Opera One is turning up the volume on its Spotify integration with a new feature that makes your browser groove to your music. In collaboration with Spotify, the popular browser has introduced a dynamic theme called Sonic—a moving, sound-reactive background that shifts and pulses in sync with what you’re listening to. Inspired by the nostalgic charm of Winamp visualizers, this design uses advanced shader technology to create waves that dance along to your playlist.
“People love listening to music while browsing, and Opera remains the only major web browser with a built-in music player for a seamless experience,” said Mohamed Salah Mourad, Senior Director of Product at Opera. “Now we’re taking it one step further with a visual theme that reacts directly to your music.”
The Sonic update builds on Opera One’s growing list of user-centric features. Recent additions include built-in translation tools and a Split Screen mode that allows quick access to toolbars such as Pinboards, Snapshot, Flow, Bookmarks, and Downloads—all designed to streamline multitasking.
How to activate the Sonic theme
To try the new Sonic theme, visit Opera’s theme gallery and select it from the available options. Once enabled, the animated design appears on the browser’s Start page and responds in real time to your audio. For the best experience, Opera recommends using the integrated sidebar Music Player to fully enjoy the synchronized motion of the “sound wave on sand” effect.
Sonic is currently available only in dark mode, but users can tailor the animation’s color palette to suit their mood—ranging from bold neon hues for an energetic pop vibe to subtle monochrome tones for minimalist playlists.
The Sonic theme joins several other customizable experiences in Opera One, where users can mix animated backgrounds, UI color schemes, and even browser sounds to reflect their personal style. The new update follows the rollout of Opera’s experimental agentic browser, Neon, signaling the company’s commitment to blending creativity and functionality in everyday browsing.
