Opera Gx Sucks Exploring Complaints Why Users Dislike It

Opera GX has positioned itself as the “gaming browser,” promising optimized performance, built-in streaming tools, and a sleek dark aesthetic tailored for gamers. But behind the flashy marketing and RGB-inspired interface, many users report growing frustration. Despite its niche appeal, a consistent wave of criticism points to deeper issues—performance lag, intrusive features, questionable resource management, and a lack of meaningful innovation. This article dives into the most common grievances from real users, explores why Opera GX fails to deliver on its promises, and examines whether its gaming-centric model is more gimmick than utility.

Performance Issues: The Irony of a Slow \"Gaming Browser\"

The core promise of Opera GX is enhanced performance for gamers—yet ironically, many users find it slower than mainstream alternatives like Chrome, Firefox, or even Microsoft Edge. While Opera touts its GX Control feature to limit CPU, RAM, and network usage, real-world testing shows inconsistent results. Some users report that the browser consumes more memory than advertised, especially when multiple tabs or media-heavy sites are open.

One Reddit user noted: “I switched to Opera GX hoping for smoother multitasking while gaming, but it actually made my system chug more. Even with RAM limits set, it would spike during Twitch streams.” This contradiction—marketing efficiency while delivering bloat—is central to the dissatisfaction.

Tip: If you're experiencing slowdowns, disable unused features like the integrated news feed, crypto wallet, and ad blocker to reduce background load.

Bloatware and Unwanted Features

Opera GX comes packed with features many users neither want nor use. From a built-in cryptocurrency wallet and NFT gallery to social media side panels and a news ticker, the browser feels cluttered. These additions, while monetized by Opera, contribute to startup delays and increased memory footprint.

The problem isn’t just the presence of these tools—it’s their lack of modularity. Users can't fully remove certain components, and disabling them doesn’t always stop background processes. For instance, the “GX Corner” panel loads content on startup by default, pulling data even if never opened.

“Opera GX feels less like a browser and more like an app suite I didn’t ask for.” — Alex R., software developer and long-time Firefox user

Comparison: Opera GX vs. Standard Browsers

Feature	Opera GX	Mozilla Firefox	Google Chrome
Default RAM Usage (Idle)	450–600 MB	300–400 MB	500–700 MB
Custom Resource Limiter	Yes (GX Control)	No	No
Built-in Ad Blocker	Yes	Add-on required	Add-on required
Unremovable Panels	GX Corner, Crypto Wallet	None	None
User Customization Depth	Moderate	High	High

While Opera GX offers unique tools like GX Control, the trade-off in bloat often outweighs the benefits. Competitors provide leaner experiences with comparable privacy and speed when configured properly.

Privacy Concerns and Data Collection

Opera GX inherits Opera’s controversial stance on user data. Although it includes a free, limited VPN and ad blocker, reports have surfaced about data logging practices. In 2018, Norwegian authorities found that Opera’s Turbo mode and integrated VPN were logging user activity—including IP addresses and browsing history—despite claims of anonymity.

Though Opera states improvements since then, trust remains low among privacy-conscious users. Unlike Firefox or Brave, which are backed by non-profits or transparent privacy-first missions, Opera is a commercial entity with monetization goals that often conflict with user privacy.

Tip: Use a third-party ad blocker and avoid relying on Opera’s “free VPN” for sensitive tasks. Pair it with a trusted private DNS service like Cloudflare or NextDNS.

Real User Experience: A Case Study

Mark T., a streamer with 15K followers on Twitch, decided to switch to Opera GX in 2022 after seeing influencer promotions. He was drawn to the idea of limiting bandwidth usage while streaming live gameplay. Initially impressed by the interface, he soon noticed issues.

During a live broadcast, his chat began reporting that his stream kept buffering. After investigation, Mark discovered that Opera GX was using over 1.2GB of RAM across 20 tabs—even with GX Control set to 800MB. The limiter wasn’t enforcing hard caps effectively. Additionally, the browser was silently syncing data to Opera’s servers, consuming upload bandwidth he needed for streaming.

He reverted to Firefox with uBlock Origin and a custom RAM cleaner. “The difference was immediate. No more stutters, and my upload stability improved. Opera GX looked cool, but it didn’t perform when it mattered.”

Lack of Developer Innovation and Support

Despite launching with fanfare, Opera GX has seen minimal meaningful updates over the past two years. Bug reports related to tab hibernation crashes, sync failures, and GPU rendering glitches remain unresolved in community forums. Meanwhile, competitors continue refining performance, security, and cross-platform integration.

One major pain point is the lack of extension support compared to Chromium-based peers. While Opera GX supports Chrome extensions, many don’t function correctly due to modified APIs or conflicts with built-in tools. Users who rely on productivity or privacy add-ons often find themselves compromised.

“We expect continuous improvement from software targeting power users. Opera GX feels stagnant—like a product living off aesthetics rather than engineering.” — Dr. Lena Patel, UX researcher at Digital Trust Lab

Troubleshooting Checklist: Optimizing Opera GX (If You Must Use It)

• Disable GX Corner and news feed in Settings > Home
• Turn off Opera News, Crypto Wallet, and NFT features
• Set strict limits in GX Control (RAM, CPU, Network)
• Use lightweight themes to reduce GPU load
• Clear cache weekly and disable preloading
• Avoid running multiple Opera accounts or sync services
• Update manually to ensure latest patches

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Opera GX safe to use?

Opera GX is generally safe for casual browsing, but caution is advised. Its built-in \"VPN\" is not a true no-log service and should not be relied upon for privacy. For sensitive activities, use a reputable third-party VPN and avoid saving passwords in the browser.

Why is Opera GX so slow on my PC?

Slowness often stems from background features like GX Corner, ad injection, or memory leaks in older versions. Even with GX Control enabled, some processes bypass limits. Updating the browser and disabling unnecessary tools may help, but switching to a lighter alternative might be more effective.

Can I make Opera GX faster?

You can optimize it by disabling all non-essential panels, blocking ads externally, and setting aggressive resource caps. However, due to architectural limitations, it will likely never match the efficiency of browsers like Firefox or Brave, especially on lower-end systems.

Conclusion: Style Over Substance?

Opera GX captures attention with its bold design and gamer-focused branding, but under the surface, it struggles with performance, bloat, and outdated development priorities. What starts as an appealing alternative often becomes a source of frustration—laggy tabs, unreliable resource controls, and unwanted features that can’t be fully removed.

For users seeking a truly efficient, stable, and privacy-respecting browser, better options exist. But if you’re committed to giving Opera GX another chance, follow the optimization checklist and treat its features critically—enable only what you need, monitor resource usage, and don’t assume its tools work as advertised.

💬 Have you tried Opera GX? Share your experience—did it enhance your workflow or hold you back? Join the conversation and help others decide if it's worth the hype.