Opera Launches a Wellbeing-Focused Web Browser

Opera Air includes two main wellness features that work alongside normal browsing. The first, called Take a Break, offers guided sessions for relaxation – such as breathing exercises and meditation that last anywhere from three to 15 minutes. Think of it as having a meditation app built right into a browser.

The second feature, called Boosts, uses special audio technology that plays slightly different tones in each ear. This creates what are known as binaural beats (a method of recording sound that uses two microphones to create a 3D stereo effect), which can help change one’s mental state – similar to how certain types of music might boost focus or relaxation. Users can choose between different types of boosts depending on what they need: increasing creativity, improving focus or promoting relaxation.

Rather than requiring users to switch between different apps, Opera Air aims to seamlessly fit wellness tools into the regular browsing experience. Users can keep working on documents or reading articles while using features like its focus-enhancing audio in the background. The browser has a clean, simple design that aims to create a calmer browsing experience.

With nearly all Americans (95%) using the internet daily (Pew Research Center, 2024) and almost half (46%) of teenagers reporting that they’re online “constantly” (Pew Research Center, 2024), Opera Air suggests a future where browsers might help manage not only information but also wellbeing.

For more, see New Rules for Living with Screens.