There are a handful of good browsers to choose from but the question is which one is the best. Here, I will mention two such specific browsers which despite being lightweight have some unique features. Below, we’ll list some of the best lightweight Android browsers that give you a good browsing experience and require low RAM and comparatively fewer hardware resources.
Google Chrome, Firefox, and Opera are all undoubtedly the greatest and most popular web browsers. The problem is not every device can run it. Most of you will agree that on mid-range or low-range smartphones the browsing experience of these browsers may get laggy or frustrating. So, this is why we decided to write this post. For those who out there with low-ranged smartphones, don’t worry we will save you.
1. Dolphin – Best Web Browser
Lightweight specifically means here that the browser experience will be lag-free and will include all the features that a high-end browser like Chrome possesses. Such a browser is Dolphin. It has all great features combined into a small package which is light for any device to lift. Going into geekier stuff the browser has Ad Block, Flash Player (games and videos) and cloud sync features.
Cloud Sync Feature
The main reason to select this browser is the cloud sync feature. The cloud sync feature not only allows you to upload your browser data to your cloud storage but also it allows you to sync your browser history and important stuff like credentials with your Chrome browser. This means if you have a PC and you want to open a site that you just opened on your phone then you can do it. Yes, this would require signing in, in both the Android device and PC with the Google Account. How many browsers do you remember that provides this feature? Well, I can’t remember a single one right now.
Flash Player
Talking about the flash player it is good but could have been better. However, some tweaks are required to enable the flash player in the browser. Don’t worry screenshots to enable the feature are provided.
Overall Experience
One thing which I hated about this browser was its typing experience. I dare you to type the site you want to search without making a single mistake. The auto-correct feature is awful. Thankfully, this feature can be turned off in the settings menu. The browsing experience is although great. However, some lag might be noticed when using the flash player. I would recommend to turn it off while not in use.
Themes, Ad-Block and Data Saving
The browser has something even greater to offer the ability to customize themes. It also has a dedicated Theme Store which has a lot of themes to choose from. The Ad block feature of this browser works as expected. The ability to save data might come in handy for the people who are limited on data. The savings in my normal browsing extended to 67%. But I didn’t notice any real difference until I was looking at the page very closely.
In short what else you need in a browser. This lightweight Android browser is definitely worth giving a try.
[googleplay url=”https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=mobi.mgeek.TunnyBrowser”/]2. Puffin Web Browser
Looking at the features that the browser offers the popularity is not up to the mark. I think it is because of its weird name. Nevertheless, the browser is great with good features. It offers what you would expect from a normal browser. It has the Ad Block feature, flash player plugin and a few themes to choose from. The browsing experience is lag-free. However, the animations are not that good and fluid. Yet, they sure feel wicked fast.
Virtual Trackpad and Overall Experience
An additional unique feature which this browser offers in an ingenious virtual trackpad. Enabling this feature pops up a virtual trackpad. This trackpad works like any normal trackpad present on a laptop. A mouse pointer is popped up which can be controlled using this trackpad. The pointer can be used to navigate through web pages. Personally, I didn’t like this idea as the trackpad covers a part of the screen. Devices with smaller screen sizes will definitely not like it. But it won’t be a problem as long as we don’t use it. Saving web pages for offline access is also available.
Theater Mode and Cloud Protection
The theater mode allows the user to make games and videos appear in fullscreen. This is very useful if the web page does not offer any fullscreen mode. All the traffic that passes through puffin is encrypted. Browsing using a non-secure public Wi-Fi is safe but the developers of Puffin don’t recommend it.
Add-Ons
This is the best feature of the browser. The add-ons provided are useful and the best part is they don’t slow down the browsing experience. Theoretically, they do but practically users won’t experience it. A name of few useful add-ons is Evernote, Pocket, Translator and much more.
[googleplay url=”https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cloudmosa.puffinFree”/]3. UC Browser Mini
Those who are avid smartphone users for a long time, UC Browser is not a new name for them. This is the best browser that you can have for your smartphone. You can speed up your downloads as well as stabilize them. It has the resume and pause feature for downloading files.
Moreover, it features an integrated video player that lets you watch videos uninterruptedly. Besides, it has a night mode, ad blocker, various themes to choose from, and more. You also get a data compressor as well as incognito and other normal features. UC browser also supports gestures.
The downside of the app is the way it handles its user’s data. You can read the privacy agreement first before using it. If you don’t have anything to hide then this is a good lightweight browser for your smartphone.
