Develop Bugs

Best Mobile Browser

I had been using DolphinHD, but I was wondering about the other options. I switched to xScope browser yesterday which I am quite liking, and I personally preferred dolphin mini to dolphin HD when I used to use it.
Please post what browser you use and why you like it!!!

I've been using boat browser for a while, it's fast, and I like the ability to customize the tool bar.

I prefer Opera Mobile because it uses its own rendering engine. This means webpages look like their desktop counterparts. My biggest disappointment with Opera, though, is that I could never figure out how to get it to open a home page and not its Speed Dial page.
My second choice is Skyfire because of its simple interface, yet it still has a search box in the address bar.
I've tried Dolphin HD on my Incredible, but it just looked cramped and I got used to the other two browsers.
To each his own, though.

Opera Mobile for sure.
Sent from my LG-P930 using Tapatalk

Here's another vote for Opera Mobile! It seems to render just about everything as close to desktop as possible; it also has the best html5 compatibility, IIRC...

I'm using Dolphin as well. I never tried others yet but coming from the G2x, I like the Dolphin HD the most... But tonight I'll experiment with other browsers. The dolpin used to suck with so much lag on my SU640, you need to do the adjust resolution thingy for it to work smoothly.

Opera Mobile (not Opera Mini) and Maxthon

limpbisquit said:
you need to do the adjust resolution thingy for it to work smoothly.
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wats that?

Billy Madison said:
wats that?
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Go to settings, display and press screen optimization.

i use maxthon browser and i like it very much...am i the only one?

I am anxious to try the google chrome browser but I have to wait for LG to send my bricked phone back.

GordonOSU said:
I am anxious to try the google chrome browser but I have to wait for LG to send my bricked phone back.
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you also need ICS .

Opera Mobile for normal browsing, Dolphin HD for porn and pages Opera can't load, which happens occasionally.

I can't remember where I saw this, maybe it was the boat browser thread in the apps and games section of the forums, but dolphin had apparently been sending all of the information from your browser use to its websites. 34 sent from dolphin hd compared to 5 from boat browser.
I personally use boat after seeing that information. If i wasn't so paranoid about privacy (i really have nothing to hide) then i would keep using dolphin. It is quite impressive with how fast it is.

xScope used to be my favorite, but the Devs seem to have abandoned it long ago...Except for most recently, but even then I believe that was only to fix for Galaxy Nexus.
Currently I have Boat, DolphinHD and Opera Mobile all installed. I find I mostly use DolphinHD, then Opera for the occasional page that Dolphin can't handle/render properly. Boat is nice, but I'll likely be removing it soon as I just keep gravitating back to DolphinHD.
I just installed Firefox Beta (v11.0.0) and so far I'm quite impressed!

Sandpapers said:
I can't remember where I saw this, maybe it was the boat browser thread in the apps and games section of the forums, but dolphin had apparently been sending all of the information from your browser use to its websites.
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[PRIVACY] WARNING: Dolphin's collection of your browsing history
Namuna said:
I just installed Firefox Beta (v11.0.0) and so far I'm quite impressed!
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If you have large collection of saved forms, passwords, do not sync it with mobile FF it will take ages before it become responsive after opening...Other than that It's good, but not yet there compare to Opera and Maxthon.

[email protected] said:
If you have large collection of saved forms, passwords, do not sync it with mobile FF it will take ages before it become responsive after opening...Other than that It's good, but not yet there compare to Opera and Maxthon.
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Yeah, and apparently the Flash support still isn't there yet either...So I'm back to liking Opera/Dolphin combo.

Try boat mini. It's lightweight and fast.
Sent from my LG-P930 using XDA App

browser woes

This phone is one of the best, but I need a browser which properly re-flows text.
The Sense browsers are awesome because when you pinch zoom, the text re-paginates so all the words are on the screen and you can read it! The GS3 (and most other) browsers does not - so the text flows off the screen when zoomed in, requiring a lot of back and forth scrolling to read an article.
Does anyone have a recommendation as to which browsers have the best text re-flow??
(I think I have tried 20 browsers now, and none are as good as the HTC Sense ones...thanks.)

Have you gone into the stock browser then settings>advanced> and checked the auto-fit pages box?
Edit: never mind, it's not working like it should for me either.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda premium

smark72 said:
Have you gone into the stock browser then settings>advanced> and checked the auto-fit pages box?
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda premium
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Yes I have, this does not work.

