Which Web Browser Should You Run On Your Android Device?

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65 Comments

Chrome, Dolphin, Firefox, Maxthon, Opera, Sleipnir

Android Web Browser Grand Prix Competitors

Android Browser

Vendor:
Google
Layout Engine:
WebKit
Current Version:
4.1.1
Supported Platforms:
Android

Chrome

Vendor:
Google
Layout Engine:
WebKit
Current Version:
18.1025464
Supported Platforms:
Android (4.0+), ChromeOS, iOS, Linux, OS X, Windows
Download Chrome for Android

Dolphin

Vendor:
MoboTap
Layout Engine:
WebKit
Current Version:
9.0.3 (Jetpack 1.0.2)
Supported Platforms:
Android, iOS
Download Dolphin for Android

Firefox

Vendor:
Mozilla
Layout Engine:
Gecko
Current Version:
17.0
Supported Platforms:
Android (4.0+), iOS, Linux, OS X, Windows
Download Firefox for Android

Maxthon

Vendor:
Maxthon International
Layout Engine:
WebKit
Current Version:
1.7
Supported Platforms:
Android, iOS, OS X, Windows
Download Maxthon for Android

Opera Mobile

Vendor:
Opera Software
Layout Engine:
Presto
Current Version:
12.10
Supported Platforms:
Android, iOS, Linux, OS X, Windows
Download Opera Mobile for Android

Sleipnir

Vendor:
Fenrir Inc
Layout Engine:
WebKit
Current Version:
2.5
Supported Platforms:
Android, iOS, OS X, Windows
Download Sleipnir for Android


A few tests had to be swapped from the iOS article we ran previously. Let's check out the new test system specs, as well as the changes made to our benchmark suite.

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Summary
  1. Web Browser Grand Prix: Android Circuit
  2. Chrome, Dolphin, Firefox, Maxthon, Opera, Sleipnir
  3. Test Setup And Benchmark Suite
  4. Load Times
  5. HTML5 Performance
  6. JavaScript And DOM Performance
  7. Hardware Acceleration Performance
  8. Responsiveness And Security
  9. Standards Conformance
  10. Final Placing And The Android Winner's Circle
About the author
Adam Overa

Adam Overa was the Managing Editor of Tom's Hardware US from 2012-2017

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65 comments
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  • mayankleoboy1
    "Stock Android Browser" is a myth. There is NO "Stock" android browser.
    Each device manufacturer (Samsung, Asus, Lg, HTC) customise/modify the "stock" browser to match the SoC, the TDP, power saving, and specific browser benchmark targeted, for that device.

    So this "Stock" browser is actually a modified browser, customised by ASUS to work better with a Tegra3 SoC, in some specifc benchmarks which Asus thinks are more important than others. Its not a representative of all android devices.
  • mayankleoboy1
    Sunspider and Kraken are crap benchmarks. All browsers target these benchmarks for specifc optimisations, that are never actually used on the web.
  • aznshinobi
    399650 said:
    "Stock Android Browser" is a myth. There is NO "Stock" android browser. Each device manufacturer (Samsung, Asus, Lg, HTC) customise/modify the "stock" browser to match the SoC, the TDP, power saving, and specific browser benchmark targeted, for that device. So this "Stock" browser is actually a modified browser, customised by ASUS to work better with a Tegra3 SoC, in some specifc benchmarks which Asus thinks are more important than others. Its not a representative of all android devices.


    When you're running a Nexus device, it's a stock browser...
  • adamovera
    mayankleoboy1Sunspider and Kraken are crap benchmarks. All browsers target these benchmarks for specifc optimisations, that are never actually used on the web.

    SunSpider is the next to go for sure, but I haven't heard a ton of criticism regarding Kraken yet. Between BrowserMark, Peacekeeper, and RIABench, we could withdraw all the vendor-developed JS tests.
  • tiret
    give me a browser with flash support then we'll talk
  • mayankleoboy1
    ^ coming soon to firefox. Project Shumway.
  • tiret
    ^ interesting. lets hope it works out... my gf is rather pissed that she can't play farmville on my galaxy tab.
  • fwupow
    I've already figured out that Chrome isn't so hot, but the reason why Chrome still wins for me is that it synchronizes bookmarks, passwords, history and a bunch of other stuff across all my computers and devices. That is an indispensable feature for me.
  • wildkitten
    tiretgive me a browser with flash support then we'll talk

