What browsers are there for iPad mini? The agony of choice: which browser is best for iPhone? Battery for Mate X

Today's article is dedicated to reviewing popular mobile browsers for the iOS platform, ready to become an alternative to Apple's built-in Safari.

Google Chrome

Year of issue: 2012
Developer: Google
iPhone, iPad: Free download]

The history of the first browser from the search giant Google began back in September 2008. After much doubt from the head of Google about the release of a separate software product that allows you to browse Internet pages, it was decided to use the engine as the basis of the browser WebKit. Before mobile platforms Chrome arrived four years later: in February 2012, a version was released for the Android platform, and in June for iOS.

Today, the browser is used by more than 300 million people, and its market share is 45,8% .

The Chrome browser has been translated into 53 languages, and its strong point is considered to be a high level of security, speed of operation and page rendering.

    Advantages:

    • synchronization of desktop and mobile versions;
    • voice search;
    • page translation;
    • many tabs.

    Flaws:

    • typical interface;
    • lack of “reading” mode;
    • no full screen mode;
    • questionable stability;
    • lack of support for archaic versions of iOS.

Verdict: a good browser, provided that its version is listed as “beta”. Frequent crashes and unstable operation with a very ascetic design.

Dolphin

Year of issue: 2009
Developer: MoboTap
iPhone, iPad: Free download]
Includes in-app purchases

The first version of the browser of an American company MoboTap was released back in 2009. The priority direction was chosen to be software development for mobile platforms Android and iOS.

Among a fairly wide range of possibilities, the main “trick” Dolphin Gesture support is considered. For frequently used sites, it is possible to bind a specific gesture, after entering which the required page will be instantly opened. Optional package Sonar(59 rubles) allows you to expand your search capabilities by shaking the device and voice commands.

Besides high level safety, availability private mode(all browsers in question are equipped with “Incognito” tabs), Dolphin allows you to set different color themes and provides the ability to display pages in “Night” and “No Images” modes.

    Advantages:

    • Gesture support;
    • many page display modes;
    • ability to block unwanted windows;
    • availability of topics;
    • high performance;

    Flaws:

    • lack of plugins and Read mode;
    • periodic crashes.

Verdict: a good alternative to standard Safari with advanced functionality.

Maxthon

Year of issue: 2012
Developer: Maxthon Tech
iPhone, iPad: Free download]

The brainchild of a Chinese software developer Maxthon on the browser market for more than ten years. From the ponderous likeness Internet Explorer in 2004, it has become a worthy alternative to mobile browsers on Android platforms and iOS. In July 2012, the company announced the release of the first mobile version of the Maxthon cloud browser for iOS.

The key features of Maxthon lie in its interaction with remote storage– “cloud”, into which individual links, fragments of text and images, as well as files of various formats can be added. Supports Maxthon and tab synchronization between different browser versions (OS X and iOS).

    Advantages:

    • "reading" mode;
    • flexible interface settings;
    • tab synchronization;
    • availability of a “stationary” version;
    • good integration with the cloud;
    • work in full screen mode;

    Flaws:

    • periodic departures;
    • Unstable operation with a large number of open tabs;

Verdict: a productive browser with good Web page rendering speed and tight integration with its own cloud.

Mercury

Year of issue: 2012
Developer: iLegentSoft
iPhone, iPad: Free download]
Includes in-app purchases

Get a strict 5 star rating in the store Apps Store is truly a success and recognition of users. This is exactly what the browser can boast of Mercury. The Mercury seems to have virtually no downsides. It provides the ability to change custom themes, synchronize tabs with third-party browsers such as Firefox and Chrome, and integrate with cloud services Dropbox, OneDrive, GoogleDrive, Box(built-in cloud client).

The list of available functionality does not end there thanks to the ability to install extensions (due to the nature of the iOS platform, this is a relative rarity among third party applications) and Internet filters. In addition, Mercury also implements gesture support for even faster surfing. An extended paid version of the browser is provided Mercury Browser Pro, costing 69 rubles.

    Flaws:

    • not quite perfect Russian localization;
    • periodic flights.

Verdict: Mercury can easily be called one of the best browsers for the iOS platform.

Opera mini

Year of issue: 2009
Developer: Opera Software
iPhone, iPad: Free download]

With its popularity mobile version browser Opera obliged to the countries in which fast internet for the telephone remained a myth for a long time. However, the bet placed on well-thought-out algorithms for compressing Web pages in order to save traffic is not the only merit of Opera. The first version of the browser was released back in 1994, and by mid-2014 it confidently took fifth place in popularity.