I just saw that there is a reader mode, which is a green icon in the url bar on some sites. When you click that it reloads the page and you can then reflow text. That's kind of a pain to always have to do though.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda premium

Any more ideas about which browser works best for reflow?

When I had the epic, I would use dolphin browser mini and loved it for this feature. I have yet to use it on my sgs3 because I'm enjoying chrome. But I'd give dolphin browser mini a try.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

Try Opera.

ronnienyc said:
This phone is one of the best, but I need a browser which properly re-flows text.
The Sense browsers are awesome because when you pinch zoom, the text re-paginates so all the words are on the screen and you can read it! The GS3 (and most other) browsers does not - so the text flows off the screen when zoomed in, requiring a lot of back and forth scrolling to read an article.
Does anyone have a recommendation as to which browsers have the best text re-flow??
(I think I have tried 20 browsers now, and none are as good as the HTC Sense ones...thanks.)
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I've had problems with just about every browser I've tried on the GS3.
Stock, Firefox and Dolphin don't reflow properly NOR do they let me log into my bank's secure website.
Opera is the only one that reflows properly (although its a little slow to react and reflow) AND let's me log into secure websites.
And I'm not a browser snob... I used the stock browser on my GS2 for the entire year, and I was happy. I'm actually a little irritated I have to download a 3rd party browser to do simple things.

Best browser and why

Which browser you use and the reasons why. (Maybe compare features with other browsers) i used boat browser but after having problems viewing full site web i am indecided now between opera chrome or firefox...

I use stock browser... and chome... was using dolphin... but its just "TOO" much for me ... my only issue with chrome is lack of flash... but its hella fast... but stock browser seemms to be a happy medium in most cases for my usage

U should try dolphin browser beta. Fastest browser out it uses the new HTML5 . No flash but I have stock browser for that

Tried Chrome but caused massive battery drain. Uninstalled and great battery life returned. Currently use Dolphin browser and I like all the extras I never use.

I like Dolphin. Tried Firefox a few releases ago but found it very frustrating. Tried the stock browser after flashing my phone with a new ROM but ended up getting Dolphin anyways. Dolphin does have a ton of extras that I'll likely never use but I still find it fast enough and super intuitive to use.
Sent from my SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app

Always used stock not having any issues its stable and works just the way it should..
Sent from my SGH-T999V using xda premium

JawjaBill said:
Tried Chrome but caused massive battery drain. Uninstalled and great battery life returned. Currently use Dolphin browser and I like all the extras I never use.
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I am also noticing chrome eats battery like crazy! Is fast though. Sucks that doesnt support flashplayer. And whoever mentions about what dolphin includes and blabla i think is just lies. Dolphin devs say they includ advanced stuff but truth is thwir browser is slower than chrome boat firefox and maybe opera.

Doesnt dolphin cause alot of battery drain as well? I switched to chrome because i always see tunny browser or something from using dolhin browser using up my battery a lot! Been using chrome for the past couple of months but I do miss the dolphin gestures!
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app

I use Chrome on the PC, so Chrome is the obvious choice, mostly because of the automated bookmark sync (I have loads of them). I like using the AOSP browser + CMarks, but it doesn't display the xda page properly after I log in (all text is gray and hard to read). Dolphin does the same thing. Only after I log in.
Not trying Firefox because the desktop version is a joke, why would the mobile version be different? And Opera hasn't been relevant for years.

sarni84 said:
U should try dolphin browser beta. Fastest browser out it uses the new HTML5 . No flash but I have stock browser for that
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+1
Sent from my Wicked Galaxy S3

Touchwiz browser.

BrownDevil said:
I like Dolphin. Tried Firefox a few releases ago but found it very frustrating. Tried the stock browser after flashing my phone with a new ROM but ended up getting Dolphin anyways. Dolphin does have a ton of extras that I'll likely never use but I still find it fast enough and super intuitive to use.
Sent from my SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app
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I concur. I found Firefox 14 to be incredibly slow. I don't like chrome (personal choice). Dolphin beta crashed too much for me.
I am using Dolphin 9.0.0. It seems to be the most stable and fastest to me. I don't like the menus sliding in from the sides. They tend to come up when I am trying to scroll sideways and I haven't figured out how to turn them off
Please remember that free advice is worth exactly what you pay for it :laugh:

I think im switching back to boat browser. I wish it had an appearance like chrome or firefox

I do recall switching from Boat to Dolphin for the extras I don't really use. Might switch back myself.
LIVE! ...from T999 Tapatalk 2 Broadcaster

Being able to swipe between tabs on chrome makes a big difference for me. It would have to be chrome in my book.

