We’re all browsing the Internet now and of course, we want to enjoy it as it best. So today, we’re going to talk about the best Android browsers and we’re also going to make a brief comparative of their main characteristics. Some of them, Opera or Dolphin for example, have a mini version, but we’re focusing on the “bigger” version, the ones that include most of the characteristics.
We’re not going to write about the Android Browser, though. That one is installed by default in all devices and we all have had the chance to try it out. We’re merely proposing other alternatives in case you’re not completely satisfied with it or if you simply want more variety.
Dolphin Browser HD
The ones that have been using Android for a long time already know its mini version. The version that we’re talking about today, though, is addressed to devices with big screens and it enables gestures (as the other version) and tabs (by changing the visualization in order to have several tabs on the same view and being able to change between them without exiting the current page). It also allows flash, the possibility of selecting our preferred mode (standard or mobile) and even UserAgent.
In addition, the system integration is excellent. So much so that, the volume control buttons can be used to browse our current website up and down. We need a big screen to fully enjoy it, but we mustn’t forget that we’re facing the HD browser version and that the mini version is not as mini as it seems; it actually compares favorably to its big brother. The HD version is only better because some of the features are enhanced, not because the mini browser is bad somehow.
What’s good: browsing through tabs, great options and fluency.
What’s not so good: it demands a bigger screen, no cursor options when using trackball
Skyfire Browser Beta
Another of the Android veterans is Skyfire, a powerful browser which allows watching most of flash webpages (videos) with an incredible fluency, although sometimes it gets stuck and frozen. With Skyfire, we can access to the most common features in a quickly and easy way, directly from our home screen (losing part of the page visualization on the way). Websites are also quickly loaded, although not as much as in the previous browser. Its biggest flaw come from providing only a few options to choose, and the biggest advantage relies on its almost complete integration with Facebook. What’s good: Facebook integration and great flash support What’s not so good: lack in options
Opera Mobile is not one of the oldest Android browsers but it’s the one that has the longest experience in mobile phones and it’s obvious that they’ve learnt and improved a lot through the years. The Nordic company introduces a bigger version of the Opera Mini by taking advantage of its benefits and characteristics (loved and hated in equal measure). It provides tab browsing, but like Skyfire, they’re not real tabs, as they require using a program menu which shows a previsualization of all the open tabs, allowing to choose between them or opening a new one. Its range of options is not very wide, but big enough for what we usually need. It’s a pretty fast browser (second place after Dolphin) but has a big disadvantage when it come to fully enjoying the website experience, due to the problems that it experiences with Flash visualization. What’s good: powerful, speed, comfort. What’s not so good: Flash.
Last but not least, there’s Mozilla Firefox Beta 3. Although it still has some bugs, it’s fast and Flash works most of the time. It also provides Tabs, located on the side bar, which are a better solution than what the two previous browsers offered. It doesn’t include many options but it does offer several complements, such as Social Network Add-ons (Twitter or facebook), Ad blockers and even one that diminishes the Flash quality automatically, improving the website loading in 3G and mobile devices. Mozilla improves more and more every day but it still has a long way ahead until it gets to the final version. Keep in mind that this application is free and the developer is Mozilla, as there is a paid one in the market that has nothing to do with it. What good: it’s the closest thing to a computer browser: fast, lots of complements, easy to use. What’s not so good: it’s a beta, so it still has some bugs other browsers don’t.