Opera Mini, a mobile browser with a long history, is making a comeback with its integrated AI chatbot, Aria. While facing stiff competition from established browsers like Chrome and Safari, Opera Mini focuses on its data-saving features, a key selling point in the early days of smartphones. With the recent integration of Aria, Opera Mini offers AI capabilities directly within the browser, potentially providing a data-efficient alternative to standalone chatbots like ChatGPT and Google Gemini. But does it deliver on its promise? I put Aria head-to-head with these popular AI chatbots to find out.
Aria vs. the Giants: A Four-Part Test
Opera Mini Aria AI chatbot on phone held in hand.
To thoroughly evaluate Aria’s performance, I designed a four-part test comparing it to the free versions of Google Gemini (2.0 Flash model) and ChatGPT (GPT-4-turbo model). The tests focused on accuracy, speed, and data consumption for various tasks, including basic knowledge retrieval, in-depth research, image generation, and web browsing. Data consumption was measured using Android’s app-wise data usage stats, rounded off to the nearest 0.1MB.
Round 1: Basic Knowledge Retrieval
The first prompt, “What is the capital of Argentina?”, tested basic knowledge retrieval. All three chatbots answered correctly (Buenos Aires), but their performance differed in speed and data usage.
| Chatbot | Data Consumed (MB) | Time Taken (seconds) |
|---|---|---|
| Opera Mini Aria | 0.1 | 10 |
| Google Gemini | 0.1 | 3 |
| ChatGPT | 0.05 | 2 |
ChatGPT proved to be the most efficient, consuming minimal data and responding quickly. Aria, while accurate, lagged behind in speed.
Round 2: In-depth Research
Long text response on Opera Mini Aria AI chatbot.
The second prompt, “Create a detailed 5-day itinerary for a solo traveler visiting Kyoto, Japan for the first time…”, assessed the chatbots’ research and information synthesis capabilities.
| Chatbot | Data Consumed (MB) | Time Taken (seconds) |
|---|---|---|
| Opera Mini Aria | 0.2 | 20 |
| Google Gemini | 0.4 | 25 |
| ChatGPT | 0.05 | 35 |
Surprisingly, ChatGPT consumed the least data despite generating the most comprehensive itinerary. Gemini provided a detailed, albeit overwhelming, response. Aria struck a balance between brevity and depth, offering a well-structured itinerary with source citations.
Response to a long text query on Opera Aria AI chatbot vs ChatGPT and Google Gemini.
Round 3: Image Generation
Text to image generation on Opera Aria AI chatbot running on an Android phone.
The third test evaluated image generation using a detailed prompt describing a futuristic cityscape.
| Chatbot | Data Consumed (MB) | Time Taken (seconds) |
|---|---|---|
| Opera Mini Aria | 0.7 | 12 |
| Google Gemini | 0.8 | 20 |
| ChatGPT | 3.4 | 105 |
Aria and Gemini produced similar results using Google’s Imagen 3 model, with Aria being faster. ChatGPT, though slower and data-intensive, generated higher-quality images. A follow-up prompt to recreate the image in an oil painting style revealed inconsistencies in Aria and Gemini’s ability to modify existing images, while ChatGPT excelled, albeit with higher resource consumption.
Digital painting of a skyline generated by Opera Aria AI chatbot.
Digital painting of a skyline generated by Gemini AI.
digital painting of a skyline generated by ChatGPT.
Round 4: Web Browsing
The final prompt, “Find the release date and standout features of the 2025 Fairphone, and briefly compare it to the previous model in terms of sustainability,” tested real-time information retrieval. Aria excelled in speed and data efficiency, but both Aria and ChatGPT provided inaccurate information based on the older Fairphone 5. Only Gemini accurately identified that the 2025 model was yet to be released.
Conclusion: A Promising Data-Saver
Opera Mini AI chatbot running on a phone kept on a round table.
While Opera Mini’s Aria AI might not outperform ChatGPT or Gemini in all areas, it shines in its data-saving capabilities. This makes it a valuable tool for users with limited data plans or slow internet connections. While it’s not a replacement for more powerful AI tools, Aria offers a convenient and data-efficient option for quick tasks like generating travel plans or summarizing web pages, particularly in situations where data conservation is crucial. Its integration within the Opera Mini browser makes it readily accessible, potentially bridging the AI gap for users in developing countries with limited access to data-intensive applications.
