Perplexity has released its Comet AI browser for Android, marking one of the first attempts to rebuild the mobile browsing experience around an integrated assistant. The arrival fills a gap left by early versions of ChatGPT’s Atlas, which remains limited to Mac, and Google’s expected shift toward a Gemini powered Chrome. Comet aims to position itself ahead of those changes by offering features designed for the way people browse on phones.
The Android version mirrors the approach of the desktop edition. Users can ask questions about open tabs, request summaries of articles and use voice mode to navigate without typing. The feature set is not complete yet. Bookmark and history syncing with desktop devices are still missing, and some of the newest tools from the original Comet are not included. Even with these gaps, the browser delivers one of the most fully developed examples of conversational browsing currently available on mobile.
Voice interaction is at the centre of Comet’s usefulness on a phone. Browsing on a small touch screen often involves switching between apps and managing limited space, and the ability to issue queries verbally reduces friction. The browser’s core idea is to skip the usual tap and type workflow. Instead, Comet aims to give direct answers, explanations or comparisons based on whatever is on screen.
This approach sets Comet apart from browsers that simply add an AI plugin. On desktop, the assistant and summarisation tools are built directly into the interface rather than handled as separate actions. The Android app extends that philosophy with voice chat, automatic analysis of content on screen and support for ad blocking. These features sit alongside standard mobile browsing tools, offering a practical mix rather than a full redesign of familiar functions.
The experience is not without limitations. The extra analysis required for summaries or contextual questions can introduce small delays and may feel slower than a traditional browser in some situations. Long articles and forum threads take time to process. Users who prefer instant loading may find the pace less appealing, but those willing to wait a moment receive clear and accurate responses.
The broader significance of Comet lies in its integration strategy. Perplexity is consolidating its assistant features into a browser rather than splitting them into separate apps. It signals a shift in how browsing might evolve, with AI acting as a consistent presence capable of interpreting information and eventually taking action when agentic tools mature. Competing platforms such as Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, Brave and its Leo assistant offer similar ideas, but the use of AI as the default browsing layer remains largely untested.
Comet’s launch on Android comes at a time when many users feel the traditional web experience has become slower and more complex. By turning browsing into a two way conversation, Comet aims to reduce the effort required to find answers and manage information. Whether users embrace or reject this shift will determine how quickly the concept spreads, but the release marks a clear step toward a more assistant driven approach to mobile browsing.
