Lens
Search-first private browser for iPhone and iPad, pitched as an Arc Search replacement
Lens: Simple, Private Browser is a free iPhone and iPad browser by one developer, Maximos Angelakis, and needs iOS or iPadOS 26. The maker pitched it on r/ArcBrowser as an Arc Search replacement. It opens straight to search, keeps pinned sites in a grid, archives unused tabs after a day, and has Peek-style link previews, Zap-style Hide Elements, a built-in ad and tracker blocker, and iCloud sync. It has no sidebar, Spaces, profiles or extensions. A free Lens for Mac menu bar companion shows your pins and iPhone tabs; it is not a browser.
40% Arc feature parity (yes = 1, partial = ½).
Built-in AI
No AI
No built-in AI. Optional Ask AI row (off until you pick one) only opens Perplexity, ChatGPT, Claude or Google AI in a tab.
lens.maximos.workNot counted in Arc parity: some people want AI, some avoid it.
Bloat check
None found
Policy: no account, analytics, ads or tracking. Tips are an optional in-app purchase (extra app icons); the app mentions them once after some use.
lens.maximos.workAds, crypto, paid upsells, news feeds, default-on telemetry, required accounts.
Organization
| Feature | Lens | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vertical sidebarTabs live in a vertical sidebar that is the main tab UI and can be hidden. | ✕ | ✓ | Bottom bar and a card tab switcher; the landscape/iPhone Duo side bar holds buttons, not tabs.lens.maximos.work |
| SpacesSeveral workspaces per window, each with its own pinned and open tabs, switched by swipe or shortcut. | ✕ | ✓ | No Spaces; the site says 'no tab groups'. Tabs sit in one list plus an Archive.lens.maximos.work |
| Profiles per Space (shareable)Each Space can use its own browser profile (separate cookies, logins, history), and one profile can be shared by several Spaces. | ✕ | ✓ | No profiles or Spaces; cookies and logins live in one shared WebKit store.lens.maximos.work |
| Global favoritesPinned icons at the top of the sidebar shared by every Space (Zen calls them Essentials). | ✓ | ✓ | Pinned sites grid on the search screen, up to 5 per row; one global set, synced by iCloud.reddit.com |
| Pinned tabs & foldersPer-space pinned tabs that act like bookmarks, with nested folders. | ◐ | ✓ | Pinned sites in one grid, not live tabs; no folders documented. Custom icons, drag to reorder.lens.maximos.work |
| Auto-archive tabsUnpinned tabs close automatically after a set time and stay recoverable in an archive. | ✓ | ✓ | Tabs unused for 24 hours move to the Archive; interval is 12 hours to 30 days.lens.maximos.work |
| Space themesPer-space colour or gradient themes. | ◐ | ✓ | Global Light/Dark/Auto setting and a bar that takes the page colour; no per-space themes.lens.maximos.work |
Browsing
| Feature | Lens | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Split ViewTwo or more tabs side by side in one window. | ✕ | ✓ | Only separate iPad windows, each with its own tabs; no two-pane view in one window.lens.maximos.work |
| Link previewOpen a link in an overlay without leaving the current page (Zen calls it Glance). | ✓ | ✓ | Touch and hold a link to preview and scroll the page, then open it as a tab or in the background.lens.maximos.work |
| Mini windowA small, chrome-less window for links opened from other apps or a quick search. | ✕ | ✓ | Links from other apps open in the main app; no mini window is documented.lens.maximos.work |
| Command barA ⌘T palette that searches tabs, history, bookmarks and browser commands. | ◐ | ✓ | Search sheet suggests searches, pins and top pages; no open-tab or command search documented.lens.maximos.work |
| Link routingRules that send links from other apps to a chosen space or profile. | ✕ | ✓ | Default-browser setting only; no Spaces or rules to route links to.lens.maximos.work |
| Site customizationPer-site custom CSS/JS, or zapping elements off a page. | ◐ | ✓ | Hide Elements (zap) stays hidden per site with a restore list; no custom CSS/JS.lens.maximos.work |
| Auto picture-in-picturePlaying video pops out into picture-in-picture automatically when you switch tabs. | ? | ✓ | Mini Player follows you across tabs and offers PiP; automatic PiP on tab switch is not documented. |
Compatibility & migration
| Feature | Lens | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arc importImports Arc spaces, pinned tabs and folders. | ✕ | – | FAQ: bringing bookmarks from another browser is 'not yet'; Lens uses pins instead.lens.maximos.work |
| Chrome extensionsInstalls extensions from the Chrome Web Store. | ✕ | ✓ | FAQ: 'Lens has no extensions'; ad blocking, Reader and Translate are built in.lens.maximos.work |
| DRM (Widevine)Netflix, Disney+, Spotify web and other DRM video/audio play. Chromium forks need a Google Widevine licence. | ? | ✓ | Neither the listing nor the site mentions DRM or FairPlay video playback. |
| PasskeysWebAuthn passkeys, Touch ID and the system/iCloud keychain. | ✓ | ✓ | iCloud Keychain passwords and passkeys fill in and sign in, as in Safari.lens.maximos.work |
| SyncSpaces, pinned tabs and settings sync across devices. | ✓ | ✓ | iCloud sync of pins, history, tabs and settings, end-to-end encrypted; iPhone/iPad only.lens.maximos.work |
| Mobile appiPhone, iPad or Android app that shares spaces with desktop. | ◐ | ◐ | iPhone/iPad app only; Mac menu bar companion lists pins and iPhone tabs, but no desktop browser.lens.maximos.work |
Extras
| Feature | Lens | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in ad blockerAd and tracker blocking without installing an extension. | ✓ | ✓ | Built-in EasyList/EasyPrivacy/cookie lists, updated daily; per-site toggle, no extension.lens.maximos.work |
Extension support
Which extension formats and stores run, beyond the Chrome Web Store row above. Not counted in Arc parity.
| Feature | Lens | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manifest V2 extensionsThe older extension format Chrome removed in 2025. Needed for full uBlock Origin and other extensions that block requests. | – | ✕ | Site FAQ: 'Lens has no extensions'. The Send to Lens extensions belong to the Mac companion app.lens.maximos.work |
| Manifest V3 extensionsThe current extension format used by the Chrome Web Store (and supported by Firefox and Safari). | – | ✓ | Site FAQ: 'Lens has no extensions'. The Send to Lens extensions belong to the Mac companion app.lens.maximos.work |
| Firefox add-onsAdd-ons from addons.mozilla.org or .xpi files install and run. | – | ✕ | Site FAQ: 'Lens has no extensions'. The Send to Lens extensions belong to the Mac companion app.lens.maximos.work |
| Safari extensionsSafari web extensions (the App Store extension apps Safari uses) install and run. | – | ✕ | Site FAQ: 'Lens has no extensions'. The Send to Lens extensions belong to the Mac companion app.lens.maximos.work |