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[Q] What Browser is best? and why?

Hi all, I'm new to the android world, with the nexus s being my first android operated phone maybe even my first smart phone, had a Nokia n97 previous although it wasn't quite the smartphone advertised but thats another story.
The title says it all really I'd just like to know what browser you would recomend and why. I used to use opera on the n97 however there wasn't the selection available there is for android. I see dolphin hd pop up alot around the forums.
So please share your favorite browser and you reassons why. e.g speed, UI, customise ect
Cheers for everyone who takes part.

Firefox or Dolphin HD for the add-ons
Opera for speed
Stock browser for all-round

Stock browser for speed (less lag)

I also like the stock browser but I'm also a big fan of xScope Browser.

I usually use the stock because it seems the best all around as one of the above stated but to save pages I use Opera and I've been testing out some others as well

Im really liking the Dolphin mini beta at the moment. I find it quicker than stock and still runs everything perfectly.

For me the stock browser is the best atm :
- Firefox : looks promising, but way too slow for day-to-day use, needs optimizations
- Opera : don't like the rendering, almost impossible to click on links (try browsing Google Reader...), not really faster than stock (with turbo mode off)
- Dolphin / Dolphin HD : too bloated for me

The stock browser has been impressive so far. I haven't run into any problems so far
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App

The only thing that bothers me in the stock browser is the navigation through open windows. I'd love to have some proper tabbed browsing.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App

nicholasbgr said:
The only thing that bothers me in the stock browser is the navigation through open windows. I'd love to have some proper tabbed browsing.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
(adding more for 10 char limit)

I've extensively used the stock browser, Opera Mobile, and FireFox (nightlies and latest stable). I primarily use Opera Mobile (not mini) for almost everything because of how ridiculously smooth its pinch zoom and panning is compared to everything else out. To see its advantages, simply go to an image-heavy page like Gizmodo and try panning and zooming on any other browser (the newest FireFox included). To me, its smoother/better user experience is important than the javascript speed advantages in FireFox.
I have run repeated tests on both my N1 and my NS and have found that in SunSpider, the fastest is FireFox by a healthy margin, followed by the stock browser, distantly followed by Opera. However, in my experience, page loading has always been similar across all three, meaning that js speed doesn't factor that much in rendering most pages.
Extensions are a big draw in FireFox, as is Flash in the stock browser, but I find that Opera does everything I need natively. Plus, flash support is supposedly going to be added (as well as to FireFox Mobile).

x scope 6 is solid its fast and all around just great I know its not free but I think its the best one out at the moment until firefox comes out of beta and adds flash it may be king

stock for me.

Dolphin HD has a lot of add-ons that I thought sounded interesting and installed on my Galaxy S and Nexus One, but I never really used any of them, so that's a pointless feature for me. I found Dolphin HD to be bloated and much slower than the stock browser on any of my phones, even without add-ons.
I've kept the NS on stock based on past performance with Dolphin.

seems like I haven't really gave the stock browser the chance it deserves, to be honest dismissed it almost straight away.
Back to stock for me to give it a real test. Although I'm hoping firefox lives up to it's desktop browser standards.
Also quick question which is non related but I don't see the point in starting a new thread. I need to return my phone due to the back button not lighting up. I was just wondering if there is a away to save all my data to when I get my new phone i can put all my data back on. E.g phone numbers, sms msgs photos angry bird progess, music ect.
thanks again for any help.

I prefer the built-in browser for everyday use. I have one website that I get from a real estate broker which has some fancy frames in it that doesn't render correctly in the stock browser, for this site I use Opera mini.

