@voltronic That's exactly what it does. I get different IPs from whatsmyip.org in Safari with that on vs. Safari with that off (or Chrome.)

Note that it ONLY impacts the Safari browser app, not other apps web browsing, even though those use the Safari engine.

It does give a noticeable speed hit, though. I get ~800 Mbps with it off, ~330 Mbps with it on.

@voltronic What's interesting is that it has an option to enable just for "trackers" - using that, I get my normal WiFi speed.

@ehurtley @voltronic

I believe that setting doesn’t use the proxy/vpn route but instead holds off on sending tracking data then uploads in aggregate. https://developer.apple.com/wwdc21/10033

@voltronic

No, you're not misunderstanding. Apple's providing an opt-in privacy-enhancing service for any iOS users who aren't terrified of them.

But it's not a proper VPN, it just doesn't provide your actual IP address to the server on the far side, but a substitute instead.

@mcfate it is my understanding that the VPN, or what Apple is calling ‘Private Relay’ is different from what @voltronic was inquiring about. Private Relay is an iCloud Setting and the ‘hide IP’ a Safari setting. How exactly they differ, I don’t know as they both only seem to work on Safari - which I don’t use.

That Wired article explains some of it, but not fully how everything is achieved

@Merlin @voltronic

It's a slam-dunk that all intermediation is going to involve machines in the apple.com domain, regardless of the implementation details.

So, if you feel Apple is a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of Hell for some reason, in some way that the Goog aren't, I suppose you should buy the less excellent phone and hope you get a system update tossed your way once in a while.