Hidden Gems in Brave Browser That Boost Productivity and Privacy

On today's episode of Tech Brewed, Greg Doig uncovers some of Brave browser’s coolest, most overlooked features—far beyond just blocking ads. Most people know Brave for its privacy shields, but it’s packed with hidden tools that can totally transform your browsing experience. From a supercharged article reading mode and a built-in AI assistant named Leo, to privacy-focused search, smart memory management for your endless tabs, and a personalized news hub, Greg Doig walks you through five features you probably never knew existed. Tune in and learn how to unlock a smarter, smoother, and more private way to surf the web!

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Transcript

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Five hidden Brave browser features that'll change how you browse welcome back everyone. I'm your host, Greg Doig. And you've probably heard of Brave browser, right? Most people know it for blocking ads and trackers with those signature shields. But here's the thing. If you think Brave is just about privacy, you're missing out on some seriously cool features that are hiding right under your nose. Today, I'm going to walk you through five powerful Brave features that most people have no idea exist. Trust me, once you start using these, you'll wonder how you ever browsed without them. Feature number one Speed Reader. Your articles just got a glow up. All right, let's start with Speed Reader. Now you might be thinking Reading Mode. Every browser has that. But hold up, Brave's version is actually genius. Here's what makes it different. While other browsers clean up articles after the messy web page loads, Speed Reader strips away all that junk before it even hits your screen. It's like having a personal assistant who previews every article and hands you just the good stuff. Once you turn it on, you can customize everything. The theme, the font, text size, whatever makes reading comfortable for you. It's honestly a game changer for anyone who reads a lot online. And speaking of making things easier, how about feature number two? Meet Leo, your private AI buddy. This one's one of my personal favorites. Brave has a built in AI assistant called Leo that lives right in your sidebar. You can ask it to summarize long articles, answer questions about what you're reading, or even help you write stuff. But here's the kicker, and this is huge for privacy nerds like me. Leo doesn't require any login, doesn't store your conversations, and doesn't use your chats to train its models. It's completely anonymous. The basic version is totally free, and if you're a heavy user, there's a premium tier for about 15 bucks a month. But honestly, the free version handles most of what you'd want to do. Now, Leo helps you understand content better, but what about finding that content in the first place? Well, that brings up feature number three, and that is Brave Search. Finally, search results that make sense. By default, Brave uses its own search engine instead of Google. And I gotta say, the results are refreshingly clean. Here's a quick test for you. Next time you search for best running shoes or any product review, compare Google's results to Braves. On Google, you'll scroll past a bunch of sponsored ads before you get to actual helpful content. On BraveSearch, the real organic results are right there at the top. Plus, and this is the best part, BraveSearch doesn't track you or build a creepy profile about your search habits. Your searches stay your business. But wait, there's more. Brave also helps your computer run better with feature number four Memory Saver because we all have tab problems. Okay, be honest. How many tabs do you have open right now? 20? 50? Don't worry, I don't judge. Brave's Memory Saver feature automatically puts your inactive tabs to sleep, which frees up RAM for the stuff you're actually using. You can set it to moderate, balanced, or maximum, depending on how aggressive you want it to be. And if you're on a laptop, there's also an energy saver mode that extends your battery life by toning down background activity and visual effects. Your future self will thank you when you're not hunting for the charger every few hours. Feature number five Turn your new tab into a personal news hub. Yep, last but not least, Brave News. Instead of staring at a boring blank page every time you open a new tab, you can turn it into your personal news feed. Just click the settings icon in the upper right corner of any new tab, and boom. You can customize everything. Pick your favorite news sources, enable topic channels like tech, gaming, cars, whatever you're into. It's like having a personalized newspaper that updates throughout the day. So what's the bottom line? Look, Brave has seriously evolved beyond just being that browser that blocks ads. These features work together to create something that feels less like a browser and more like a complete digital workspace. The crazy part? Most people have no idea these features even exist. It makes you wonder, what other everyday tools are we using that have amazing hidden features we've never discovered? That's some food for thought. Once again, thanks for listening, and we'll be back with more tech news and tech tips for you soon.