Chrome
I switched over completely to Chrome, I was using dolphin but I like the ability to switch between devices a lot easier.

Boat. Enough said.
They call me "Jelly" cuz jam don't shake like this!

Xscope Pro. It was the only browser I could find that would let me make an appt. for the DMV from work, I wanna say it was a java based website, but whatever it was, Xscope has been able to take anything I throw at it, and it's got a dark colored theme which is a plus for me because I hate looking at bright white light all the time. Also as a throwback, Steel was an amazing browser for it's time.

Try pushing menu => more => settings => lab => advanced swipe settings and choose disable
You may need to scroll down in settings to see the lab option.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2

Aerowinder said:
I use Chrome on the PC, so Chrome is the obvious choice, mostly because of the automated bookmark sync (I have loads of them). I like using the AOSP browser + CMarks, but it doesn't display the xda page properly after I log in (all text is gray and hard to read). Dolphin does the same thing. Only after I log in.
Not trying Firefox because the desktop version is a joke, why would the mobile version be different? And Opera hasn't been relevant for years.
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This must be the most stupid and ignorant post I ever read on Xda. Your comments about Firefox and Opera are ridiculous.
Sent from my HTC One S

4,2, Is chrome browser now superior?

I keep switching between chrome, dolphin and the stock from 4.1......is it my imagination or is chrome still 3rd choice? It just seems so unintuitive to use. Are you guys switching to chrome or staying with one of the other browsers?

I think chrome is better than the default browser... but android beam still does not work with this app!

I love some of the Chrome features life the lateral-swipe to switch tabs and the zoom bubble that appears if you click in a small link, but I hate how it handles the bookmarks. We can't have everything, I guess :\

I use Chrome because it syncs with my desktop browser, but the Android browser is a lot smoother. Chrome stutters all the time when I scroll and often ignores input while it stutters, but I have a hard time getting the Android browser to stutter at all.
If you don't need the synchronization with your desktop, Android browser is still the better choice.

is it possible to have ALWAYS desktop version of a site without requesting it every time???

Thanks for the replies.....I keep expecting chrome to be the beez kneez but it always seems lackluster/less friendly than the android version. I dont know why, but after sandy when signals were extremely weak or non existent in my area, dolphin performed the best on a gnex (vzw) 4.1.2 and on an old droid 3

stock 4.2 browser is the best.

qandrav said:
is it possible to have ALWAYS desktop version of a site without requesting it every time???
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I believe you can do this in the stock browser under settings->advanced->user agent->desktop. No equivalent option in chrome that I know of.

thegtfusion said:
stock 4.2 browser is the best.
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glad you like it. the goog powers that be are probably glad too
Ive been trying to use it all day but its not working for me....a shame because i feel like im cheating on google when i use the other browsers haha

I think as long as they dont add the "quick controls" to chrome, the android browser will always have the lead. those controls are incredibly useful for one hand operation, and really anything involving the search bar at the top. no need to move the thumb up there(which is annoying on big screens), just press the side and swype to the url control and bam! and now with "swype" on the keyboard, its actually getting pretty nice having a big screen but only using one hand

thegtfusion said:
stock 4.2 browser is the best.
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i think there's a bug when refreshing the page if you are using quick control. there'll be a black block on top.

JoeSyr said:
I believe you can do this in the stock browser under settings->advanced->user agent->desktop. No equivalent option in chrome that I know of.
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On the stock or opera or dolphin it's possible but it's very annoing click on "desktop version" every time....

qandrav said:
On the stock or opera or dolphin it's possible but it's very annoing click on "desktop version" every time....
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I can't seem to find the option (user agent) on stock browser... Do you know where I can find it?

There are 2 things keeping mé away from chrome and that is:
-Quick controls
-full screen mode
Stock browser is also smoother IMO...

