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Verdict: Opera GX remains a good choice for gamers who want visible CPU, RAM and network controls, extensive customization and convenient gaming tools. The 2024 updates made it far more personal and polished, but they did not create a faster browser engine or guarantee higher game FPS. Install it if controlling browser activity beside a game matters to you; choose another browser if you want minimalism, privacy-first defaults or a full-device VPN.
This review covers the July and November 2024 releases specifically. Opera GX has continued to evolve since then, so the 2024 redesign should not be treated as the newest build in 2026.
What changed in Opera GX during 2024?
July: Aria AI expanded
Opera’s July 1, 2024 update added image generation, image understanding, voice output, chat summaries and links to sources in Aria. It also introduced the Aria Command Line: press Ctrl + / on Windows or Cmd + / on Mac to open it. These features make the assistant quicker to reach, but they are convenience features rather than gaming-performance improvements. Details are in Opera’s announcement at Opera’s July 2024 release note.
November: the Underwave redesign
The larger November 20 update, called Underwave, changed the browser’s visual system and customization tools. It added Underwave and Tech hero Mods, more control over colors, transparency, layout, fonts, splash screens, sidebar and desktop icons, and screenshot stickers. Mods can be saved as presets, making it practical to switch between different setups.
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- 【65% Compact Design】GEODMAER Wired gaming keyboard compact mini design, save space on the desktop, novel black & silver gray keycap color matching, separate arrow keys, No numpad, both gaming and office, easy to carry size can be easily put into the backpack
- 【Wired Connection】Gaming Keybaord connects via a detachable Type-C cable to provide a stable, constant connection and ultra-low input latency, and the keyboard's 26 keys no-conflict, with FN+Win lockable win keys to prevent accidental touches
- 【Strong Working Life】Wired gaming keyboard has more than 10,000,000+ keystrokes lifespan, each key over UV to prevent fading, has 11 media buttons, 65% small size but fully functional, free up desktop space and increase efficiency
- 【LED Backlit Keyboard】GEODMAER Wired Gaming Keyboard using the new two-color injection molding key caps, characters transparent luminous, in the dark can also clearly see each key, through the light key can be OF/OFF Backlit, FN + light key can switch backlit mode, always bright / breathing mode, FN + ↑ / ↓ adjust the brightness increase / decrease, FN + ← / → adjust the breathing frequency slow / fast
- 【Ergonomics & Mechanical Feel Keyboard】The ergonomically designed keycap height maintains the comfort for long time use, protects the wrist, and the mechanical feeling brought by the imitation mechanical technology when using it, an excellent mechanical feeling that can be enjoyed without the high price, and also a quiet membrane gaming keyboard
Opera also introduced the MidnightFX shader for blue-light and contrast adjustments, Forced Dark Mode, AI-powered image and video upscaling, and a multithreaded compositor intended to keep heavily customized interfaces responsive. Opera says its Mod ecosystem had more than 8,000 community creations and over 250 million downloads in November 2024; those are company-reported figures, not an independent census. See the Underwave announcement.
Is Opera GX actually good for gaming?
It is a gaming-oriented browser, not a game optimizer. GX Control lets you limit the browser’s CPU, RAM and network use, which can reduce competition with a game running at the same time. That can be useful on a laptop, an older PC or a system streaming, recording and gaming together.
It cannot repair an underpowered graphics card, thermal throttling, insufficient system memory, background Windows processes or a poorly optimized game. There is no basis for promising higher FPS without a controlled comparison. The defensible benefit is resource containment, not automatic performance gain.
Gaming-adjacent features
- GX Corner: game news, release dates, trailers, deals and a calendar.
- Sidebar services: integrations such as Twitch and Discord, subject to each service’s availability and policy.
- Video Popout: keep a video visible over a game or another application.
- Mods and effects: themes, live wallpapers, sounds, keyboard effects and shaders.
- Music and sound controls: useful for ambience, but unnecessary if you want a quiet, low-overhead browser.
Independent coverage has identified GX Control as Opera GX’s most practical distinction, rather than its neon styling alone (Laptop Mag’s review).
Rank #2
- Personalize 5 customizable lighting zones with over 16.8M colors to match your setup or game and synchronize backlit lighting effects with other Logitech G devices using Logitech G Hub
- G213 Prodigy is a full-sized keyboard designed for gaming and productivity, with a slim body built for gamers of all levels and durable construction to repel liquids, crumbs, and dirt for easy cleanup
- Each key is tuned to enhance the tactile experience, delivering ultra-quick, responsive feedback while the anti-ghosting gaming matrix is tuned for optimal gaming performance, keeping you in control
- G213 gaming keyboard features dedicated media controls that can play, pause, and mute music and videos instantly; easily adjust the volume or skip to the next song with the touch of a button
- Customize lighting, game mode, and macro programming with Logitech G HUB software and stay comfortable during long gaming sessions thanks to an integrated palm rest and adjustable keyboard feet
How useful are the CPU, RAM and network limiters?