i'm still can't decide which one is best
using (in no special order):
Stock 2.3 Browser
Opera Mobile
Opera Mini
SkyFire
Dolphin HD
FireFox beta
they all have their Cons/Pros
SkyFire was my main Browser until they screwed it up, and now it has become as broadware as Dolphin HD
I like both Dolphin and Skyfire for their Flash & Video support but... they are slow and broad.
FireFox still has much work to be done on it
Opera Mini & Opera Mobile is identical in Android, but in WinMo they were 2 different apps
so it boils down to Stock 2.3 Browser being the fastest, but.. not so great on Flash / Video support

can anyone answer my question on a way to back up all my data as I'm returning my phone tomorrow due to the back button light not working.
Is there away to back up all data, apps, contacts,photos, messages, angry bird progress. live wall papers. Or will i need to start all over again?
Also how can I earse all my data in order to return the phone.
Thanks in advance

Opera Mobile 11...good

This browser is definitely better than default browser. Fast, flash support, and it gets 100% on acid3 ( http://acid3.acidtests.org ) test.
Finally, I found a right browser for Galaxy Tab.

I have to agree for the most part. Its definitely much faster and smoother than anything else I've tried. I would classify it as the best if they would implement an exit button and different fonts.
Sent from my GT-P1000 using XDA App

And 4000 on sunspider. Although i have gone back to dolphin. Opera has no reflow and youtube looks really bad
Sent from my GT-P1000 using XDA App

brilldoctor said:
And 4000 on sunspider. Although i have gone back to dolphin. Opera has no reflow and youtube looks really bad
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problems with reflow for me!
Regards,
Dave

And youtube
Sent from my GT-P1000 using XDA App

Works like a charm for me to with almost everything. Youtube work perfect for me.
Have just encounter one wiki page that became realy screwed up. But i justed used the stock browser to read on it.

It crashes every time I try to play a streaming Flash game from mlb.com which is a real shame considering it looks very nice in every other aspect and it very responsive.

markgamber said:
It crashes every time I try to play a streaming Flash game from mlb.com which is a real shame considering it looks very nice in every other aspect and it very responsive.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was able to play vids from MLB.com with the only problem being that the quality was a little jerky.
Sent from my GT-P1000 using XDA App

For people using Dolphin HD, how does it compare to Opera? I've just gotten used to Dolphin and I would prefer not to have to learn the interface of a new browser...
Tried Miren and Skyfire and didn't like them, but may want to give Opera a try.

darkwoof said:
For people using Dolphin HD, how does it compare to Opera? I've just gotten used to Dolphin and I would prefer not to have to learn the interface of a new browser...
Tried Miren and Skyfire and didn't like them, but may want to give Opera a try.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dolphin HD was my primary browser, but now Opera Mobile is. The changes are significant but very welcome and easy to get used to. In fact it enhances the experience in my opinion, but there are issues. For one, it needs an exit button and there are some strange font issues when playing flash video. It also needs a way to import and export bookmarks. Even after those shortcomings, browsing is quite fast and very enjoyable. But this is just my opinion. It costs you nothing to try this out so give it a shot. You might like what you see.....or not.

I would highly recommend Firefox mobile (Version 4)
It supports all of the above and has multiple-language support (such as Arabic/Hebrew and other non-latin RTL characters) and one of my favourite features is that it keeps all of your settings, your bookmarks and even your open tabs synced with your desktop or anywhere else you're running Firefox v4

mkhattab said:
I would highly recommend Firefox mobile (Version 4)
It supports all of the above and has multiple-language support (such as Arabic/Hebrew and other non-latin RTL characters) and one of my favourite features is that it keeps all of your settings, your bookmarks and even your open tabs synced with your desktop or anywhere else you're running Firefox v4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm gonna check it out. Hopefully it is as fast and smooth as opera.

I think it's the same if not smoother than Opera
Let us know what you find

mkhattab said:
I think it's the same if not smoother than Opera
Let us know what you find
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It doesn't support flash yet so that's a deal breaker for me. I'll revisit it when flash works. Hopefully it will become as good as the desktop version.
T-Mobile tab running latest Overcome

