Microsoft Edge UI Now 40% Faster on Average, Key UI Elements Load Up to 4x Quicker

[AleksandarK]

Microsoft has launched a major update for its Edge browser, reducing key feature load times to achieve a global First Contentful Paint (FCP) of under 300 ms. FCP refers to the time between when a user initiates navigation and when the browser displays the first part of the content from the Document Object Model (DOM). Studies show that delays exceeding the 300 to 400 ms range can lead to noticeable drops in user satisfaction, so reaching this new threshold should make the browser feel more fluid and engaging for everyday use. To meet the target, the Edge team leveraged its proprietary WebUI 2.0 architecture instead of React. By emphasizing native web components, such as HTML templates and CSS styling, rather than relying heavily on JavaScript at startup, they achieved a 40% average reduction in load times across thirteen core features.

Microsoft tested the settings UI with the new update, showing a 4x improvement in that specific case with WebUI 2.0, compared to the older React page. Users can now access the Settings page, invoke Read Aloud voice playback, switch between Split Screen views, and manage Workspaces with minimal delay, even on lower-end devices. This release builds upon the significant improvements delivered in May 2024 with Edge 122, which produced launch times 42-76% faster, depending on hardware, and a February 2025 optimization targeting fourteen interface subsystems. Internal tests confirm that the settings panel, which was once a slight performance bottleneck, now consistently renders in under 300 ms across a wide range of machines. Microsoft also plans to extend these enhancements to Print Preview, Extensions management, and other elements through the remainder of 2025. Below is the 4x improvement in the Settings page UI.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site | Source

 

[ZoneDymo]

Cool, I mean im using Brave, but still cool

 

[Onasi]

…you mean that Edge in-browser UI is faster now. The browser web-performance (which people will assume when seeing the headline) is probably still within a margin of error of any other Chromium browser.

 

[NoneRain]

…you mean that Edge in-browser UI is faster now. The browser web-performance (which people will assume when seeing the headline) is probably still within a margin of error of any other Chromium browser.

The Edge UI is faster. If people don't know what UI is that's on them.
Also, they're comparing Edge before vs Edge now, not Edge vs others.

 

[duckface]

I use chrome just because I'm too lazy to migrate

 

[Shihab]

Are they trying to say that the less js you run on your page, the faster it loads and renders? I am shocked!

Wait till they find out how fast it would go if they stop logging every action and shoving in a boatload of "features!"

 

[A&P211]

I still use the fox.

 

[ARF]

Cool, I mean im using Brave, but still cool

Yes, Edge is garbage, it spies and there is zero privacy and security. Stay away from it.

 

[_roman_]

I doubt edge is faster with all those ads.

I really hate using EDGE on my refurbished notebook. So many ads which slows donw the ryzen 4650u pro processor. Vivaldi which is also based on chromium / chrome works much better.

I think librewolf will be faster. I'll test that again. I'm not sure how i can test that without external hardware on a ryzen 4650u pro laptop.

 

[redeye]

I use chrome just because I'm too lazy to migrate

not cool. only excuse for using chrome is that your company’s draconian management forces you to use chrome!…
use firefox, and if and the web site is “ill”, switch to chrome for that site.
but, if you need chrome lets say for the “ DualShock calibration GUI” i do not use chrome i use the lesser of two “evils”, edge. (actually the only time I don’t use Firefox, because that program will not work in Firefox and I need that program more than I need my be beliefs, lol, sarcasm)

 

[matar]

Been using Edge since edge was released and its great.

 

[ymdhis]

It still takes half a second to load the favourites dropdown, and there's no way to customize it (for ex. reduce the empty space between entries).

 

[Shihab]

i do not use chrome i use the lesser of two “evils”, edge.

I suppose using what you [are forced to] have around is a sensible approach, but did you ever consider masochism Ungoogled Chromium or even vanilla Chromium?

 

[Jermelescu]

not cool. only excuse for using chrome is that your company’s draconian management forces you to use chrome!…
use firefox, and if and the web site is “ill”, switch to chrome for that site.
but, if you need chrome lets say for the “ DualShock calibration GUI” i do not use chrome i use the lesser of two “evils”, edge. (actually the only time I don’t use Firefox, because that program will not work in Firefox and I need that program more than I need my be beliefs, lol, sarcasm)

I'd rather use IE8 than Firefox.

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

Can they speed up the UI of Explorer too? Some basic stuff can take ages on my work PC.

 

[Lionheart]

Honestly Edge has been working perfectly fine for ages now, it just has that Internet Explorer Microsoft stigma to it, kinda like how AMD can't get away from their bad drivers stigma even though they've been pretty damn good for the past 4-5years, Nvidia's apparently now have been a headache for months but doesn't matter, Geforce will sell. Mind Share sure does make a difference.

 

[Dr. Dro]

I still use the fox.

I could accept Firefox being slow as molasses. But I can't accept the open disrespect to user privacy. Being a Firefox orphan sucks, but the browser I was faithful to for over half of my time walking the Earth is gone.

I'm currently on Opera, but Opera's commercial nature is starting to bug me more than just a bit. On my next scheduled maintenance cycle and OS reinstall, I plan on moving all my machines to Brave, permanently.

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

Honestly Edge has been working perfectly fine for ages now, it just has that Internet Explorer Microsoft stigma to it, kinda like how AMD can't get away from their bad drivers stigma even though they've been pretty damn good for the past 4-5years, Nvidia's apparently now have been a headache for months but doesn't matter, Geforce will sell. Mind Share sure does make a difference.

Edge is fine when it comes to browsing, but the UI is a design nightmare, IMO. There’s just so much stuff MS keeps adding, which I guess is good if you like options, but I don’t care for so much clutter, and I don’t like the random changes that can come with any new build that just updates itself.

 

[TechLurker]

Edge still remains my last-resort when I can't get a particular webpage to work because I blocked some critical element I don't know about (maybe a particular cookie or script). But thus far, most things work fine on Brave by default, and on Opera/FF with tons of privacy-oriented and convenience extensions.

 

[Prima.Vera]

And 4GB of RAM usage.

 

[lexluthermiester]

My input? Edge is the very first thing I forcibly remove from my Windows install. This news doesn't change that.

 

[Blazko79]

Speedometer should show this and compare to other browsers.

https://browserbench.org/Speedometer3.1/

 

[Lionheart]

Edge is fine when it comes to browsing, but the UI is a design nightmare, IMO. There’s just so much stuff MS keeps adding, which I guess is good if you like options, but I don’t care for so much clutter, and I don’t like the random changes that can come with any new build that just updates itself.

Yeah I do see your point, the UI design is quite all over the place, and that gross Co-pilot built in.

 

[Shihab]

I could accept Firefox being slow as molasses.

It isn't.

But I can't accept the open disrespect to user privacy.

To be honest, the privacy controversy is blown way out of proportion. Mozilla has many faults (privacy wise, and with their handling -or lackthereof- of the public's ire), but people tend to forget that Firefox exists in a market and era defined by -often intentionally- convoluted legalise, and regulations that require such scary looking text. Not to mention the state of the internet itself.
The reason FF is trailing in marketshare isn't necessarily that it's a bad product. If Mozilla was half as vile as Google or Microsoft, I dare say they would be in a far better position today.
You don't see everyone using Librewolf or Ungoogled Chromium because privacy extremism doesn't sell even for the total price of zero.

 

[ARF]

My input? Edge is the very first thing I forcibly remove from my Windows install. This news doesn't change that.

Can you write instructions down here on how to do it, because I deleted its folders, but on one of my systems I still see it in task manager and how it tries to install itself?