Despite the fact that today most countries have reliable 3G coverage, in 2014 Opera again managed to attract attention by releasing a browser with a video optimization function. According to the developer, installing Opera mini will permanently solve issues with “slow” video and stream freezes.

Alas, traffic optimization, it seems that it remains the main advantage of Opera mini. If you need to view text news, the browser will come in handy. Working with media content and loading “heavy” pages often results in the application crashing. A separate product of the company is a young browser Opera Coast.

    Advantages:

    • the best browser for traffic compression;
    • video stream optimization function;
    • nice interface;
    • saving pages;

    Flaws:

    • traffic compression sometimes becomes a counterweight to speed;
    • limited functionality;
    • minimum settings;
    • lack of “reading” mode.

Verdict: a specific browser for those who are tormented by a feeling of nostalgia for the 2000s.

Puffin

Year of issue: 2011
Developer: CloudMosa
iPhone, iPad: Free download]
Includes in-app purchases

According to numerous synthetic tests, it is the browser Puffin In terms of page loading speed, it is ahead of all its competitors. Speed is the main advantage of the browser, and the improved engine JavaScript shows truly impressive results.

Puffin supports latest version Flash(in the cloud, with the ability to adjust the degree of compression), and thanks to an improved encryption algorithm, makes it safe to browse Web pages even when using public Wi-Fi access points.

Among the features of the Puffin browser, it is worth noting the presence of a virtual joystick and a touchpad that imitates a computer mouse.

    Advantages:

    • Flash support;
    • high page loading speed;
    • many additional settings;
    • reliable data encryption algorithms;

    Flaws:

    • Flash work sometimes affects browser performance;
    • Difficulties with streaming video.

Verdict: The fastest browser for surfing, but we strongly recommend trying the free version before purchasing.

Tor

Year of issue: 2013
Developer: Ronen
iPhone, iPad: Free download]

Anonymity in world wide web– a question that plagues many users. The inaccessibility of certain sites and the imposition of government filters very often makes it impossible to surf the really necessary sites. Browser Tor can be called a pill that is recommended to be taken at a time when you need to hide your real IP address or gain access to closed resources.

Alas, Tor cannot be called multifunctional. He pursues one single goal - anonymity. Within a few seconds after launch, you will receive a new IP address, after which you can safely set off on an anonymous voyage. Tor has no settings, bookmarks, additional plugins, or even an interface as such.

    Advantages:

    • anonymity;
    • change of IP address;

    Flaws:

    • complete lack of additional functionality;
    • poor design.

Verdict: if you need anonymity, Tor is the best free alternative. If anonymity is not your top priority, choose a different browser.

With the speed with which the number of iPad owners increases, the activity of software developers for them also increases, especially in terms of browsers. And how could it be otherwise, when the iPad itself is based on the function of providing convenient access to flash information posted on the pages of Internet sites. But each iPad user has his own priorities and interests, and therefore, his own requirements for the form of information provided. Therefore, the best browser is different for everyone - which one you choose.

It is immediately necessary to pay attention to the fact that most of them do not support the function of viewing flash information, but one of the supporting flash, the most common, will be described. The browser for the TOR project will also be analyzed, but more on that below.

UC Browser on iPad

The speed is achieved through the use of cloud traffic processing technology, which may be attractive for those who use their iPad to surf the web. Pages load significantly faster even compared to Safari, not to mention the Opera browser, so the flash player is “in its place” here.

It should be noted that traffic compression does not come at the expense of performance. The developers provide 4 GB for storing their files, this is in addition standard features downloading information.

One of the features worth paying attention to is creating your own bookmarks, since they and open tabs function only with the creation of your own account.

Coast by Opera

A new browser that, with its entire appearance, claims to be individual and even unique. This is especially noticeable in the fact that if in other browsers there are simply bookmarks, then in this one your favorite sites are displayed in the high-speed access panel, although only a few sites can be placed there. The issue of quick search has also been solved in an original way - based on the first characters of the input, the browser will guess the most frequently used search addresses.

The developers have tried to use the screen area with maximum efficiency. No unnecessary information, not even website addresses, only two functions, one of which opens the quick access panel, and the other – the last opened sites.

Fans of online shopping will be especially pleased with the function of checking the loyalty of online stores, which is calculated using at least three indicators.

InstaWeb

This one-page browser somehow simply fantastically clears web pages of all advertising fluff. You receive clean text without spam or advertising. At the same time, all the main graphics of the site are preserved. It looks similar to Google's. By its type it is a convertible browser, but it only works with pdf files, but it opens them with almost any program; its highlight is a good flash player.

