- Japan’s Smartphone Act ends Apple’s WebKit-only rule, opening the door for Apple Non-WebKit Browsers on iOS to run with their own engines.
- The law requires equal API access for third-party browsers and bans Apple from adding hidden restrictions or performance limits.
- New iPhones in Japan will show a browser choice screen during setup, giving users the option to pick their default browser from day one.
Apple non-WebKit browsers will soon be allowed on iOS in Japan following the passage of the new Smartphone Act. For years, Apple required all browsers on iPhones to use its own WebKit engine, meaning that apps like Chrome or Firefox still functioned like Safari beneath the surface. Under the new law, developers can use their own browser engines, giving users genuine alternatives and potentially improving speed, features, and performance.
Japan’s smartphone act finally allows Apple non-webKit browsers on iOS
Breaking the WebKit lock
For a long time, Apple kept control over iPhone browsers by forcing all of them to use WebKit. That meant no matter what browser you used, it was basically Safari in disguise. Now Japan’s law says Apple can’t block or limit browsers from using their own engine. So Chrome can actually run as Chrome, Firefox can run as Firefox. This is going to make a real difference in speed, features, and maybe even battery use.
Equal access to system tools
The law also makes it clear that Apple has to give these alternative browsers the same APIs Safari gets. APIs are like the tools that apps use to talk to the iPhone system. Without equal access, other browsers could be stuck with slower or weaker features. This new rule stops that from happening.
No hidden tricks
And here’s an important part. Apple can’t try to follow the rule on paper but still make it hard for other browsers. For example, they can’t add extra limits or make things so annoying that developers just give up. The law says the new access has to be practical and actually usable.
Choice screen for users
When someone in Japan sets up a new iPhone, they will see a browser choice screen. Instead of Safari being the default without asking, you’ll be able to pick which one you want right away. That’s a small change, but it can shift how people choose browsers.
Why it matters
This might sound like just a technical update, but it’s actually a big move for competition and innovation. Developers now have the freedom to build browsers with their own tech, and users have the right to choose what works best for them. The EU already started this push, and now Japan’s joining in.
To put it simple, Japan’s Smartphone Act ends the WebKit-only rule on iPhones. It means Apple Non-WebKit Browsers on iOS can finally exist for real, not just as Safari copies. They get the same tools as Safari, no sneaky obstacles, and users get to choose their browser when setting up. This could open the door for better, faster, and more creative browsers on iPhones.
