WebGPU Browser Support: See Which Browsers are Ready for Hardware-Accelerated Graphics

WebGPU is poised to revolutionize web graphics, offering an API for complex rendering and computations. This means demanding 3D games and scientific calculations can be accelerated directly in the browser using your device's GPU. WebGPU aims to be the successor to WebGL, providing a more modern and efficient approach to GPU-accelerated tasks. But what browsers actually support WebGPU right now?

WebGPU Support Across Major Browsers: A Detailed Breakdown

Here’s a breakdown of WebGPU support across different browsers and versions. Knowing this helps you understand if your target audience can experience WebGPU-powered content.

Chrome: Full Steam Ahead

Chrome

Versions 4-79: Not supported.
Versions 80-93: Disabled by default (requires enabling).
Versions 94-112: Disabled by default (requires enabling).
Versions 113-129: Fully supported!

Chrome is leading the charge with WebGPU support in recent versions. If your users are on the latest Chrome, they're good to go.

Edge: Following Chrome's Lead

Versions 12-79: Not supported.
Versions 80-93: Disabled by default.
Versions 94-112: Disabled by default.
Versions 113-125: Supported.

Since Edge is built on Chromium, its support mirrors Chrome's closely.

Safari: Still Catching Up

Versions 3.1-17.4: Not supported.
Version 17.5: Not supported.
Versions 17.6-18.0: Not supported.
Technology Preview (TP): Supported.

Safari support is still a work in progress. While not yet available in stable releases, it's available in their Technology Preview.

Firefox: Lagging Behind

Versions 2-62: Not supported.
Versions 63-126: Disabled by default.
Versions 127-130: Disabled by default.

Firefox's implementation is still in the works, requiring manual enabling in the latest versions.

Opera: Riding the Chromium Wave

Versions 9-72: Not supported.
Versions 73-98: Disabled by default.
Versions 99-110: Supported.

Opera, also based on Chromium, generally follows Chrome's support timeline.

Internet Explorer: End of the Line

Versions 5.5-11: Not supported.

Given that Internet Explorer is no longer actively developed, it will not support WebGPU.

Mobile Browsers: Mixed Bag

Chrome for Android: Supported (version 125+).
Safari on iOS: Not yet supported in stable releases.
Samsung Internet: Supported (versions 24+).
Opera Mobile: Supported (version 80).

Mobile browser support is fragmented, with Chrome and Samsung Internet leading the way.

Why WebGPU Matters: Benefits and Use Cases

Enhanced Graphics: Experience more realistic and detailed 3D graphics directly in your browser.
Improved Performance: WebGPU leverages hardware acceleration for faster and smoother performance, especially in demanding applications.
Scientific Computing: Accelerate complex calculations for research, data analysis, and simulations.
Modern API: WebGPU provides a modern and efficient API compared to WebGL, making development easier and more powerful. Think streamlined code and better resource management.

Getting Started with WebGPU: Resources and Further Exploration

Want to dive deeper into WebGPU? Here are some useful resources:

Official Wiki: https://github.com/gpuweb/gpuweb/wiki - The central hub for all things WebGPU.
Implementation Status: https://github.com/gpuweb/gpuweb/wiki/Implementation-Status - Stay up-to-date on the implementation progress across different browsers.
WebGPU Test Scene: https://toji.github.io/webgpu-test/ - See WebGPU in action with a live demo.

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WebGPU represents the future of web graphics, offering unparalleled performance and capabilities. While browser support is still evolving, the trend is clear – WebGPU is coming to a browser near you!