If you've kept track of the new Microsoft Edge browser, you'll know that it has recently undergone a lot of changes, including upgrading to a Chromium base. Now, Microsoft is looking to make its browser even better with the addition of some new features. Starting with v85.

Let's take a look at the changelog and see what the new Edge has in store for us.

What's in Store for the Microsoft Edge V85 Update?

You can find all of the new additions in the Edge Beta v85 release notes. You'll note that this is for the beta version of the browser, so it's not available on the main branch yet. However, it's useful as a sneak peek into what Microsoft Edge will look like in the future.

First, Edge will now support syncing favorites and settings between users on the same PC without needing to use cloud sync. This is good news for privacy enthusiasts who don't want to put their data stored in the cloud.

The update also brings along a PDF highlighter tool, natively installed within the browser. This lets you mark specific parts of a PDF document, then save it so that others can see your edits.

This update will also allow Windows Explorer to play nicer with Edge. If someone tries to open a link from a trusted source in another program (like Word, for instance), Edge will no longer prod you with a confirmation box.

Microsoft Edge Collections is also getting sync compatibility with OneNote. OneNote is Microsoft's handy note-taking system that lets people organize their projects, so this syncing capability makes it easy to store essential websites for later.

How Microsoft Edge Is Evolving for the Modern Internet

For a long time, Microsoft's browsers struggled to keep up with the competition. Both Chrome and Firefox boasted advanced features that put Microsoft's Internet Explorer to shame.

However, Microsoft is keen to push its new browser, Edge, into the spotlight. First, the company adopted a Chromium base to keep up with the competition. We took a look at this update in our guide on how to download the Chromium version of Edge.

Now, as evident by this update, Microsoft wants to equip Edge with all the necessities needed to take on Chrome and Firefox. It's still early days to tell if Microsoft Edge will become a significant contender in the browser market, but updates like this are a step in the right direction.

Keeping on Top of Microsoft Edge

While these features aren't ready for the main branch, they're usable in the beta. Now you know some of the features that will come to Edge in the future.

If you want first-hand sneak previews of each update for Edge, here's everything you need to know about Microsoft Edge Insider channels.