In a previous story, I outlined some of the choices for web browsers for the PC. Now, I am going to take a stab at web browsers for Android.
Android has been in the field for 10 years now. So it is natural to think the platform would have a plethora of web browsers. And you would be absolutely correct. There are as many, if not more, web browsers for Android as there is for PC.
I was reviewing the list of Android apps installed on my devices over the years. I didn’t realize just how many web browsers installed on my devices. I have experimented with a large number. And I wanted to share some thoughts on the differen
As with web browsers for the PC, the browsers for Android offer different functionality. For me, I need:
- Ad blocking
- Quick tab switching
- Ability to save bookmarks (not sync, just save).
- Ability to tweak the home page of the browser.
One nice-to-have feature in the mobile browser is the ability for a tabbed interface. Most browsers for Android offer the new style of tab switching, which is pages stored behind the existing page. I would consider it page switching as opposed to actual tab switching. Call me old school but I like seeing a tab bar with actual tabs.
I like a browser that gives me some control over the look and feel. And I dislike seeing ads in the browser, not from the web, but from reaping the monetary gains of displaying ads.
One additional aspect of these apps is performance. If the app is run on the latest-and-greatest device, the app is likely to run better. But if the device has some age, even within a year, the app can show its true colors.
The browsers listed below are a subset of the browsers available for Android. These are browsers I have used. If you don’t believe me, each screenshot is taken directly from Google Play showing the “installed” button.
Google Chrome
Pros
- HTML 5
- Incognito window
- Data saver
- Sync history, passwords & bookmarks
Cons
- No support for add-ons
- Limited ad blocking
- Hog (which is why Data Saver is needed)
If you know Chrome on desktop, you will know Chrome on Android. Sadly, the Chrome on Android doesn’t have many features. It is a sad existence when a browser designed for Android has less features than other browsers.
FireFox
Pros
- Support for add-ons
- HTML
- Integrated with Pocket
Cons
- Page loading is not smooth
- Hog (similar to Chrome)
- Add-ons can slow down performance
- Limited Tweaks
Firefox on Android is similar to Firefox on the desktop. The same look and feel so it is intuitive. It is nice to have support for extenions. In my usage, the browser was slow compared to other browsers. And some of the extensions worked about half the time.
Kiwi
Pros
- Pop-up blocker
- Dark theme (night mode)
- UI tweaks, such as address bar on bottom
Cons
- No sync support
- Relatively new
Kiwi Browser is one of the newer Android browsers. It uses Chromium as a base. Although new, Kiwi has garnered quite the following. The following includes myself, as it has become my go-to browser on Android. It is top-notch in performance and great at blocking ads and pop-ups. Plus, it is now supported with BitWarden.
Brave
Pros
- Blocks ads and trackers
- Password manager
- Battery optimizations
Cons
- Known to lag at times
- Users have reported still having pop-ups (I didn’t see pop-ups)
- Not much customization
- No sync support (at least it didn’t for mobile)
Brave Browser (Formerly known as link bubble browser) is another app that is concerned about the privacy of its users. Brave has good blocking for ads and web trackers. The company continues to release updates on a frequent basis.
Dolphin
Pros
- Intuitive interface, easy to understand and use
- Plug-ins
- Ad-Blocker
Cons
- Crash in Ad-Block that went unresolved for years
- Infrequest updates (see the previous item)
- No desktop version
- Limited sync
- Not sure if there is any support
Dolphin was my go-to browser for many years. I liked the true tabbed interface. But instability in the product caused followers such as myself to abandon ship. A crash when using the ad-block went unresolved for far too long with no response from the company.
Puffin Web Browser
Pros
- Flash support
- Data Saving
- Desktop Version (for Windows)
Cons
- Hog
- Slow
- Crashes
- Lots of Ads (unless you purchase pro version)
Puffin has been around for a long time. If my memory is correct, it might have been one of the first web browsers for Android. Unfortunately, the browser seems to have more problems than features as of late.
Ecosia Browser
Pros
- Bookmarks
- Tabs
Cons
- Forced to use Ecosia search engine
- Chromium-based, not much different from other browsers
Although the features of the browser are not necessarily unique, there is one aspect of the browser that is unique. The browser donates up to 80% of its profits to plant trees. That isn’t a browser feature, but it’s definitely nice.
