Which Browser Should You Be Running On Your iPad And iPhone?

By Adam Overa
published

Welcome to our first ever mobile Web Browser Grand Prix! How do Web browsers on iOS, the world's number-one tablet platform, compare? Today, Yahoo! Axis, Google Chrome, Dolphin, Maxthon, Apple Safari, and Sleipnir vie for supremacy on the third-gen iPad.

Axis, Chrome, Dolphin, Maxthon, Safari, Sleipnir

iOS Web Browser Grand Prix Competitors

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Axis

Vendor:Yahoo!Layout Engine:WebKitCurrent Version:1.1.3Supported Platforms:iOSDownload Axis on the App Store (opens in new tab)

Chrome

Vendor:GoogleLayout Engine:WebKitCurrent Version:21.0.1180.82Supported Platforms:Android (4.0+), ChromeOS, iOS, Linux, OS X, WindowsDownload Chrome on the App Store (opens in new tab)

Dolphin

Vendor:MoboTapLayout Engine:WebKitCurrent Version:5.4.1Supported Platforms:Android, iOSDownload Dolphin for Android (opens in new tab)

Maxthon

Vendor:Maxthon InternationalLayout Engine:WebKitCurrent Version:1.3 build 5Supported Platforms:Android, iOS, OS X, WindowsDownload Maxthon on the App Store (opens in new tab)

Safari

Vendor:AppleLayout Engine:WebKitCurrent Version:6.0Supported Platforms:iOS, OS X

Sleipnir

Vendor:Fenrir IncLayout Engine:WebKitCurrent Version:2.1.2Supported Platforms:Android, iOS, OS X, WindowsDownload Sleipnir on the App Store (opens in new tab)

New operating system, new CPU architecture, new browsers. It's no surprise that the usual Web Browser Grand Prix test suite required an overhaul, too. Now let's take a quick look at the updated test setup and benchmark suite.

Adam Overa
38 Comments Comment from the forums
  • esrever
    All of them are the same since apple doesn't give developers any freedom.
    Reply
  • ksampanna
    I mean, c'mon ... bt obviously
    Reply
  • LuckyDucky7
    Was this review even necessary?
    There is no choice of browsers on iOS. None. Every "browser" is just a sub-par Safari wrapper.

    It's not like people buy iOS devices for the ability to tailor the device to their liking, after all- it's not called the "reality distortion field" for nothing.
    Reply
  • victorious 3930k
    You may have forgotten the useful extra features category, where Chrome for iOS wins by MILES.
    Reply
  • murzar
    But Tom's Hardware, I hate Apple. What about Android?

    Such condescension! What about people who actually like Android more? Or find its features more beneficial?

    Not every Android user hates Apple.


    Reply
  • barathn
    I like the last paragraph
    Reply
  • gamecube
    I hope next week we see not only tablet review. I'm more interested in the phone part of Android.

    And Ubuntu just release 12.10. This is a good time to have another Ubuntu Web Browser Grand Prix.
    Reply
  • I'm curious what the benchmarks would be like if they installed the Nitrous Cydia tweak, which allows third party apps to use the Nitro engine. Any chance we can get a follow-up?
    Reply
  • no IE ?
    Reply
  • amdfangirl
    no IE ?

    On iOS?
    Reply