Brave 1.97 and Chrome 155: What actually changed in October 2026

The title combines two references that should be separated: Brave 1.97.59 and Chromium 155 do not equate to a list of Chrome 155 features. Available records indicate that Brave released this build on October 16, 2026, and updated its base to Chromium 155.0.8059.85. These data describe a Brave version, not an announcement of Google Chrome's own features.

Brave's version sequence also includes 1.97.57, dated October 14. Its notes list specific changes to Brave Wallet synchronization, a fix related to Tor, and an update to Chromium 155.0.8059.80. Therefore, not all these changes belong to 1.97.59: the later build documents the jump to 155.0.8059.85, while the other modifications appear in the previous entry.

The 1.97.57 version note indicates that Brave removed the synchronization selector for "payment methods and other Brave Wallet information." It also notes that it fixed an issue that could prevent Tor windows from connecting to the network under certain circumstances. These are configuration and reliability changes; the notes do not state that removing the selector reduces the attack surface by itself or explain a security reason.

The distinction matters for those using the integrated wallet or Tor windows. The disappearance of the selector does not prove that Wallet data has been deleted, and the connection fix does not equate to a new anonymity guarantee. The notes confirm that a sync option was removed and a specific bug was repaired; they do not detail which data continues to synchronize or offer an independent privacy assessment.

Brave 1.97.59 updated Chromium to 155.0.8059.85, according to the release record. This data allows stating which Chromium version that build incorporates, but it is not enough to attribute new artificial intelligence features, Blink changes, memory improvements, or a measurable performance increase. An engine update does not prove by itself that a user-visible feature has been activated.

The initial draft also presents Chrome 155 as a stable Google version with specific security and performance changes. The provided sources do not include official Chrome 155 notes that allow verifying that description. They also do not confirm which AI features were added, removed, or modified in that cycle. The prudent editorial conclusion is limited: there is not enough basis to compare AI novelties between Brave and Chrome in these versions.

In Brave, there are two facts relevant to privacy: the removal of a Wallet sync control and the repair of a Tor connection issue. However, the version notes do not explain the associated data treatment, and they do not allow concluding that the Wallet change was designed to protect sensitive information. It is advisable to distinguish the observable modification from the undocumented reasons.

A solid comparison with Chrome 155 regarding tracker blocking, data collection, or default configuration cannot also be established here. A secondary page included in the research compares previous versions and does not serve to prove differences for this specific version. An old comparison should not be transferred to a new cycle nor presented as a result of independent tests; available sources also do not offer speed or battery consumption measurements for these builds.

If you want to check which build you have, open the browser's information section and review the full number. In Brave, you can enter brave://settings/help in the address bar; in Chrome, chrome://settings/help. The screen shows the installed version and allows starting the update check. This step verifies local software, but it does not confirm that a specific feature is available in your region or profile.

To interpret the notes, compare the full number and date, not just the first version block. 1.97.57 and 1.97.59 are not interchangeable: the notes attribute Wallet and Tor changes to the former, and the update to Chromium 155.0.8059.85 to the latter. If you are looking for AI novelties or a Chrome 155 privacy change, wait for the official notes of those versions to describe the feature; do not deduce it from the shared Chromium number.