this post was submitted on 19 Mar 2025
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What's the state of Android browsers? Want to move away from Samsung Internet (lemm.ee)
submitted 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) by char_stats@lemm.ee to c/android@lemmy.world
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cross-posted from: https://lemm.ee/post/58870060

I've been using Samsung Internet for a very long time, knowing it isn't the best one for privacy. However, the user experience with it is, for me, unmatched by any other browser, including Vivaldi, Brave, and any Firefox forks.

So here's what I'm looking for in a browser:

  • preferably FOSS

  • some control on privacy setting, less trackers/fingerprinting, etc. Doesn't have to be the most hardened.

  • decent dark mode for web pages (Dark Reader is OK)

  • bottom search bar

  • bottom tabs bar rather than tab switcher

  • a quit button I don't have to tap and scroll 2 times to find. Ideally it'd be placed on the main bottom bar

  • the quit button must clear cache and close all tabs, so I think it should be native and not an extension, but maybe I'm wrong?

Is there any browser that can give me that?

I'd love using Fennec as my main - and God knows I've tried multiple times to - but missing some of those feature made it hard for me to leave Samsung Internet behind. ATM I'm using both browsers BTW.

Any suggestion is appreciated!

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[–] kia@lemmy.ca 35 points 6 months ago (18 children)

Firefox on Android is really nice and meets most of these. Also having full extension support is a huge plus.

[–] gedaliyah@lemmy.world 13 points 6 months ago

Fennec is just Firefox with privacy defaults.

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[–] clot27@lemm.ee 10 points 6 months ago

I use fennec, it's just firefox without current bs of firefox going on

[–] kittenzrulz123@lemmy.blahaj.zone 8 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Ironfox is nice, thats what I personally use. Its more secure than base Firefox (and importantly for me its in Accrescent)

[–] char_stats@lemm.ee 3 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

I'm OK with using Fennec, probably. I've used Mull before, which I think is where Ironfox comes from.

What do you like about Ironfox that, you think, is not in other FF forks? And what's Accrescent?

[–] kittenzrulz123@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 6 months ago

Its a secure app store thats easy to install on GraphineOS (secure rom)

[–] banghida@lemm.ee 7 points 6 months ago

Firefox is by far the best Android browser.

[–] darkkite@lemmy.ml 6 points 6 months ago (1 children)

regardless of your browser choice make url check your default link handler to unshort urls and remove query parameters

[–] char_stats@lemm.ee 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I was with you till "browser choice". Mind explaining?

[–] clay_pidgin@sh.itjust.works 1 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Whichever browser you end up choosing. I use Vivaldi quite happily.

[–] char_stats@lemm.ee 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

No I meant I didn't understand the part about link handler, short, unshort, query etc. Lol sorry

If you've got a link, I'd appreciate it

[–] clay_pidgin@sh.itjust.works 5 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Oh, I see what you mean.

https://triangularapps.blogspot.com/search/label/UrlChecker?m=1

You can set this as your default application whenever you click a link, and it'll let you strip off the tracking bits and stuff before you go to your browser or whatever.

[–] char_stats@lemm.ee 2 points 6 months ago

Thanks a lot!

[–] peterg75@discuss.online 6 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Have you tried Waterfox? It satisfies most of your requirements, I believe.

[–] char_stats@lemm.ee 1 points 6 months ago

I don't think I have. I'll check it out, thanks!

[–] brax@sh.itjust.works 6 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Don't think I've ever used the default Samsung browser... Not intentionally, at least. Firefox Mobile has been fine for me. It has basic plugin support, do you can run unlock origin with it, too.

[–] EddoWagt@feddit.nl 3 points 6 months ago

You can install any extension you want nowadays

[–] davidagain@lemmy.world 4 points 6 months ago

I use duck duck go browser as my main and default browser, and I press the burn it all button regularly. It offers to exclude sites from the data purge if you log in, but for the three or so websites that I want to stay logged in to fill time, I just use Opera for them.

[–] swelter_spark@reddthat.com 3 points 6 months ago

I use Ironfox and Fulguris (for when something doesn't work in IF). They're both good. Ceno is also interesting for its p2p/ anti-censorship features, although it's slow when not on wifi.

[–] PeterisBacon@lemm.ee 2 points 6 months ago

Samsung Internet is my favorite, but I am also a lil weirdo. Firefox is my second favorite to merge between devices, as well as connecting with the Pocket app to save things for later.

[–] Freakazoid@lemmings.world 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Im not sure if it is foss (have to check) but Soul Browser is my favorite. Packed with features and highly customizable, most if not all of your requirements are possible within this browser.

[–] char_stats@lemm.ee 1 points 6 months ago

Oh wow! This is the definition of fully featured and it has my favorite UI customization in any browser. Also, the ad-block section as user filters and URL ones.

Unfortunately it isn't FOSS, so I'll be sticking to Fennec for now. And the dark mode isn't as good as Samsung Internet or Dark Reader, even though for minor elements.

Thanks for the recommendation nonetheless!

[–] Whooping_Seal@sh.itjust.works 2 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (2 children)

I'm going to suggest an alternative to Samsung Internet or Firefox : https://github.com/uazo/cromite

Out of the options I've tried, it's probably the best bet for reducing tracking, fingerprinting & increasing security without turning to Tor browser (which while it is more anonymous, is frustrating for general browsing)

For clearing cache, there are two options. There's a dedicated clear browsing data button in the hamburger menu, it can also be configured to "sanitize on close" (similar to Firefox on desktop, or Brave on desktop / mobile) [In cromite, this can be found under Security > Clear the data at open]

I can't recommend Firefox on Android in good faith, until site isolation (fission) is enabled on the platform. This is a major security regression compared to desktop Firefox, or chromium based browsers on Android

Edit: It seems like Iron Fox (continuation of Mull / fork of Firefox) has site isolation enabled - but it is still buggy and does not have all features enabled e.g no isolated process SELinux labels.

[–] Sifu@lemmy.world 1 points 6 months ago

I actually needed a help with it. For some reason redirection doesnt work on chromite now. I tried out all the settings nothing really worked. Do you know why it is.

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[–] quslsylt@lemmy.ml 1 points 6 months ago

cromite

[–] dontblink@feddit.it 1 points 6 months ago

Probably an unpopular opinion but if you want absolute minimalism without ads use Violoncello text browser!

[–] Flagstaff@programming.dev 1 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

the quit button must clear cache and close all tabs, so I think it should be native and not an extension, but maybe I'm wrong?

This is the closest Firefox add-on that I could find: Essential Buttons Toolbar and Homepage

[–] char_stats@lemm.ee 1 points 6 months ago

Oh I think I've tried that extension some time ago, but it didn't work very well. I'll give it another try, thanks

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