I Tested Opera’s New Mindfulness Browser — Here’s What Happened

Opera, known for its widely-used web browser, has unveiled a new browser called "Opera Air." This latest offering aims to help users navigate the often overwhelming internet environment without replacing the current Opera browser or the gaming-focused Opera GX.

According to Opera, this browser emphasizes minimalism to support users in managing stress, enhancing concentration, and achieving emotional clarity. I spent a few days testing Opera Air, particularly during some high-pressure work periods, to see how effectively it could help me regain a peaceful and productive mindset.

Tools for Mental Relaxation in Opera Air

Before its official launch, I received an early version of Opera Air. Thus, I won’t comment on its overall stability or visual design—though I didn't encounter any major issues.

Audio Tracks for Enhanced Thinking

One standout feature of Opera Air, compared to the standard Opera browser, is called Boosts. This feature presents a variety of 19 different soundscapes tailored for various purposes, such as improving focus or enhancing mood. Each soundscape consists of three components—an ambient background sound, music typically created with synthesizers or electronic elements, and binaural beats designed to stimulate brain activity.

Users can personalize their experience further by selecting different ambient and music tracks or adjusting the frequency of the binaural beats. The volume of each component can also be independently controlled, allowing for customized playback lasting anywhere from 15 minutes to an infinite loop.

Before discovering Opera Air, I often spent significant time browsing YouTube for suitable binaural beats or lo-fi music, avoiding anything with vocals that could disrupt my concentration. While Opera Air does not present an entirely unique solution, its ready availability within the browser simplifies the process considerably.

Guided Meditation and Breathing Exercises

Beyond soundscapes, Opera Air promotes guided activities such as breathing exercises and meditations that are conveniently accessible through the browser's "Take a Break" section located in the sidebar.

Each guided practice features a specific duration and offers audio instructions, allowing you to relax your eyes while following along. Users can also choose from two different narrators for their sessions. For instance, breathing exercises include popular techniques like the 4-7-8 method and the box breathing technique often used by U.S. Navy SEALs.

Neck Exercises

On top of nourishing the mind, Opera Air seeks to promote physical health by addressing neck strain caused by poor posture or prolonged screen time. It provides exercises of varying lengths to suit different needs, which are accompanied by audio guidance.

The browser prompts users to enable their cameras to ensure that neck stretches are performed correctly. While I did notice some relief in shoulder tension, the camera feature felt underwhelming, mainly serving to remind me of my visibility. Fortunately, the face data is processed locally, assuaging any privacy concerns.

Did Opera Air Really Ease My Stressful Day?

In short, yes. As someone easily distracted, I found Opera Air's mindfulness features straightforward and user-friendly, especially with minimal effort required to find suitable soundtracks or meditations.

These features make Opera Air a worthwhile option for users seeking a supplementary browser. It might even serve as a primary browser for those willing to put in the work to migrate their history, passwords, and bookmarks. Personally, I might need more time and practice with the breathing exercises and meditations before I'm prepared for that transition.

This browser is currently free, offering all the benefits of Opera, such as an integrated ad blocker, a VPN, multiple workspaces for different online personas, and quick sidebar access to AI chatbots and messaging services like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.

To try Opera Air for yourself, you can download it here. There are no updates about the release of mobile versions as of now.