    Since Adobe themselves has ended Flash development for all mobile platforms, I don't think you will see many browsers keeping support for it for long. Likely in a year, maybe 18 months, you won't see any support for Flash as, well, what's the point.
  • Firefox Beta has flash support once you download and install the flash apk - I have it working well on my Nexus 7
  • It is not benchmark results that counts when choosing my mobile browser. And what counts?
    - some kind of adblocking utility, like urlfilter.ini in Opera, adblock in firefox
    - minimum font size. On my 8" 160dpi screen fonts are too small to be read comfortably. In Opera I can declare a minimum font size and have all webpages readable and well formatted.
    - declare to be a desktop browser. I most browsers I have to declare this for every site I visit, in Opera I do it once and it is set
    - smoothness on any hardware, not only Quad-core. Try stock browser or firefox on a single-core A10 machine and it will freeze for 10s when composing your webpage. Opera won't be butter-smooth, but it will let you scroll througn the page from the beginning.
    So Opera is the worst browser according to Thg, but is the best for me, the average user.
  • Tomtompiper
    Read this on Dolphin on my Galaxy Tab, Dolphin has been a fixture on the Tab for two years and for good reason. Forget the scores, even if it wasn't top I would still use it, the actual user experience is head and shoulders above the competition.
  • obarthelemy
    piotrjakubIt is not benchmark results that counts when choosing my mobile browser. And what counts?- some kind of adblocking utility, like urlfilter.ini in Opera, adblock in firefox- minimum font size. On my 8" 160dpi screen fonts are too small to be read comfortably. In Opera I can declare a minimum font size and have all webpages readable and well formatted.- declare to be a desktop browser. I most browsers I have to declare this for every site I visit, in Opera I do it once and it is set- smoothness on any hardware, not only Quad-core. Try stock browser or firefox on a single-core A10 machine and it will freeze for 10s when composing your webpage. Opera won't be butter-smooth, but it will let you scroll througn the page from the beginning.So Opera is the worst browser according to Thg, but is the best for me, the average user.


    This. A review of performance only is useless. Features are more important.
  • obarthelemy
    Also, Opera has a night mode that works, the only browser I could find with one. It's a little hacky though (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1326434)
  • gilahacker
    "Boat Browser" (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.boatbrowser.free) supports flash just fine. I've used it on a Galaxy S3 and a Nexus 10. Just go download the latest Flash apk from Adobe:

    http://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player/kb/archived-flash-player-versions.html#main_Archived_Flash_Player_versions_for_developers

    Scroll down a bit to get to the Android listings.
  • naked browser

    the ui is very minimal though so might not be newcomer friendly
    but the responsiveness is on par with dolphin
  • swyn01
    Chrome is the default browser for Nexus devices running Jellybean. Browser is not even installed on neither the Galaxy Nexus nor the Nexus 4.
  • Chrome is not only the default for Nexus devices...Razr M, HD, and Maxx HD also come with Chrome as the only browser installed. It's been great for me and I especially like being able to swipe between tabs.
  • so, according to real life browsing opera has fastest browsing, but because it scores last in syntethic benchmarks it comes last?
  • Mygind
    I've had the TF300T for some month using Dolphin... And It is still slow, slow, slow.

    My next buy will be a labtop Core i5 / HD 4000 with a SSD and a mouse with a wire. It will be set up so it is always on standby - and wakes up in 2-4 sec.

    Tablets are for todlers and teens :-)
  • Mygind
    I've had the TF300T for some month using Dolphin... And It is still slow, slow, slow.

    My next buy will be a labtop Core i5 / HD 4000 with a SSD and a mouse with a wire. It will be set up so it is always on standby - and wakes up in 2-4 sec.

    Tablets are for todlers and teens :-)
  • amdwilliam1985
    Why is Asus Transformer TF300T being used as the Android test bed? Isn't Nexus 7 or Nexus 10 a way better test bed? Especially when you start comparing it to ipad.
  • sybertron
    gilahacker"Boat Browser" (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.boatbrowser.free) supports flash just fine. I've used it on a Galaxy S3 and a Nexus 10. Just go download the latest Flash apk from Adobe:http://helpx.adobe.com/flash-playe [...] developersScroll down a bit to get to the Android listings.



    I agree, Boat Browser is extremely fast with a terrific interface. On top of it all it's listed on the Play store as having 1-5 million installs for both the Large & Mini version. Both of those completely trump the number of users for ones that were included in the review.

    Not including it in this review is a huge oversight for such a widely used browser.
  • jimmyjohnz
    Well I just picked up the Tf300+dock from the $300 Woot deal, so this article is actually really helpful to me. At least it will be whenever I actually receive the darned thing.
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