Firefox 157 Rolls Out Round-Tab Redesign and Restores Compact Mode

3 articles · Updated · The Verge · Sep 29

Firefox 157 began rolling out today to desktop and mobile users, delivering a broad visual overhaul with bubble-like tabs, a rounded address bar, refreshed icons and colors, and a unified design across platforms.
Mozilla says the redesign is meant to modernize the browser without hurting performance, while the return of Compact Mode answers user requests for a denser layout that frees more screen space.
A dozen color options with light and dark variants, plus new themes and wallpapers, expand customization in a release Mozilla frames as a broader renewal after updates such as Split View, homepage widgets, VPN, and AI controls.
The update also lands as Mozilla tries to make Firefox more competitive with Chrome, Edge, and Safari, even as Firefox's rounded interface now looks somewhat closer to Chrome's.