The controls are unusually visible and easy to adjust, but they should be treated as operating limits, not proof that GX has the lowest baseline usage. A strict cap can make pages slower, trigger tab reloads or cause video calls and streams to stutter. Network limiting can also interfere with downloads, cloud gaming, livestreaming and calls.
Whether a limit remains enabled after a restart, how hard the cap is, and whether the network control covers every browser request can vary by build and setting. Check the control after updating rather than assuming it is permanent. On a modern 16GB-or-more system, limiting a browser may matter less during ordinary browsing; it is more valuable when a game and many active tabs share a constrained machine.
Opera’s Linux page advertises “up to 80% less RAM,” but that is not a universal benchmark. Memory depends on tabs, extensions, video playback, hardware acceleration, ad blocking, Mods and workload. GX’s real advantage is that it gives you explicit ceilings, not guaranteed lower idle memory than Chrome.
Mods and the Underwave design
Mods are community-created packages that can combine wallpapers, sounds, fonts, icons, splash screens, shaders and interface colors. Presets are useful if you want one profile for a particular game and another for work or school.
Rank #3
- Take your gaming skills to the next level: The Logitech G413 SE is a full-size keyboard with gaming-first features and the durability and performance necessary to compete
- PBT keycaps: Heat- and wear-resistant, this computer gaming keyboard features the most durable material used in keycap design
- Tactile mechanical switches: Uncompromising performance is always within reach with this wired gaming keyboard
- Premium color, material and finish: Elevate your gaming setup with this backlit keyboard featuring a sleek, black-brushed aluminum top case and white LED lighting
- 6-Key rollover anti-ghosting performance: Experience reliable key input with this anti-ghosting keyboard versus non-gaming mechanical keyboards
What improves
- A more coherent visual identity than stock Chromium browsers.
- More control than Chrome or Firefox normally expose without extensions.
- Fast switching between complete looks.
What can get worse
- Animations, live wallpapers, music and shaders can consume GPU, CPU, battery and memory.
- The gamer aesthetic may be distracting or unsuitable in a professional setting.
- More switches can make the interface feel cluttered.
- Forced Dark Mode can break layouts, icons, charts and color-coded web tools.
If a site looks wrong, disable Forced Dark Mode for that site before blaming the page. If scrolling or video becomes less smooth, turn off shaders, live wallpapers and upscaling, then remove strict CPU or RAM caps. Menu names can change between Opera GX builds, so use the current Settings and Mods labels shown in your installation.
Performance: what you should and should not expect
Opera GX includes a Chromium engine and broad Chromium extension compatibility. Its integrated services can add overhead compared with a bare Chrome profile, especially when Mods, music, animated backgrounds, sidebar apps and AI features are active.
A fair comparison requires the same computer, operating system, tabs, extensions, video, hardware-acceleration setting and Mod state. Measure idle and active RAM, CPU, GPU, page responsiveness, video playback and game FPS with GX beside a game. Without that controlled test, claims that GX is “lighter” or “boosts FPS” are marketing impressions rather than established results.
Privacy and security
Blocking and controls
The built-in ad blocker is convenient and supports exceptions, but it is less configurable than specialist tools such as uBlock Origin, particularly on difficult advertising environments. Opera also provides tracker blocking, third-party-cookie controls and settings related to diagnostics and crash reporting. These are useful controls, not a complete privacy guarantee.
Rank #4
- Dynamic RGB Backlighting: Light up your desktop with six onboard lighting effects, assign a color to each lighting zone, or program your own vibrant lighting effects across five RGB lighting zones with CORSAIR iCUE software.
- Six Dedicated Macro Keys: Activate functions, shortcuts, or keypresses in just one stroke with six dedicated macro keys, easily set up through CORSAIR iCUE software, or use instant streaming commands through Elgato Stream Deck software.
- Dust and Spill-Resistant Design: IP42-rated protection guards against accidents so your gameplay never has to stop.
- Detachable Palm Rest: A soft rubber palm rest reduces stress on your hands so you can play longer in comfort, with a textured surface to keep your hands from slipping.
- Dedicated Volume and Media Keys: Convenient control for media playback and fine-tuning volume on-the-fly without having to interrupt your game.
The free browser VPN
Opera’s free VPN routes and protects traffic from within the browser. It is not a full-device VPN for games, launchers or other applications. Independent coverage found limitations in speed, available locations and bypassing streaming restrictions; VPN use can also trigger captchas or location checks.
