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Surfing the internet is as natural as waking up, having breakfast, going to work and enjoying the rest of the day for most people. Choosing the correct mobile browser for the task is essential for several reasons: security, browsing speed, compatibility, interface, battery savings, etc.
Most of the time, people just use the default browsers just because they are working as they should. This doesn't mean that other possibilities can't be taken into consideration, right?
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It turns out that there are dozens of options available for both Android and iOS: which one should you install on your device and make it the default?
Check out the list below and make your online experience safer and more enjoyable!
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1 - Firefox
Image: Mozilla
Launched on September 23, 2002 by Mozilla, Firefox is one of the oldest and most popular browsers in the world. Initially released for PC, it also has an incredibly efficient and versatile mobile version.
It is important to mention that, unlike most of its competitors, Firefox is not based on Chromium: it uses its own rendering engine (GeckoView). It offers a very smooth browsing experience and an address bar at the bottom of the screen – which is particularly good for smartphones with large screens.
Much of what is done on mobile can be synchronized with the PC version of the application. Furthermore, Firefox offers a great range of extensions to make life easier for its users.
Firefox is, without a doubt, one of the best options among the mobile browsers available on both Google Play and the App Store.
two - Google Chrome
Image: TudoCelular
This is the most popular mobile browser in the world, and for two good reasons: it is installed by default on most Android devices and receives constant updates that keep it fast and secure.
Many don't know, but Google Chrome has an interesting feature for switching between tabs: just drag the address bar to the right or left. Additionally, you can also force Dark Mode on websites when the system has Dark Mode enabled – a good way to save your eyes at night.
However, a curious disadvantage of this browser is that it does not have native extension support. Its PC version, on the other hand, is known for the huge variety of extensions available.
Apart from this unfortunate limitation, it is a solid, fast and very stable mobile browser.
3 – DuckDuckGo Private Browser
Image: Canaltech
If you want to browse the web with a little more privacy, DuckDuckGo could be a great option. Launched in 2018, DuckDuckGo has some very interesting features for those who want to navigate the network discreetly.
In addition to the Private Browsing mode (called “Incognito Mode” in most browsers), which does not retain browsing history, cookies and passwords, the mobile browser also has tracking blockers, blocked ad redirects and a private search mode, which does not allow tracking of searches made by the user.
It is also compatible with some Google Play or App Store extensions, but with some limitations. Navigation is, in general, quite fluid and natural – as every browser should be.
Unfortunately, it is not as popular as it should be: it is effective, secure software with several features that divert insatiable attention from the hidden telemetry services of operating systems.
4 – Microsoft Edge
Image: GeekWire
For many years, Microsoft was laughed at because of the late Internet Explorer. And there was no shortage of reasons for this: it was heavy, slow to open pages and full of compatibility problems with web pages. However, the game has changed and Microsoft Edge is one of the best options available today.
Based on Chromium, Edge has some important differences: it collects much less user data than Google Chrome, it is recognized by experts for its security and it has very satisfactory support for Chrome plugins (which, ironically, are not available for Google Chrome for mobile).
The mobile browser uses Windows Defender SmartScreen to protect the user against malware. It is important to mention that this is not as effective protection as a good antivirus, but it is something that not all other competitors provide by default. Better than nothing, at least.
If you haven't tried Microsoft Edge for mobile yet, now might be a good time to do so!
5 – Vivaldi
Image: vivaldi.com
Do you like more minimalist and lightweight apps? Vivaldi was designed by former developers of the Opera browser, one of the oldest and most popular in the world, on April 6, 2016.
Based on Chromium, it focuses on productivity and customization: modify practically your entire interface however you want, including the taskbar, side panel and menu.
Furthermore, its tab manager is different from the others: it is possible to separate them into groups and classify them in order of importance. Other gadgets incorporated into the software, such as an audio recorder, integrated PDF file reader and note manager, are worth highlighting.
Vivaldi is also compatible with extensions from the Chrome Web Store, which makes it a really viable option when changing your default mobile browser.
Which mobile browser to choose?
The answer to this question depends on your profile and what you are looking for in a browser: do you prefer more private browsing? A more customizable interface? Greater compatibility? A democratic mix of all these factors, perhaps?
Although Chrome (Android) and Safari (iOS) are excellent default options for their respective systems, other solutions can offer more comprehensive features: why not give the competition a chance?
What is your preferred mobile browser? Why? Are there any on this list that you have already tried? Share your experience in the comments: it can help many other people make the best decision!
