Before we launch into the mobile browsers, it’s worth noting that we haven’t included Safari as we wanted the options to be available across iOS and Android. Safari remains a solid web browser for those on iPhone and iPad, though. We’ve also stuck to five of our favourites but there are, of course, other decent options out there including Chromer, Lightning, Ghostery and UC Browser.
Chrome
Google’s Chrome browser has a wide appeal and comes standard on many Android smartphones so you may not even need to go and download it. The features might not be exclusive to Chrome but the mobile browser has almost endless amounts of benefits. You can sync across devices, save passwords, auto-complete forms, translate pages and download pages and videos for offline viewing. It also has Google voice search, private browsing and a data saver option. There’s little to dislike. Download: Android / iOS
Firefox
One reason to not use Chrome is if you’re invested in a rival and many will be long-time Firefox users on desktop. If so, or even if not, the Firefox mobile browser is solid and recommendable. Like rivals it has plenty of features making it attractive including syncing with desktop, privacy, quick sharing and even Chromecast support. Other features include visual tabs and add-ons so you can choose what additional things you like including ad-blockers, password managers and more. Also check out the beta version and Firefox Focus if privacy is important to you. Download: Android / iOS
Opera
Opera’s browsers are popular and trusted by many and its mobile versions are a decent option – and available in beta versions if you want to test out the latest features. Opera is fast and packed with features you might find useful. It’s got an ad-blocker, smart news feed, the ability to compress videos and you can easily add any site to you homescreen as a shortcut. Sites like Facebook can send push notifications like the app, should you want them to. As well as the main version there’s also Opera Mini. This is a lightweight version and also has a built-in ad blocker. There are plenty of features but the main reason to use it is to save data and keep track of how much you’re using making it great for those on a limited data plan. Download: Android / iOS
Dolphin
It might be lesser known, but Dolphin still boasts millions of downloads so if the above don’t suit your taste then give it a try. If you’re not sure about it, here are some of the things on offer: an ad-blocker, tabs bar, personalised search, private browsing, sync across devices so all the things you’d expect really. Furthermore, Dolphin offers themes and some other interesting features like a flash player and personal gestures meaning you can draw a letter to go to your favourite site. Another thing called Sonar means you can use your voice to search, share, navigate and set bookmarks. Download: Android / iOS
Brave
One of the newer options on the block is Brave and we’re fans of the mobile browser so why not give it a try. There are plenty of the usual features you’d find in a web browser – tabs, bookmarks etc – but brave is particularly noteworthy due to its focus on privacy, although battery and data optimisation is very welcome. The browser like others has a built-in ad-blocker but a lot more. It can block pop-ups, scripts, third party cookies and protect against tracking. It also has ‘HTTPS Everywhere’ which means encrypted data traffic. Download: Android / iOS Tech Advisor’s Reviews Editor, Chris has been reviewing all kinds of tech for over 10 years and specialises in audio. He also covers a range of topics including home entertainment, phones, laptops, tablets and more.