I tried Firefox 4 as well, because I like it.. In principle. The result after synchronizing everything was that it took more than 1.6GB (reported by the OS in My Apps). I then unchecked history sync, and it came back to a few megabytes over (aka around 86MB), but it then stopped bringing my bookmarks over from the desktop. It's also rather slow in operation (compared to it, Opera is blazing fast).
That said, I'm looking forward to the next release, so far it has been going in the right direction. JavaScript performance in Firefox is stellar, the real speed problem is with page rendering, but it has been getting better. It's still a decent browser though, and it compares well to the stock one (juuuuuuust a bit slower, but with add-ons and lots of goodies)

Lucky_Charms said:
Dolphin HD was my primary browser, but now Opera Mobile is. The changes are significant but very welcome and easy to get used to. In fact it enhances the experience in my opinion, but there are issues. For one, it needs an exit button and there are some strange font issues when playing flash video. It also needs a way to import and export bookmarks. Even after those shortcomings, browsing is quite fast and very enjoyable. But this is just my opinion. It costs you nothing to try this out so give it a shot. You might like what you see.....or not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
same here! dolphin HD was my defaullt browser, but now it's been replaced by Opera 11 + Opera Mini (for 2G)
I have deleted Dolphin HD - its toooo slow!

mkhattab said:
one of my favourite features is that it keeps all of your settings, your bookmarks and even your open tabs synced with your desktop or anywhere else you're running Firefox v4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Opera called that Opera link. Syncs bookmarks, notes, quick dial. Open tabs... nope, but that would've been a deal breaker for me since on the desktop version I usually need at least 500 mb just to open Opera lol. It's a feature that's been there for quite a long time now.
Sent from my GT-P1000 using Tapatalk

Was using Dolphin HD too, but I just tried Opera Mobile 11 and I kinda love it. And it's free!

I am still sticking with skyfire. Fast, supports flash. Opera performs poorly on symbian mobile.

I've found Opera to run silky smooth on my tab, except for youtube. They look absolutely terrible, stuck in ultra low res mode or something. Only flaw with the browser.
Annoying as hell regardless.

Which browser do you use?

[Q] Better Web Browser
I'm looking for a web browser for my TF that views pages in actual web form, not as mobile pages.
I think with a screen this size it should be possible, right?
Anybody have any suggestions?
Thanks

Soopafly Incredible said:
I'm looking for a web browser for my TF that views pages in actual web form, not as mobile pages.
I think with a screen this size it should be possible, right?
Anybody have any suggestions?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Skyfire has a desktop mode.
~DC

I use Dolphin, can set user-agent to Desktop.

Some people have suggested Dolphin HD as good replacement for the stock browser. I'm just not clear about your problem? My stock browser displays the webpages as my PC browser would. You can check Settings|Advanced and User agent string.
Hope this helps,
rio

I'm using Dolphin HD and like it better than the stock one.
~DC

I guess maybe I'm missing some steps, or haven't tried a few of them that you've mentioned. Just noticed that in my firefox browser (and also the stock browser) all of the pages (MSN, Facebook) are showing up in their mobile forms.
I'll try a couple of those you mentioned and see if I can find them...Thanks!

try Firefox

rio911 said:
My stock browser displays the webpages as my PC browser would. You can check Settings|Advanced and User agent string.
Hope this helps,
rio
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do this to stop getting mobile versions!

rio911 said:
Some people have suggested Dolphin HD as good replacement for the stock browser. I'm just not clear about your problem? My stock browser displays the webpages as my PC browser would. You can check Settings|Advanced and User agent string.
Hope this helps,
rio
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now we just need hulu to acknowledge this!

Dolphin HD
This should be a poll
If you get ADW EX you can adjust the standard (useless) browser widget to 2 columns by 7 rows (looks a lot better), then when you first click on a thumbnail it asks you which browser you wish to use, click your preffered item then you have a custon full size browser of choice widget.

