The Android operating system is used by millions of people globally, with over a billion Android devices activated since its unveiling in 2007. Each of these phones or tablets will come pre-installed with one of any number of different internet browsers – but the default choice isn't always the best!
If you've been frustrated by a slow web browsing experience on your Android phone – or you're after something with more features, nicer-looking themes or better privacy settings – then a new browser might be just the ticket.
One of the beauties of Android is that replacement apps can be installed at any time, putting the choice of software back into your hands – so if you're looking to switch your default browser for something a little slicker, read on to find out Geek Squad's pick of the best mobile browsers for Android!
Brave Browser
Brave is a browser created by members of the Mozilla Project with the aim of reducing the time websites take to load by removing lots of the unnecessary stuff – like adverts, tracking cookies and other privacy-invading bits of software.
It does this very effectively and without trashing the website you're looking at – which has been an issue with other ad-blocking browsers I've tried previously. Brave also loads your web links in the background, so you won't see the new page until it's fully loaded and ready to view!
What I like most about Brave – other than its admirable approach to privacy – is its subtle way of loading a page in the background using 'bubbles'. After clicking a link, a bubble will appear on the side of your screen, acting like an internet tab. Tapping on it will open the page, or you can touch and drag the bubble to share the webpage with others! This is especially helpful when you want your friend to look at the same site as you, as you don't need to double-tap or hold your finger down on an address bar to copy the web address or URL.
If you're looking for a streamlined, easy-to-use browser for Android, you can't go far wrong with Brave.
Brave's top features:
- Link Bubble: The 'Link Bubble' feature was originally a browser all to itself, and ended up evolving into the Brave browser we know today. Link Bubble refers to the way websites are loaded in Brave: instead of tabs like most browsers, we're given 'bubbles' which float above whatever app you're currently in and sit there until you're ready to view the page. This way, you aren't left watching a blank screen while you wait for a page to load!
- Brave Shields: This is the fancy name given to Brave's ad-blocking and anti-tracking features, which can be turned on or off at the touch of a button. It combines a few privacy features into one big protective umbrella, blocking slow ads and stripping tracking cookies and other bugbears automatically as the page loads. You can customise just how protective the Brave Shields are in the settings – so if you want to allow website tracking but force sites to load securely, you can configure it in any way that suits your needs.
- Share Picker: As someone who shares links to websites all the time, this is a great feature which I use almost hourly. When you drag one of your bubbles around the screen, you can choose three buttons to 'drop' the bubble on to. Drag it to the bottom of the screen to close the tab, or choose one of the two top buttons to share the site: one sharing button can be set to your favourite messenger app, and the other button will always ask you which app to share the link with.
- Domain Redirects: As good as Brave is, you might not want it to step in for every website you visit. Fortunately you can set up 'domain redirects', which act as 'triggers' for Brave and tell it to open the link in a different browser – your 'backup' browser. Personally, I use Google Chrome as my backup, and have it set to open all Google-related pages like Gmail, Google Drive and others which want to know my Google details.
Dolphin Browser
Dolphin was originally one of the only Android browsers to support 'gestures': the ability to navigate the internet using swipes and patterns drawn across the screen, rather than relying entirely on menus and buttons.
Dolphin is no longer the only browser to offer gesture-based browsing – but its speed, reliability and vast array of useful features and add-ons keep it a mainstay on each and every Android phone or tablet I've used.
Like Brave, it's also got ad-blocking built into it, which is an important feature for any browser these days, letting you read the sites you're visiting without being directed through various adverts along the way!
Dolphin's top features:
- Dolphin Connect: This feature lets you send an open tab from your phone to your browser, or vice versa. Install theConnect extension for Firefox, Chrome and Safari on your PC or laptop, then sign in with a Facebook, Google or Dolphin account to begin. Open Dolphin on your phone or tablet, press the Menubutton and tap share. Choose Devices and pick your PC or laptop from the list to share your tabbed page!
- Wi-Fi Broadcast: Similar to Connect, 'Wi-Fi Broadcast' lets you share your open tabs with other users – but this time from mobile to mobile over a shared Wi-Fi network. To use this feature, drag your finger from the right-hand edge of your screen into the centre to open the Add-ons menu. Tap on Wi-Fi Broadcast, then again on the Share This Page button to post your open tab to the other gadgets connected to the same Wi-Fi network!
- Sonar: While voice searching is hardly new, 'Sonar' takes it a step further by giving voice commands an impressive level of control over your browsing. With Sonar activated, simply shake your phone to bring up the search screen. Ask a question, zoom in or out, state a page you'd like to visit or check out the Dolphin website for the full list of commands you can give to Sonar.
- Physical buttons: When setting up Dolphin for the first time, you are asked to choose a function for your phone's volume keys. During your browsing session you can use these buttons to either scroll up and down a webpage or cycle between your active tabs. Or if neither of these functions interest you, you can continue using your volume keys to change the volume!
