Crowning a Winner
So which browser takes the crown? Well, it’s not quite that simple. Each browser has its own strengths and weaknesses, making it better suited for some tasks but less suited for others. Which browser you’ll want to use depends on what you want to do with it. Who says you can’t install two (or more) browsers anyway?
That said, in First Place, we have the Default Browser! Just kidding. It’s pretty clear that the default browser doesn’t do much other than come pre-installed. Its slow speed, shaky performance, and weak feature list make it a pretty abysmal first choice; however, rumor would have it that Google is finally looking to merge Chrome into Android in the near future.
Until then, both Opera Mobile and Firefox make excellent choices if you already use one of their respective desktop browsers, thanks to their syncing features. If you’re not an Opera/Firefox fan, Dolphin HD performs similarly well and includes a long list of useful features. Dolphin Mini, on the other hand, doesn’t have quite as much to offer, and unless you have an older device, you’ll probably want to pass it up.
If you’re after pure speed, Opera Mini is the way to go. It is by far the fastest option in the Android Marketplace, but bear in mind that you’re far more likely to run into website incompatibilities, particularly on sites with dynamic content; however, it does make an excellent supplement for browsing when a fast connection is unavailable. Skyfire, too, offers similar speedy benefits, but without the sacrifice of standard web features.