FireFox Focus
Pros
- Security-focused
- Privacy mode
- Block ads and trackers
Cons
- No support for add-ons
- Does not remember history
- Limited settings
Firefox Focus is the little brother to Firefox. But that doesn’t mean it is less than Firefox. In fact, it can be argued it is better than the original Firefox. It is fast and keeps your privacy in mind. As it is focused on privacy, it does not have a lot of features.
Microsoft Edge
Pros
- Sync with desktop
- Familiarity of UI
Cons
- No ad blocking
- Slow at times
When MS first released Edge, it was a bit strange to see it for Android. But I was happy as well as it meant MS is staking an interest in the Android platform. It is still relatively new so once all the kinks are worked out, it could be a contender.
Naked Browser
Pros
- Lightweight
- Relatively fast
Cons
- Not the prettiest
- Lack of Incognito mode
- Support from the Developer is sketch
Naked Browser may look simple and have a funny name but is a decent browser. The browser is intended to be simple and fast. As such, it eliminates many of the features and customizations found in other browsers. If you want something flashy, this is not the browser for you.
Samsung Internet Browser
Pros
- Ad-blocking and content blocking
- Video Assistant
- Integration with Samsung phones
- Sync functionality
Cons
- Only a handful of plug-ins
- Limited search engines
- Some apps, such as BitWarden, are not supported with this browser
- Outdated version of Chromium
This browser is surprisingly good. And it is loaded with nice features. The UI is clean and optimized for performance. And it has alot of customization options. The two biggest drawbacks for me would be the incompatibility with BitWarden and the outdated version of Chromium (63 at this time).
UC Browser
Pros
- Flash supported
- Customizable
- Fast browsing
Cons
- Privacy concerns
- Security concerns
- Data Breach
- Ads, Ads, and Ads
Over the last few years, a lot of chatter has taken place regarding privacy and UC Browser. The browser was found to collect unnecessary information. In addition, it seemed to want almost all permissions, even though not necessary for a browser. To make matters worse, there was breach in its datacenter. If privacy and security are not concerns, definitely consider this browser.
DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser
Pros
- Private searches
- no tracking
- Defaults to HTTPS
Cons
- Very limited options
- No sync
- Not very intuitive
- A bit slow
DuckDuckGo is one of the preferred search engines for privacy over Google. And it works well. So it is natural that the company make a browser to accommodate users. In this case, the browser does a nice job of providing security and privacy. Unfortunately, the brower is more “barebones” and very limited. And performance is not great.
Maxthon
Pros
- Ad block
- Night Mode
- Sync Options
Cons
- Not many extensions
- Slow page loading
- Not the most intuitive
Similar to the bigger brother for PC, this browser is packed with a lot of features. So this browser should appeal to a number of people. The browser is not as intensive as other browsers. But the page loading can definitely be slow. And it does not have as much security as other browsers.
Apus
Pros
- Lightweight
- Good with old devices and slower connections
- ad blocking
Cons
- No sync
- Not the most intuitive
- No add-ons
- Can be slower on newer devices
Apus is a lightweight and powerful browser designed to enhancement your daily browsing needs. The primary intent of this browser is to provide a great browsing experience even on low-end devices with slow connections.
CM Browser
Pros
- Lightweight
- Built-in AV
- Ad-blocker
- Privacy cleaner
Cons
- Ads, Ads, and more Ads
- No add-ons
CM Browser has been talked about for a few years now. It is touted as one of the most secure browsers available for Android, including its own AV. But the browser is supported by ads, which can be intrustive. And the ad-blocker is suspect.
In Summary
I had good experiences with browsers and bad experiences with browsers. The experience is dependent upon the device, usage, location, and other factors. I have changed browsers frequently over the years. The last three browsers I used on a regular basis were:
- Dolphin
- Edge
- Brave
- Kiwi
I can read reviews and perform other research regarding web browsers. At the end of the day, I have to want to use the web browser. The best method I found — download and experiment. For me, I love to experiment with new software.
