Google Chrome is about to have a very convenient feature of reading web page content in the Side Panel

Side Panel is a small panel area that will appear on the right edge of the Chrome interface when activated. Currently, this is where the Reading list, Bookmarks, and Google Lens results are located. However, the Side Panel's potential can be even more useful. Google is planning to expand the functionality of the Side Panel, including adding a new feature called Reader Mode, which, according to the new Chromium Repository commit, was first discovered.

As discovered by tech blogger Leopeva64-2 (via Chromium Repository data), the new Reader Mode feature is now available on the stable version of Chrome, but hidden as a developer flag. When activated, Reader Mode displays a simplified website layout right inside the Side Panel area. For example, the content of an article will be able to be fully displayed in the Side Panel, allowing users to quickly grasp the content they need. Meanwhile, the main display area in the middle of the Chrome interface will be able to be used to browse other websites at the same time.

In general, the way this new Reader Mode feature works is quite simple. You just have to click the button that activates the Side Panel, located on the right side of the Address Bar, to open it. Then, click the Reader Mode tab located at the top of the Side Panel interface. If you want to switch to another tab and view it on the Side Panel, you must close this Side Pane and then reopen it on a new tab. Refer to the GIF below to better understand how this feature works.

The new Reader Mode feature is now available in Chrome Canary, which means it's currently in development. As such, it can be safely assumed that Google will add this feature to the Stable channel in the near future. Until then, you can completely download Chrome Canary to experience it soon if you want.