Firefox 57 Beta 'Quantum' With Next-Generation Browser Engine Released, Said to Be '2X Faster'

Mozilla on Tuesday released the beta version of its Firefox 57 browser with a new browser engine and as the company thinks Firefox 57 beta doesn't convey the magnitude of changes that the new version encompasses, it has given its release the name 'Quantum'. The beta version of Firefox Quantum is already available for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android (though it doesn't feature the highlighted Quantum CSS improvements).

With the latest release, the company has tried to make a shift to what it calls "next-generation browser engine" and it claims that the new version of the browser loads up some of the top websites noticeably faster. The company says that the Speedometer 2.0 benchmarking tool suggests that the Firefox Quantum is about 2X faster than Firefox was a year ago. While there are several other factors, including the machine and the apps being used, the claim seems to be bold enough for you to give it a try.

If you are wondering how the processing performance was improved, Mozilla says that while Firefox historically ran mostly on just one CPU core, Firefox Quantum takes advantage of multiple CPU cores. It says that this improved utilisation of the computer's hardware makes Firefox Quantum dramatically faster. The company also shared a video where it has compared the performance of browser against Google Chrome.

Apart from the processing improvement, the company has introduced a visual overhaul to its browser as well with its Photon Project. "With the new design, Firefox leaps ahead with a new interface that reflect today's reality of High DPI displays and users who are more task focused than they've ever been," the company said in its blog post.

"The new, minimalist design introduces square tabs, smooth animations, and a Library, which provides quick access to your saved stuff: bookmarks, Pocket, history, downloads, tabs, and screenshots. Firefox Quantum feels right at home with today's mouse and touch-driven operating systems: Windows 10, macOS High Sierra, Android Oreo, and iOS 11," it added.

Finally, the new Firefox browser also comes with Pocket app built-in. This means that users can save articles easily from within the browser to read them later. Notably, Firefox 57 beta for Android does not feature the Quantum CSS code, and it may be implemented only in Firefox 58.