Lately I have been experimenting with different browsers because I am not happy with the stock browser on Honeycomb because it seems to have a lot of issues and slow performance when rendering. I know that a lot of people have been recommending Dolphin Browser HD, and I have tried that alongside Mozilla Firefox. Which browser is everyone else using on their Transformer and how do you like it?
The thing I miss most about the stock browser is the sync with your google chrome bookmarks, so if anyone can suggest how to get that to work with Dolphin Browser or Mozilla, I would appreciate it. Mozilla seems to have the best rendering speed out of the two, however, Dolphin seems to have more features and a better overall interface. Both Dolphin and the stock browser have problems rendering this forum, but Mozilla seems to do it with ease. However, it doesn't seem as though Mozilla is proportioned right for Tablet use yet.
I guess each of the has their positives and negatives, which is why I want to see what everyone else is using and their thoughts.

I use all of them because I don't like any of them. Every one has some problems. The best is probably the stock one, but it doesn't have adblock and when I turn on flash some pages turn into literally hell because of ads. Firefox on the other hand is fast but has very few options and scales images very poorly (this forum looks ugly on it for example). Opera is strange (especcialy the tabs are strange). Dolphin looks like a bloatware.
I hope to see full desktop browser on Android some time. With extensions and such (Firefox mobile extensions are laughable, even adblock doesn't have any options).

to me the stock browser seems more and more like chrome...is it just me?

All Android browsers are really inferior... Right now I go back and forth between stock and Firefox... Don't like either...

stock is as fluid as it gets

I tried Dolphin... but to be frank, it definitely does seem like bloatware. Its overall pretty awful. I keep it installed just because I use it for some websites that the stock one doesn't work properly. But thats rare. And I don't care for it.
People keep saying that Dolphin is "optimised for honeycomb" but I really don't think so. If it were, it'd run a crap ton better.
I use stock. It doesnt always work perfect, and it has its flaws for sure, but its pretty darn fluid, the tabs work great, and its just a clean looking browser.

Stock for browsing and firefox for downloading .zip files
would prefer opera as its my desktop browser of choice but its just terrible atm on android

re browser's
I,d really like to like the stock browser, or dolphin (my usual favourite), but the opera mobile seems currently the only one that has that ipad floaty feel to scrolling. Why cant the others do this?

Dolphin hd beta 5 is awesome

Firefox with adblock is sweet. For watching Flash websites, I use stock or dolphin hd. I like opera too. I guess I will be using all of them as I see fit. That's what I like about android.

Best browser of Nexus S?

Can you Nexies recommend me your favorite, the best performing browser for Nexus S.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App

I think most people would recommend opera or dolphin hd, firefox nightlies are a bit hit and miss

there is only two browsers, Opera and Stock... the others is just the stock with some things changed, but they render pages just like stock, lag in the same pages, freeze to load extacly same things and has almost same bugs...
Opera, in other hand, seems to be hardware accelerated, it is completely different, and for me, it is really better... loads every pages faster and so smooth as it should be in stock one... but, it has two bad things: 1) it is really annoying to see "Opera Mobile" every single time you open it and 2) doesn't render Google's pages like it should, like gmail or search page. In stock browser it is shown like a web app, but in Opera you see generic mobile pages...
personally, i use both, Opera for default and stock for those things that Opera can't handle well! =oP

I keep trying other browsers and always end up back with the stock. Opera is my backup browser. Its fast, but like all 3rd party browsers, has quirks

Stock & Opera as wingman

Of course Opera...

thiagodark said:
there is only two browsers, Opera and Stock... the others is just the stock with some things changed, but they render pages just like stock, lag in the same pages, freeze to load extacly same things and has almost same bugs...
Opera, in other hand, seems to be hardware accelerated, it is completely different, and for me, it is really better... loads every pages faster and so smooth as it should be in stock one... but, it has two bad things: 1) it is really annoying to see "Opera Mobile" every single time you open it and 2) doesn't render Google's pages like it should, like gmail or search page. In stock browser it is shown like a web app, but in Opera you see generic mobile pages...
personally, i use both, Opera for default and stock for those things that Opera can't handle well! =oP
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree. For more examples, anandtech.com is horribly slow in stock, but ESPN's baseball recap pages do not display correctly in Opera. I'm trying out the latest Firefox, which seems like a compromise: not as fast as Opera, but more accurate rendering.
Honestly, when HTC and Samsung branded phones have stock browsers with superior scrolling and pinch-to-zoom, I don't quite understand what's supposed to be so great about the "pure Google" experience. This phone has been out for almost a year and its browser is still terrible. So we get updates direct from Google, but if none of them improve the browser, who cares? It would be great if this improves with ICS, but I still haven't seen any official word on that.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk

