Perplexity released its Comet browser for iPhone on March 18, a week behind schedule. The app automates web tasks, summarizes pages, and consolidates research across tabs to reduce app switching for productivity‑focused users.
What Comet does on iOS devices. Comet integrates AI search and automation directly into mobile browsing. Users trigger searches, generate page summaries, extract product details for shopping, and consolidate multi‑tab research by tapping the Comet icon or typing queries in the address bar. The browser processes these tasks without requiring users to leave the app or switch between tools.
When the app shipped and where users can download it. Perplexity delayed the launch from March 11 to March 18 to complete final testing. The app is now available globally through Apple's App Store. No iPad version is currently scheduled, according to the company.
How it connects to Perplexity's desktop tools. The browser links to Perplexity's Personal Computer agent, which runs locally on Mac mini hardware. This connection lets the iPhone app offload heavy processing to the desktop agent when users sync devices across platforms.
Why productivity users should pay attention now. By closing the iOS gap, users get AI automation without app switching. Market.us projects the AI browser market will grow from $1.4 billion in 2024 to $18.6 billion by 2034, driven by a 33 percent compound annual growth rate. Competitors including Brave Leo and Opera AI already offer similar mobile features, making Perplexity's entry part of a broader shift in user expectations for integrated mobile browsing tools.
What early adopters should watch. Privacy policies and battery performance will determine whether users stick with Comet long-term. Perplexity has not disclosed which large language model powers the chat feature or specified how it stores query data. Clear data handling practices could separate Comet from competitors, while power consumption remains a key factor that may push some users back to conventional browsers. As the AI browser market expands, these practical considerations will likely matter as much as feature sets.