App Size: <12 MB
[googleplay url=”https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.uc.browser.en”]4. Via Browser
Via Browser is another lightweight Android browser. It is based on the platform on which Google Chrome is developed. That is why you will see a lot of features the same as Chrome. It is a lightweight free web browser. This app has a simple and clean design. However, Via Browser does not compromise on customization options.
You can control the look, how you interact, the feel, and most of the things. It offers to change the background, enable/disable browser logo or adjusts the opacity of the background. It is fast, lightweight and gives smooth performance.
Moreover, it has incognito mode, automatically clears your browser history, you can even customize the navigation button. Besides, it gives you more advanced features. You can block images when using mobile data, or change the browser agent.
App Size: <2 MB
[googleplay url=”https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=mark.via.gp”]5. Monument Web Browser
The Monument web browser is also based on the Chromium WebView. It is fast, secure, intuitive and specially made for readers. You get many features like the floating windows, ad blocker, dark theme and more. This free web browser also gives you advanced downloading features like resume downloading function.
Moreover, it is free of ads. You can download multiple files with accelerated speeds. Besides, you can even intercept download links. It provides you with full data privacy security.
It offers a lot of customization options. Like you can set the address bar on top or at the bottom, reading mode, night mode, etc. You also get a picture-in-picture mode.
App Size: <1.5 MB
[googleplay url=”https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=br.marcelo.monumentbrowser”]6. FOSS Browser
FOSS browser is based on the WebView platform. This puts you in control of your browsing and customization. The navigation bar, search bar, preview tab are placed at the bottom of the screen for easy use. It is optimized for one-hand use.
Moreover, the FOSS browser is ad-free and requires no unnecessary permissions. Your private data is saved in an encrypted form. Besides, you can share your PDF, link or a screenshot with a tap. You also get a lot of customization options like themes, background, and other UI tweaks.
It is a great option for older Android devices as it is lightweight and runs smoothly without any lag.
App Size: 2.8 MB
[googleplay url=”https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.baumann.browser1″]7. Phoenix Browser
Phoenix is a great lightweight Android browser, that is based on the Chromium WebView. You can view online videos with the in-built optimized video player without the need for any third-party app. Moreover, it features a faster download for videos.
There is a lot of clutter on the homepage, once you install the app. But, you can change and disable them from the settings menu. The Private Space function helps you store your browsing history and downloaded videos in a separate database.
This app is good for older Android phones or people who travel ore. The video watching player is the standout feature of this app.
App Size: 7.4 MB
[googleplay url=”https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.transsion.phoenix”]8. Hermit: Lite Apps Browser
Hermit browser is one of the best lightweight Android browsers. It lets you create a lightweight app for the websites you frequently visit. Its library already has a good number of ready-made apps. You can tap the icon to install the app instantly. You just have to enter the link, and Hermit will create an app for the website.
Moreover, you can also customize the settings of each app. For instance, one app can be set for desktop mode and other in mobile view mode. Besides, you also get night mode, RSS feed, reading mode, and more.
It is a must-have app for old Android devices. This free web browser can be unlocked via purchasing an unlocker for $5.
App Size: 4.1 MB
[googleplay url=”https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.chimbori.hermitcrab”]9. Lynket Browser
Lynket is a unique browser that is based on the Chromium custom tab protocol. Whenever you open any link, it will open the app you are using. This lets you multitask more easily and with the help of floating bubbles. Other browsers are based on the older WebView version which takes them longer to load.
Moreover, you also get a lot of customization options. You can change the toolbar color, read mode to read articles, use the Google AMP mode, and more. Besides, if you are on an older phone, it can help you faster your browsing experience.
App Size: 4.1 MB
[googleplay url=”https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=arun.com.chromer”]10. Opera Mini
Opera mini is a popular and one of the best lightweight Android browsers. It is used by millions across the globe. This is probably the fastest, lightweight, and powerful web browser available. Out of the box, it comes with an incognito mode enable. It has a smart download feature that saves data. You also get night mode.
You can customize the data saving feature by setting it too high or Extreme compression. Moreover, in the high compression mode, the website’s lighter version will be showed. Besides, extreme compression sometimes breaks the page itself. This mode will be helpful where network coverage is low.
App Size: Varies with device
[googleplay url=”https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.opera.mini.native”]That was it, guys! What browser do you guys use? Let us know in the comment section below. Another important thing to mention that these browsers were tried on a low-ranged smartphone (ASUS Zenfone 5). So, the test results mentioned are for low-ranged devices and will work just fine.
Join The Discussion: