TL;DR: Opera’s new Neon is an “agentic” AI browser that doesn’t just chat—it can do things for you: open/close tabs, fill forms, compare products, generate code, and even create images and videos inside the browser. It launches as a premium, subscription product (early access ~$19.90/month), targeted at power users who want automation, privacy-first local actions, and advanced creative tools. Casual users can stay on Opera One with free Aria AI.
What is Opera Neon, exactly?
Opera Neon is Opera’s first fully agentic AI browser—a reimagined browser that can interpret web pages, act in your tabs, and deliver outcomes (not just answers). Think of it as a browser that can operate itself based on your intent: research a topic, automate steps across multiple sites, or build something new in the background.
Neon revives the “Neon” name from Opera’s concept days, but this isn’t a visual experiment—it’s a task-oriented, do-things browser with all the essentials (ad blocker, free VPN, bookmarks) baked in.
The Headline Features (and Why They Matter)
1) Tasks – your project “mini-browsers”
Create a Task for “Trip Planning” or “New Website,” then let Neon keep everything—tabs, notes, AI steps—scoped to that context. AI can analyze and act across multiple sources inside the Task without mixing with the rest of your browsing.
2) Neon Do – the on-device action engine
Toggle Do and Neon starts operating pages locally: opening/closing tabs, filling forms, comparing listings, collecting data—right inside your logged-in session. No screen recording or remote cloud VM with your passwords; you can pause or take over any time.
3) Cards – reusable prompt “lego bricks”
Save prompt instructions as Cards and chain them. Example: pull-details + comparison-table to build product matrices; or key-decisions + action-items + follow-ups to structure meeting notes. There’s a Cards store plus custom Cards.
4) Make – create code, apps, or documents
Neon can make things (reports, small apps) by orchestrating multiple AI agents. It can continue work on a cloud computer so results are ready when you return.
5) Creative AI built-in: images & video
- Video: Neon integrates OpenAI Sora 2 for text-to-video creation directly from the Omnibox via
@make. - Images: Neon added Google’s Nano Banana (gemini-2.5-flash-image) for fast image generation & editing; Imagen and GPT-Image remain available.
6) All the Opera comforts
Neon inherits Opera’s privacy-minded design and staples like free VPN and ad blocker, so it can be your everyday browser—not just an AI toy.
Pricing & Availability
- Early access launched September 30, 2025 as a premium subscription targeting AI power users; invites roll out gradually. Early reports peg pricing at $19.90/month for the first wave.
- Opera positions Neon as a privacy-first, local-action alternative in the rapidly evolving agentic browsing race (Perplexity Comet, Arc Dia, Chrome’s Gemini features, etc.).
Not ready to pay? Opera’s mainstream browsers (Opera One, Opera GX) include Aria—Opera’s free, integrated AI for chat, writing help, page-aware assistance, and image generation—no account required since late 2024.
Real-World Use Cases (Step-by-Step)
A) Rapid product research (e.g., “Best mirrorless cameras under ₹1L”)
- Create a Task called “Camera Hunt.”
- Drop your shortlist URLs; add Cards: pull-details, spec-table, pros-cons.
- Toggle Neon Do to collect specs & prices across tabs automatically; pause to add local store links.
- Ask Make for a shareable comparison sheet + a purchase checklist.
B) Flight planning & checkout helper
- Task: “Goa trip Diwali.”
- Paste date constraints, airline prefs, hotel tabs.
- Enable Do to scan sites, fill passenger forms, and surface final fare diffs; you confirm payment step manually.
C) Build a quick microsite or tool
- Task: “Alumni RSVP app.”
- Describe the vibe & features; Make scaffolds HTML/CSS/JS, iterates, and hosts a shareable version while you’re away.
D) Creative ideation
- Use Nano Banana to generate consistent brand illustrations; swap prompts to evolve the theme; export assets.
- Use Sora 2 to produce a launch teaser video straight from Neon’s start page with
@make.
Opera Neon vs Opera One (with Aria)
| Feature | Neon (Agentic) | Opera One (with Aria) |
|---|---|---|
| Core idea | Acts for you (Tasks, Do, Cards, Make) | Assists you (chat, page-aware help, images) |
| Where actions run | Locally in your browser (no remote screen recording/VM) | Standard AI assistance inside the browser |
| Creative AI | Built-in Sora 2 video, Nano Banana images | Aria image generation & understanding (free) |
| Cost | Premium subscription (early access) | Free, no login needed since 2024 |
| Best for | Power users, automation-first workflows | Most users wanting quick AI help |
Strengths & Trade-offs
What Neon gets right
- Agentic actions that stay local to your browsing session for better control and privacy.
- Context-scoped Tasks reduce chaos and prompt leakage between projects.
- Reusable Cards accelerate repeat workflows.
- Serious creator tools (Sora 2 video, Nano Banana images) inside the browser.
Where you’ll hesitate
- Price: Early access is paid, and mainstream rivals are adding free “agentic” features.
- Availability: Invite/waitlist model; rollout is staged.
Who Should Switch to Neon?
- AI power users & operators who routinely juggle multi-step web tasks and want automation with oversight.
- Creators, marketers, PMs, researchers who’ll benefit from image/video generation and repeatable Cards for standard work.
- Privacy-conscious professionals who prefer on-device actions over remote agents.
Stick with Opera One (free Aria) if you mainly need smart summaries, drafting help, and image generation without agentic automation—or if you’re price-sensitive.
Getting Started (Fast)
- Join the waitlist & redeem any access code you receive.
- Create your first Task and add a few starter tabs/notes.
- Build a couple of Cards for workflows you repeat (e.g., “pull specs → compare table → draft summary”).
- Try Neon Do on a low-stakes task (filling a form, scraping event dates) and pause/guide as needed.
- Explore Make for a simple report or microsite; then level up with Sora 2 or Nano Banana for creative assets.
FAQs
Is Opera Neon free?
No. Neon launches as a premium subscription with staged access; Opera’s other browsers keep free Aria AI.
How is Neon different from AI “sidebars” in other browsers?
Neon’s Do agent acts inside your real tabs and logged-in sessions, operating on the DOM, not screenshots—so it’s faster, more private, and fully interruptible.
Will Neon replace Opera One?
No. Opera One remains the mainstream browser with free Aria. Neon is built for users who want agentic, outcome-oriented workflows and are willing to pay.
Can it really make videos and images?
Yes—Sora 2 for video, Nano Banana for images, directly inside Neon’s flow.
Verdict: Should You Pay for Neon?
If your day is filled with repeatable, multi-site workflows—research → compare → fill forms → compile docs—Neon’s Tasks + Do + Cards + Make combo is a genuine productivity unlock. For creators, the built-in video & image generation is icing on the cake. But if your needs are light or you’re experimenting, Opera One with Aria likely suffices (free). In short: power users, yes; casuals, wait.
Subscribe to our channels at alt4.in or at Knowlab