dwielunski said:
Honestly, when HTC and Samsung branded phones have stock browsers with superior scrolling and pinch-to-zoom, I don't quite understand what's supposed to be so great about the "pure Google" experience. This phone has been out for almost a year and its browser is still terrible. So we get updates direct from Google, but if none of them improve the browser, who cares? It would be great if this improves with ICS, but I still haven't seen any official word on that.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that is a thing i REALLY miss in my old HTC devices, browser experience is far far far better. I like Android and all, but ICS is the last chance for Google to me, there is always a tiny thing is not great as it should, in all android handsets i owned! Nexus is amazing, but this browser sucks, i can't understand why google made it that way, just can't. They are mostly a internet company, for god sake, and Chrome is great for Desktop....
For me, Nokia + WP7 or ICS will be a 'watershed'... =o\

The best one I've found is Miren Browser.

I personally enjoy Firefox mobile (it is on market). Though I use the nightly build (https://wiki.mozilla.org/Mobile/Platforms/Android#Download_Nightly)
It does not do flash sadly however I love the sync since I also use it as my desktop

I was thinking about this earlier myself; but, seeing as I tried most of them I knew the answer. To me at least.
I currently just use the stock browser. As much as it bugs me. They need a serious overhaul on this thing. I want Chrome FOR phone. I fee like that team could do a better job at building a browser. Not sure why they haven't.
Anyways. I use stock because it's stock; and, if I'm not 100% happy with another browser I don't keep it because I hate having 2 apps installed that do the same thing. Just the way I am.
Dolphin is my favorite UI. Gestures are cool. The tab interface is better, etc. But, like mentioned above it's really just like the stock browser skinned. However, you don't have to type in about:debug to change to desktop rendering for sites without links on the bottom. Button built it.
Skyfire: I wasn't thrilled with the UI but did like how the Desktop/Android rendering button was right there on top. Again, just like the stock browser though.
Firefox is atrocious.
Opera is by far THE best alternative as far as web experience goes. However, I despise how it doesn't render certain websites "correctly". For example Google and Facebook. It has that "old" look to it. Basic if you will. However, it does load desktop pages a lot faster than the stock browser. So it's not bad if you don't mind waiting a LITTLE loger for the desktop site. In comparison it will load a desktop site ALMOST as fast as the stock browser loads a mobile site. Depending on what;s going on - on the site. But it's very fast and snappy. The way the stock browser should be.
So bottom line if your going to chose a browser other than Opera (if your happy the way it renders) the only advantage the other browsers have are features, plug-ins, ui, etc. The web experience will be the same.
Edit: I was messing with Opera again after reading this. I love how when you click on something (we'll use a link here) that's close to another item: it will highlight both to indicate you pressed both of them and it wasn't sure which one your big finger hit, lol. Instead of "guessing" like the other browsers.

What's your preference between Opera and Opera Mini?

irishrally said:
What's your preference between Opera and Opera Mini?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I always go for the "bigger one" mini is always a lighter app. Smaller. Missing features from the "Regular" one. Correct me if I'm wrong; but, doesn't Opera mini not support flash where the regular one does?

irishrally said:
What's your preference between Opera and Opera Mini?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you check "Turbo" in Opera Mobile it will use the server compression stuff just like Opera mini. Then if something doesn't look right you can long press on it to "load image in full quality" or something like that. Basically Mobile gives you all the capabilities of Mini + more, since space is not really an issue with this phone you should just use Mobile.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk

i would recommend for opera..
but one thing i dont like is while you using opera, and switch to another app or just back to home sceen, the internet connection then lost.. so you must loading or refresh it again..