Deloitte’s 2024 work covered Opera’s free browser VPN infrastructure from June 18 through August 10, 2024, with the assertion dated August 10. Opera VPN Pro was not included in that specific audit. Read the scope in Opera’s Deloitte audit announcement. A no-log assertion for that infrastructure does not make a user anonymous: accounts, cookies, fingerprints and logged-in services can still identify browsing activity.
Accounts and personalization
You can browse without an Opera account. An account is needed for services such as GX.me and GX.games. Opera says anonymized browser-instance data may be used to personalize content and advertising, and that personalization can be disabled in settings. Users who require minimal telemetry or privacy-first defaults may prefer Firefox or Brave.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Everyday browsing features
Beyond gaming, Opera GX offers Video Popout, Workspaces, Search in Tabs, Pinboards, Flow for sharing links and notes across devices, a Music Player, Snapshot, Battery Saver, bookmarks and synchronization, plus sidebar messengers and social services. Availability and wording can change; Opera’s current catalog is at opera.com/gx/features. Do not assume every current catalog item was present in the 2024 build: features such as later AI, Cashback, VPN Pro or newer integrations may have arrived afterward.
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Best Value
- Take your gaming skills to the next level: The Logitech G413 TKL SE is a tenkeyless keyboard with gaming-first features and the durability and performance necessary to compete
- PBT keycaps: Heat- and wear-resistant, this computer gaming keyboard features the most durable material used in keycap design
- Tactile mechanical switches: Uncompromising performance is always within reach with this wired gaming keyboard
- Premium color, material and finish: Elevate your gaming setup with this backlit keyboard featuring a sleek, black-brushed aluminum top case and white LED lighting
- 6-Key rollover anti-ghosting performance: Experience reliable key input with this anti-ghosting keyboard versus non-gaming mechanical keyboards
Switching from another browser
Opera’s current migration path is:
- Open Opera GX.
- Open Settings with Alt + P on Windows or Cmd + , on Mac.
- Open Synchronization.
- Select Import bookmarks and settings.
- Choose the source browser and the data to import.
Check bookmarks, saved passwords, history, cookies, extensions, the default search engine and sync separately. Passwords and bookmarks may import while cookies or extensions do not. Sites that depend on Chrome-specific behavior, banking protections, enterprise tools, game launchers or DRM should be tested individually.
Opera GX versus alternatives
| Browser | Best reason to choose it | Main trade-off versus Opera GX | Official download |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opera GX | Visible CPU, RAM and network controls, Mods and gaming integrations | Busy interface, bundled services and no guaranteed lower baseline RAM | Download Opera GX |
| Chrome | Broad compatibility and extension ecosystem | No GX-style built-in resource controls or gaming customization | Download Chrome |
| Edge | Windows integration and Chromium compatibility | More Microsoft integration; less gamer-focused customization | Download Edge |
| Firefox | Independent engine and extensive privacy controls | Some Chromium-dependent sites and extensions may behave differently | Download Firefox |
| Brave | Privacy and ad/tracker blocking as the central value | No GX Control, Mods ecosystem or gaming content focus | Download Brave |
| Vivaldi | Deep productivity and interface customization | No Opera GX gaming ecosystem or branded resource controls | Download Vivaldi |
Who should use Opera GX?
Good fit
- PC gamers who run many tabs beside a game.
- Streamers and Discord users who want sidebar access and video pop-out.
- People who enjoy wallpapers, sounds, shaders and highly themed interfaces.
- Laptop or older-PC users who benefit from manually limiting browser resources.
- Chromium users who want these controls without assembling many extensions.
Look elsewhere first
- Users who want a quiet, minimal professional interface.
- People seeking the strongest privacy-first defaults or a specialist ad blocker.
- Anyone expecting guaranteed FPS gains or lower RAM than Chrome in every workload.
- Users who need a full-device VPN.
- Linux users who require complete feature parity: Opera’s current Linux page offers
.deb,.rpmand Flatpak options but notes that features including Live Wallpapers and system icon customization are missing.
Final verdict
The 2024 Opera GX update was worthwhile because it expanded customization and made the browser’s identity more coherent, while the July Aria release added useful built-in assistance. The strongest practical reason to install GX remains control: you can deliberately limit browser CPU, RAM and network activity while gaming. That is valuable, but it is not the same as a faster engine or an FPS boost.
Choose Opera GX if those controls, Mods and gaming conveniences match how you use a browser. Choose Chrome or Edge for familiar compatibility, Firefox or Brave for a more privacy-oriented approach, and Vivaldi for productivity customization without the gamer presentation.
Quick Recap
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