issues like Linux packaging (Snap), weaker PWA support, macOS integration quirks, and perceived erosion of customizability. Underlying the technical critiques is a broader worry that, despite telemetry‑driven optimizations and privacy strengths, Firefox’s shrinking market share and lack of default presence on major platforms are pushing it toward irrelevance.
Android & Mobile Issues
- Multiple users on Android (Pixel 4a/5/6, Samsung, OnePlus, Huawei) report tabs occasionally going blank on navigation, often needing app restart; others on similar devices don’t see it.
- Behavior seems more common when reusing an existing tab than on a fresh tab.
- Some report similar issues on iOS and even desktop, but much less frequently.
- Suggestions include filing Bugzilla reports with profiles/logs; one link to a past bug is provided.
Desktop Performance & Startup (Linux/Windows/macOS)
- Some Linux users describe Firefox freezing for minutes, or specific sites hanging, while others report flawless performance on multiple distros.
- A few Ubuntu users report extreme cold-start times (tens of seconds to minutes), often tied by others to the Snap packaging; Flatpak or Mozilla builds are recommended.
- Many report instant or near-instant startup and smooth operation, even with large sessions.
Tabs, Sessions & Memory
- Several people keep hundreds to thousands of tabs; many say Firefox handles this reliably and restores sessions quickly.
- Others report hangs or slowdowns after days of uptime, especially on Windows, sometimes blamed on specific web apps leaking memory (Slack, Twitch, Gmail).
- Built-in “restore previous windows and tabs” works well for many, but some say it has historically failed or only restored one window; third‑party session managers are suggested.
Market Share, Strategy & Monetization
- Strong concern that Firefox’s ~2–3% share makes it a second-class target for web testing; some sites break or are less tested.
- Debate over whether Mozilla should double down on adblocking (including paid default whitelists) vs. that approach alienating the core user base and destroying trust.
- Some argue Mozilla focuses on UI churn and non‑core products instead of regaining relevance.
Features, UX & Platform Integration
- Requests: native vertical tabs, PWA support, Vivaldi-like command palette, better enterprise features, and Servo investment.
- macOS users complain about non-native text behavior, font rendering, missing AppleScript integration, odd fullscreen behavior, and lack of standard context options.
- Opinions diverge on customization: some praise userChrome.css and deep tweakability; others say Firefox has steadily reduced easy, supported customization and broken workflows.
Security, Privacy & Web Platform
- Disagreement on security: some cite contest results favoring Chromium; others highlight Chromium-only APIs (WebUSB, WebBluetooth, WebMIDI, etc.) as dangerous attack surface and privacy risks.
- Firefox is seen as weaker out-of-the-box on security by some, but highly hardenable via about:config and extensions.
Benchmarks, Telemetry & Overall Sentiment
- Benchmarks (Speedometer, JetStream) show mixed results; some see Firefox near Chrome, others 30–50% slower.
- Telemetry is credited with real-world performance improvements; some say they’ll keep it enabled, others remain wary.
- Overall sentiment: many loyal and satisfied daily users, but substantial frustration with regressions, rough edges, and strategic drift as Firefox risks further marginalization.