Usually, when buying a smartphone for Android, two browsers are installed in it. The first, of course, is Google Chrome, and the second is the proprietary browser of the smartphone manufacturer. Why it is needed is not very clear, but this is a rule of good form – it should be and the company should somehow develop it. Perhaps, in this state of affairs, something did not suit you and you wanted to try something different. So this other is and there is a lot of it. There are tons of smartphone browsers you can live with, and each one has its own advantages. If thoughts about something new do not leave you, I will try to help you with the choice.
Choosing a browser is more complicated than it sounds.
Which browser to choose for the phone
The ability to install any browser is a proprietary feature Android. Unlike Apple, which does not allow other browsers to be installed on iPhone and iPad as default options, on Google Play you can download any browser on any engine and make it basic. It's nice, but sometimes the eyes run up from it.
In this article, we'll take a look at some of the best web browsers for Android. You've undoubtedly heard of some of them, but we'll compare them directly to see what you're missing.
Mozilla Firefox – the original browser
Most of the web browsers available for Android are based on Chromium, the open source version of Google Chrome. This means that they all load web pages in the same way, they are almost equal in performance, have very similar characteristics, and so on. Firefox is the main exception to this rule – it is one of the few browsers on Android with a fully customizable rendering engine. The mobile version uses the same Gecko engine found in the desktop version of Firefox.
Mozilla Firefox specs:
- Rendering with Gecko engine
- No dark mode
- There is desktop synchronization
Firefox for Android traditionally lags behind Chrome by Android in terms of performance and responsiveness, but there have been many changes over the last year (or so). Currently Firefox more or less matches Chrome at Android in terms of speed. True, not with all pages.
Mozilla Firefox for Android
The main benefit of using Firefox on Android is its extensive collection of extensions. Other features include Sync with Firefox Accounts, Reading View, and an optional tracking blocker.
Download Mozilla Firefox
Firefox Preview – the old browser in a new way
This browser is an alternative to Mozilla and was unavailable for a long time. Now you can try it. The view is completely rewritten from scratch with several key advantages over other browsers. It has a customizable interface, dark mode support, improved performance (thanks to the newer GeckoView engine) and an updated tab management system.
Firefox Preview specs
- GeckoView engine rendering
- There is a dark mode
- Partial synchronization with desktop (password synchronization is not fully implemented)
Firefox Preview for Android
Despite all the advantages, there are still some missing features, hence the name 'Preview'. Extensions are not supported, with the exception of a few currently available Mozilla development partners, but the company is working on it. Password synchronization is also not fully implemented. If you need this, you will need to install the Firefox Lockwise password manager.
Download Firefox Preview
Google Chrome is the most standard browser
The list of the best web browsers for Android wouldn't be complete without Google Chrome. This browser is installed by default on most phones and tablets, but Google doesn't rest on its laurels. Chrome updates are released every six weeks, with each update usually having several new features. However, they are often not made for a general user.
Google Chrome specs
- Blink engine rendering
- There is a dark mode
- There is desktop synchronization
Chrome is the dominant web browser on desktop and mobile platforms, so there’s nothing to talk about. Many of you are reading these lines through Google Chrome on your smartphone. Even I mostly use this particular browser, because I don't see the point in something else.
Google Chrome for Android
Download Google Chrome
DuckDuckGo is the safest browser
You might already know that DuckDuckGo is a privacy-focused search engine, but did you know that the company also has a web browser? The DuckDuckGo browser for Android is very easy to use while providing a high user experience.
DuckDuckGo specs
- Rendering engine Android WebView
- Partial dark mode (interface may darken, but not web pages)
- No desktop sync
This is perhaps the simplest browser on our list as it lacks desktop sync support, extensions, and extra features. However, activity tracking is blocked by default and the browser assigns a privacy rating to each site with a complete list of all blocked trackers. At the moment most browsers (except Chrome) have some sort of anti-tracking protection, but DuckDuckGo is the simplest and most straightforward one.
DuckDuckGo for Android.
DuckDuckGo also has a button to quickly clear all tabs and local data, similar to Firefox Focus. DuckDuckGo uses a built-in rendering engine Android under the hood, so it should work just as well as Chrome.
Download DuckDuckGo
Opera Browser – Browser with VPN
Opera is familiar to many from the old days. It seems to me that now her popularity has passed. I meet people less and less who use it and I do not turn to it myself. But at the same time, it has a couple of features that make it very interesting for many users.
Opera Browser for Android.
Opera Browser specs
- Blocking ads
- Built-in VPN
- Saving traffic
If you use this browser, unsubscribe in the Telegram chat, what do you think about it. It is interesting to collect statistics on who uses this browser now and understand how interesting it is for the majority.
Download Opera