Android's stock browser sets the bar high for mobile browsers, standardizing features like voice search, User Agents (optimizing the interface for the screen size), multi-device syncing, JavaScript support, Adobe Flash if you're running Android 2.2, and numerous sharing options.
The stock browser gets the job done, but Android users have so many more options that are even faster, lighter, stronger, smarter—whatever superlative you seek, really—than the stock browser. Whether you want to customize a gesture-based command, block mobile ads with a plug-in, or shrink your bandwidth consumption by 90 percent, there's an alternative mobile browser for you.
The stock browser gets the job done, but Android users have so many more options that are even faster, lighter, stronger, smarter—whatever superlative you seek, really—than the stock browser. Whether you want to customize a gesture-based command, block mobile ads with a plug-in, or shrink your bandwidth consumption by 90 percent, there's an alternative mobile browser for you.
Cult-favorite Dolphin, our Editors' Choice, continues to lap the others when it comes to innovation and releasing rapid-fire updates to its Mini and HD browsers. Mozilla just released its tenth iteration of Firefox for Android, making it faster than ever. Oslo-based Opera revved up Mobile to version 12 and Mini to version 7. Meanwhile in the past year Google finally released mobile Chrome in beta, and we saw a relative newcomer emerge from China, UC Browser for Android. This list is by no means exhaustive, of course.
Regular or Mini?
For this roundup, we've explored seven alternatives to Android's stock browser. The easiest way to sort these browsers is by cleaving them into two categories: traditional, full-featured mobile browser (Dolphin Browser HD, Firefox Mobile, Chrome in beta) or smaller, data-conscious mini browsers. Full-fledged mobile browsers tend to deliver a more desktop-complete mobile experience with advanced feature sets and support for embedded video, whereas their minis prize performance and backward compatibility.
Browsers Benchmarked
We benchmarked these browsers wherever possible, and in the case of the mini browsers—not suited to JavaScript tests—we performed real-world testing. Take a look at the reviews, performance charts, and slideshows. This list is by no means complete, lacking cult favorites like SkyFire and Maxthon for Android, but the following are tried and true alternatives we'd recommend:
Regular or Mini?
For this roundup, we've explored seven alternatives to Android's stock browser. The easiest way to sort these browsers is by cleaving them into two categories: traditional, full-featured mobile browser (Dolphin Browser HD, Firefox Mobile, Chrome in beta) or smaller, data-conscious mini browsers. Full-fledged mobile browsers tend to deliver a more desktop-complete mobile experience with advanced feature sets and support for embedded video, whereas their minis prize performance and backward compatibility.
Browsers Benchmarked
We benchmarked these browsers wherever possible, and in the case of the mini browsers—not suited to JavaScript tests—we performed real-world testing. Take a look at the reviews, performance charts, and slideshows. This list is by no means complete, lacking cult favorites like SkyFire and Maxthon for Android, but the following are tried and true alternatives we'd recommend:
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