Chrome
Chrome is Google's own internet browser, originally made for desktop computers and expanding to Android early in 2012. This browser actually comes pre-installed on a number of Android devices these days – but it isn't always set as the default browser for your phone or tablet!
What makes Chrome stand out from the crowd is its simple and attractive interface, which many people find very easy to get used to, with tabbed websites behaving as individual pages or tasks.
There's only one menu button, from which you can access all of your options and settings within a couple of screen taps – and the 'Incognito' mode for private browswing offers peace of mind when letting a friend or family member use your tablet.
Chrome's top features:
- Synced bookmarks: What makes Google's software so popular is its synchronicity with other Google products. Signing into Chrome with your Google account lets you selectively share your tabs, bookmarks and passwords with all other instances of Chrome you've signed in to, on any platform!
- Bandwidth Management: With this feature, Chrome is able to reduce your mobile data usage by up to 50%, by allowing Google to process your browsing data through their servers. This means most of the hard work is done by Google and not by your smartphone, causing less data to be downloaded to your handset. To activate this mode, press the Menu button and go to Settings. Scroll down to Bandwidth Management, tap on it then choose Reduce Data Usage. Press the Onswitch to start reducing your data usage.
- Incognito mode: If you're always lending your phone or tablet to friends and family, you might be interested in 'Incognito mode'– a secure section of the browser which doesn't record your browsing history, passwords or other data until you switch back to the regular mode. This means you won't have to worry about people leaving their accounts signed in on your device, or other users getting into your email or shopping accounts and causing untold chaos!
- Imported bookmarks: A great little migration tool for a replacement browser: pressing the Menu button, tapping on Settings and pressing the Menu button will again offer you the chance to import your bookmarks from another browswer. This will search your pre-installed web browser for any saved bookmarks, then copy them into Chrome'sbookmarks list!
UC Browser
The more I play with UC Browser, the more I love it.
Navigating around websites is very easy, with a simple drag of the finger from the left edge to go back one page, and a swipe from the right to go forwards. The menu is clear and concise, with all your settings available in one location. There are also plenty of graphical themes to choose from if you're keen on personalising your app collection to suit your tastes!
If you're using an older or smaller smartphone like a Galaxy Ace, you may wish to try out UC Mini– a lightweight version of UC Browser for small screens or slower hardware.
On the other hand, if you've got a powerful, large-screened tablet or smartphone, you should install UC Browser HD, which provides a much clearer, more attractive interface for you to jump straight into!
UC Browser's top features:
- Videos Manager: This section of the settings menu keeps track of all the videos you've watched, liked or downloaded – so you won't have to trawl through your browsing history trying to find that video of a talking cat you want to email to someone.
- Night Mode: Recent studies have shown that staring at a bright screen right before going to bed can be detrimental to a good night's sleep. If you just can't tear yourself away from your phone or tablet late at night, give 'Night Mode' a try. This feature will dim the display for your browser, as well as darkening the background wallpaper of some websites into something a little easier on the eyes!
- Auto Pager: Some websites spread their content across multiple pages, forcing users to find and click a button before they can continue reading. UC Browser tries to do away with all that with its 'Auto Pager' feature. This creates a 'seamless reading experience' by automatically loading the next page in a series when you reach the end of the current page.
Opera
If you're familiar with the PC version of the Opera browser, you might already be a fan of its download manager, extension support and cross-platform data syncing. Well, now you can install Opera for your Android phone or tablet!
While the Android version doesn't yet support extensions, it does still include tabbed browsing, an excellent download manager and 'Discover'– a news feed which pulls in interesting and relevant stories from around the internet. If you use Opera for PC, make sure to sync to 'Opera Link' to keep all your bookmarks and saved passwords in one place.
The full version of Opera for Android is only supported on devices running Android 4.0 and above – so if you're using something a little older, give Opera Mini a try. It's a much more lightweight version of Opera, without some of the frills which the full version offers, that's ideal for slower handsets.
Opera's top features:
- Off-Road Mode: As some internet connections can be dramatically slower than others, 'Off-Road Mode' evens the playing field by sending websites to one of Opera's servers, where it's compressed into something much lighter and faster to download. This mode can also help save your data allowance if you're using mobile data to do your internet browsing.
- Download Manager: Keep track of your downloads from within your browser, without having to search your phone looking for a downloads folder or notification. From inside the Download Manager, tap the menu button and choose settings to pick how to deal with new downloads, and also to choose where to download your items to.
- Discover: This feature of the browser is accessible from a new tab (or the settings menu), and gives you top news stories to read at your leisure. While browsing Discover, tap the cog icon to open the Discover settings. From here you can choose new topics or news sources to collect information from, helping you tailor the news list to suit your lifestyle and interests!
Do you already use one of these Android browsers and want to rave about it? Or do you have an alternative suggestion we've missed? Let us know in the comments below!