Apple could soon be forced to allow third-party browser engines on iPhones, as Japanese regulators move to open up the iOS ecosystem. New guidelines published under Japan’s Smartphone Act set a December 2025 deadline for Apple to lift restrictions that currently mandate the use of its WebKit engine for all iOS browsers.
The move follows similar concerns raised in the European Union, where Apple’s response has been criticised as non-compliant in spirit. While browsers like Chrome remain absent from iOS in full form, Japan’s rules aim to close these loopholes.
A translation of the Japanese government’s position, shared by Open Web Advocacy, outlines specific prohibitions. Apple will not be allowed to impose technical or financial hurdles that discourage developers from using alternative engines, nor can it influence users to avoid them.
These guidelines could lead to the first proper versions of browsers like Chrome or Firefox on iOS, offering performance and feature parity with their Android counterparts.
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