Many users reporting it's too easy to click on the "dead zone" above tabs after new design

[Brave-Matt]

Description

Large number of users are saying that they are constantly clicking in the "dead zone" that appears above a tab after the new horizontal tabs implementation:

https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/7bc70e00-13a1-4ae7-8ee2-debab7dc7d3a

It is worth noting that enabling or disabling the #brave-horizontal-tabs-update appears to have different effects for some users. Some users report that the issue with the "dead zone" only occurs with the flag enabled:

I have to add that I only have this behaviour when i have the flag " Updated horizontal tabs" set to disabled under brave://flags. So for now I have set it to default in order be be more productive today. But please note that I do not like this design and would prefer to re-disable this option.

Other users still encounter the issue disabled or enabled:

yupp, happening here even with the flag for “new horizontal tab design” disabled.

Setting aesthetics aside entirely, I would suggest we make the tab design optional (surface flag to settings) or at minimum, expand the tabs clickable vertically to go all the way to the top of the window, since most people aren't clicking above tabs to move the window anyway.

Steps to reproduce

1. Have new tab design
2. Accidentally click in dead zone above tabs.

Actual result

Many users failing to click tab.

Expected result

Not clicking on the dead zone

Reproduces how often

Easily reproduced

Brave version (brave://version info)

1.68.128

Channel information

• [X] release (stable)
• [X] beta
• [X] nightly

Reproducibility

• [ ] with Brave Shields disabled
• [ ] with Brave Rewards disabled
• [ ] in the latest version of Chrome

Miscellaneous information

User reports: https://community.brave.com/t/new-update-changed-tab-shape/559629/5 https://www.reddit.com/r/brave_browser/comments/1eb8swb/what_fresh_hell_is_this/ https://www.reddit.com/r/brave_browser/comments/1eceeco/how_to_revert_to_old_tab_style/ https://www.reddit.com/r/brave_browser/comments/1ec437z/brave_updated_horizontal_tabs_design_doesnt_work/ https://www.reddit.com/r/brave_browser/comments/1ebwkkd/im_glad_i_use_vertical_tabs/