how about soon to be Google Chrome
http://androidandme.com/2011/10/news/google-chrome-is-finally-coming-to-an-android-device-near-you/

wait for chrome. it's coming in october

Drzfr3shboialex said:
how about soon to be Google Chrome
http://androidandme.com/2011/10/news/google-chrome-is-finally-coming-to-an-android-device-near-you/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, that is a great great news...
Cant wait for it..
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App

Careful using Dolphin or other browsers that may have a user string that looks like a desktop.
If you have grandfathered unlimited data on AT&T, this string will flag you for tethering and you will get a nasty text warning that you need to change your plan (thus losing unlimited data). I personally just use the stock Android browser 100% of the time due to concern that I'll lose my grandfathered data. Especially since AT&T will yank your data even though you aren't really tethering...and it's gone forever.
Just a thought.

Thanks all for that healthy, fruitful discussion.
I have tried both Stock and Miren.
Initially Stock was acting good but then it started hanging. Miren also left unimpressed.
Now I am on Dolphin, it seems to be good. Let us see!
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App

Good browser: Maxthon mobile

It's not bad at all. I have switched to it from the stock and opera browsers. It does play flash too.
I, TF, sent this on behalf of my owner

really? i tried it sometime back on my motorola defy and found it to be laggy. will try later and post my results
ok just installed it. seems to be quite stable, i can really see this as a permernant replacement for the stock browser. best thing is that most of the flash ads are not loading
---
bah after opening 5 tabs it keeps asking me to close them =_=

Hmm, I have nine tabs open easily for me. No crashes or request to close.
I, TF, sent this on behalf of my owner

I've been using Maxthon exclusively since I heard about it on some other website. I never used any of the older incarnations, so I can't speak to the quality of them, but the current version is really quite nice. I like it even better than Dolphin and Opera.
Adding the Gesture plugin is also a huge help. You can define gestures for common browsing tasks, and also assign "bookmarks" to gestures. There are a couple of other plugins that I don't use.
I have found that Flash works as well in Maxthon as it does in any other browser, and I feel as though the sites that I visit that utilize Flash tend to be less buggy in Maxthon than they do in other browsers.
I'd imagine that this is really just another case of "Which browser functions best for the specific things that you do on the web?", though. I'd imagine that there are settings, idiosyncrasies, and bugs that may cause people to prefer other browsers over Maxthon, just as some people prefer Opera, Dolphin, Stock, and Firefox. If you find nagging issues with other browsers, though, I definitely recommend giving Maxthon a shot. It solved the troubles that I had that caused me to go from one browser to the next depending on which site I was visiting.

well i admit it is able to load sites considerably faster then opera *for me anyway*. i just cleared the cache data on the app and its working fine so far

Only problem I found, that it can't download from FS, HS, RS etc. sites correctly - Only Opera works for me.

I can download pdfs with it, which crashes the stock browser when I attempt it, so that alone has made it worth keeping, nevermind the rest.

I've been using maxathon mobile for about 6 weeks, switched from dolphin to this. I must say it crashes much less than dolphin, and I like the interface better. Browsers have always been lacking on tablets imo, but this one is the best I've used so far.
My problems -
-havent figured out how to get favorites to work.
-lets mobile web slip on occassion, even in desktop mode - not often however.
-when downloading music it will not give me a "save target as" link, and asks if I want to open my music player instead.
other than that its a nice little browser.

I tried this and thought it was really slow! (sometime last week).
Skyfire is much faster and smoother scrolling - better than stock browser but not as smooth as Opera.

personally i use and love the stock...tried all browsers,but i return to stock,wonderfull ui,good flash and good speed.only scrolling isn't how opera\dolphin but in live with it!

sert00 said:
personally i use and love the stock...tried all browsers,but i return to stock,wonderfull ui,good flash and good speed.only scrolling isn't how opera\dolphin but in live with it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm with you mate. Thought Maxthon was pretty awful. I keep going back to stock although every now and then I do take Dolphin HD for a spin
I was really disappointed with firefox beta 9.0.