Microsoft Edge is touting significant speed improvements after a major architectural overhaul, specifically its migration to WebUI 2.0. According to a company announcement, this change, initiated in February 2025, has dramatically reduced loading times for initial content, a factor they say critically impacts user experience. The claim? A smoother, snappier browsing experience with fewer frustrating delays.
The Redmond-based tech giant detailed these performance gains in a blog post, highlighting their success in achieving a global First Contentful Paint (FCP) , a key metric for measuring UI loading speed , of below 300ms. They contend that FCP times exceeding 300-400ms negatively impact user satisfaction. This threshold became a key target during the development process.
The company’s initiative, begun in February, aimed to optimise various aspects of the browser’s UI. They report average load time reductions of 40 percent, along with improved responsiveness across features like Settings, Read Aloud, Split Screen, and Workspaces. These improvements, they say, are directly attributable to the move to WebUI 2.0, which Microsoft describes as a “markup-first architecture” that reduces the size of code bundles and the amount of JavaScript executed during UI initialisation.
To illustrate the difference, Microsoft provided data from internal testing. On a Surface Laptop 7 (Snapdragon X CPU, 32GB RAM, Windows 11, Edge 137), the Settings page loaded in 0.394 seconds *before* the WebUI 2.0 migration. Afterward? Just 0.034 seconds—a nearly fourfold increase in speed.
But what does this mean for everyday users? Are they really noticing the difference?
- Faster initial page load
- Snappier performance in settings
- Improved experience with features like Split Screen
For Sarah Chen, a freelance writer who relies on Edge for research, the change has been palpable. “Honestly, I didn’t realize how slow things *were* until they got faster,” she admitted. “Now, switching between tabs and searching within Settings feels much more fluid. It makes a real difference when you’re on a deadline.” Others, posting on X.com, have echoed similar sentiments, praising the browser’s improved responsiveness. However, some comments on FaceBook and Instagram mention inconsistent performance, suggesting that the improvements may not be uniform across all hardware and network configurations.
Before and After: the sluggish load times that plagued earlier versions of Edge were a significant source of user frustration. Slowness created a sense of inneficiency.
Catalyst for Change: The migration to WebUI 2.0 served as a major turning point. Microsoft recognized the need for a more efficient architecture to handle the growing complexity of modern web applications.
Lasting Impact: By prioritizing faster loading times and reduced resource consumption, Microsoft aims to regain ground in the competitive browser landscape. While Google Chrome remains the dominant player, these improvements could help Edge attract and retain users.
The key, according to software developer David Lee, is Microsoft’s architectural shift. “WebUI 2.0 likely streamlines the rendering process, reducing the amount of code the browser needs to execute before displaying content,” he explained. “This kind of under-the-hood optimization can have a significant impact, especially on lower-end devices or users with slower internet connections.”
Despite the progress, Microsoft acknowledges that the work isn’t finished. The company plans to roll out further performance enhancements across other features, including Extensions and Print Preview, in the coming months. This commitment to ongoing improvement suggests a long-term strategy to compete on speed and efficiency.
However, some remain skeptical. “What everyone might be missing,” noted tech blogger Anya Sharma, “is whether these improvements will hold up under real-world conditions, especially with multiple extensions installed and numerous tabs open. The true test will be long-term, sustained performance.”
The real test will be in the long term, and users who stick with the Edge browser may find that these enhancements provide a significant boost in speed and efficiency. Only time wil tell.
It’s important to not that while the improvements are noticable to some, others have failed to notice any change. It’s important to consider all of the opinions on the subject before comming to a firm conclusion. The company says it is deveoping additional performance improvements across more features, such as Extensions and Print Preview, and these will be rolled out in the coming months.