Torbennmadsen said:
There are 2 things keeping mé away from chrome and that is:
-Quick controls
-full screen mode
Stock browser is also smoother IMO...
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It most definitely IS more smooth...

I use Google Chrome on PC, and it gets synced up very conveniently with Google Chrome on my Gnex, so I tend to stick with Chrome.

gideonMorrison said:
I can't seem to find the option (user agent) on stock browser... Do you know where I can find it?
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I could not find the user agent on stock browser either. Yakju version. Just updated to 4.2.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app

i use to like Dolphin browser but Chrome kinda feels solid. I have Dolphin browser with Jetpack on N7 and it indeed loads pages faster then chrome. They've recently added magnifier like in chrome it's still needs a little bit of optimization.

The stock 4.2 browser is faster and more fluid than chrome. Chrome is better in handling all kind of online forms.

I love stock browser but I want to give chrome browser a whirl. However, how do you guys adjust the font for chrome where it is readable? There are some fonts on the page which are perfect for viewing and at the same time , other parts of the page, the fonts are so small. Why can't all the fonts be near or equal on the same page like stock browser.

Stock browser vs Chrome

So as the title says : do you prefer using Stock Browser or Chrome , and why ?
Thanks folx

Stock, why pop-up

I like the stock one so far

I really like lots of things about Chrome and much prefer the way it handles tabs over the stock browser - it's so slow changing between tabs on the built in one - but the performance of the stock is just so much better that I can't use Chrome. Is it the same for everyone? Scrolling in Chrome is just so stutter and choppy, especially noticeable when going slowly.

Stock- Of course. Always, browsing heavy sites, reading and all.
Chrome- Never (other than when I want to show off that pesky tab sliding view, but I don't show off)
Opera- For downloading.
Period.

Don't forget that flash works with the stock browser but not Chrome, also now I have adjusted Framework, the stock browser defaults to desktop view instead of having to tick that damn box everytime you open a new tab!

Well, like most others, I've obviously noticed the better speed in the stock browser, so it's always a temptation.
However, apparently unlike most of the others who've replied, I spend 90% of my browsing time in Chrome, due to the exceptionally useful (for me) integration between Chrome on my (two) Android devices (Nexus 7 tablet, Galaxy Note 2 smartphone) and my two laptops. The fact that my bookmarks are kept in perfect, almost instant synchronization between these devices, as well as the extremely useful feature to open any tab on one device instantly on another one, are just too useful to pass up. If I run into a web page that is just too unresponsive to use in Chrome, I will sometimes go ahead an open in in the stock browser. I wish there was an add-in or something in Chrome to allow you to choose another browser to open the current page in.
Anyway, now that Google is shipping Chrome as the default browser on JB, I'm hopeful that they will continue to improve its rendering speed and responsiveness.

Only thing i hate about stock browser is slow tab management.. and im a heavy tab user.. thats the only thing that irritates me with stock browser...
Handwritten from my Note 2

Chrome here because I can sync with all my desktop bookmarks.

stock, used to it and flash support
I prefer chromes interface but rarely use

My favorite browser is the stock AOSP browser. I really wish we could have that browser on stock firmware.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda app-developers app

Prefer stock on my phone, but only use crome on pc.
Because stock support flash.

Just cause i have to be different.....Id pick Dolphin over both. Really good gesture control

I always try Chrome but I always revert back to the stock browser. Because of flash support and the pop-up feature. I hate the fact that flash is not supported in chrome. I think it should be until HTML5 really does replace flash. in the meantime stock broswer for the win.
Although I do prefer the way Chrome handles tabs.

only stock, why?
full screen
flash
a lot of smoother
also can import bookmarks from pc chrome (syncing gmail acc internet bookmarks)
save page for offline view

Boat browser ...shores up the shortcomings of both...

I'm currently on opera mobile due to one feature call the text wrapping. and stock browser, aosp browser doesn't seem to work properly even when enabled. anyone has recommendation of other browsers that has text wrapping working beside opera mobile?

What is that desktop default mod?
padlad said:
Don't forget that flash works with the stock browser but not Chrome, also now I have adjusted Framework, the stock browser defaults to desktop view instead of having to tick that damn box everytime you open a new tab!
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I personally use Dolphin Browser. It's the best on the market and gets almost top scores on html5test.com

Stock
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda app-developers app