The interface is clear even without Russification; all basic operations are performed in a couple of touches. In terms of functionality, speed and cost (in most cases, when you go to the InstaWeb corporate page, the program can be downloaded for free), this is one of the best browsers; it does not slow down, since the flash player is “in its place”.

Offline Pages

The Offline Pages application allows you to save information for offline viewing, which makes it stand out among others. This information can subsequently be viewed in both Safari and Chrome. At the same time, in prof. version has the ability to save multi-page sites and video information, but the cost of this version is high.

The function of switching to full-screen mode and sending the saved page to social networks is retained.

Yandex

Yandex search, which was unsuccessful in all respects, was almost recently replaced by a full-fledged Yandex browser. Not only the name has changed, but also the content. Although the main thing is not in the design, but in the smart search function, when a request takes you to exactly the sites you were looking for. At the same time, it is possible to view the list of issued links on the left side of the screen, and the contents of sites on the right, which is quite convenient.

Among the additional features, it is worth noting the ease of working with tabs. Several dozen selected addresses can be placed in the central display. Built-in voice dialing capability in several languages, including Russian.

Despite all his awards and praise for this product it is necessary to approach with sober assessments. After all, what the user is always interested in is the speed of loading information (a powerful flash player) and how quickly he can find it. The creators of the Chrome browser tried to combine these two qualities as much as possible.

The interface takes some getting used to. Particularly unusual is the lack of bookmarks, and the quick access panel is not universal. However, this is compensated high performance, which, however, can sometimes fail when the screen is quickly enlarged. Voice input also wants better functionality, sometimes it's easier to enter text into the search bar.

Dolphin Browser HD

Most iPad users agree that it is better than others, although it is far from perfect. However, it contains all the functions familiar to us, which is why people are in a hurry to download it. There are bookmarks, a quick access panel, tabs, and its own feature. This is where we will focus our attention.

In the upper right corner there is a conventional “Signs” icon. When you click on it, a black board appears, just like in school. You can draw a symbol on this board with your finger, installed by browser, or created by you, which immediately displays to you the necessary page that corresponds to the drawn sign.

Puffin - flash for iPad

Unlike the Skyfire browser, which only partially solves the problem with flash playback, Puffin solves this problem in full. True, the price for this was rather weak functionality.

One of the features worth noting is the ability to download flash videos as needed, and not constantly, which speeds up its work a little.

Tor Browser Bundle

This software product allows you to quickly and without unnecessary knowledge start using the anonymous network of the TOR project. It includes the tor itself and the Vidalia graphical shell, together with the portable version of Firefox.

Using the tor product allows you to hide not only your presence on the network as much as possible, but also encrypt all your traffic, both transmitted and received.

As you can see, there are different browsers, and you can download whichever one you like best to work with. This could be tor or Puffin, which loads quickly flash player, give preference to Yandex or any other.

Safari on iOS is fast, easy to use, and syncs data between your devices out of the box. Really, standard browser very good for iPhone and iPad. But there are worthy alternatives that have more features, are better integrated with certain services and are simply more comfortable to use. We've combed through App Store searching for third-party browsers and found the 5 best.

Chrome

iPhone + iPad | 70.7 MB | Free | DOWNLOAD

One of the most deserving candidates to replace Safari is Google's Chrome. The popular browser last week acquired convenient gestures for moving forward/backward through pages from the edge of the screen.

Chrome is tightly integrated with Google services and is available on OS X, iOS, Android, Linux and Windows. The browser synchronizes tabs, passwords, favorites, history and other data, which will appeal to device owners on different platforms. By the way, even if you have Safari on Mac and iPhone, both browsers will be friends and work via Handoff.

The browser interface is made in Google's proprietary Material Design, so it is not only convenient, but visually pleasing to use. Among the useful features of Chrome, I would like to note a pop-up panel when scrolling from top to bottom, which allows you to quickly open/close a tab and refresh the page by swiping.

It’s convenient to type website addresses in your browser and enter search queries thanks to the panel with Internet symbols (dot, .com, etc.).

Opera Coast

iPhone + iPad | 35.8 MB | Free | DOWNLOAD

Opera's Coast browser offers an atypical approach to using the Web. In the program you find yourself as if in a separate operating system, where websites are applications.

The main page contains icons with programs, that is, favorite pages, if we draw an analogy with traditional browsers. Here you can change their order and set background images.

Tabbed window - multitasking menu.

Coast attracts with its concept, speed and quality of work. Beautiful interface with smooth animations and high page loading speed. Everything we love.

The web address input field displays a selection of current news, does a great job of suggesting sites, and ends search queries.

Mercury Browser

iPhone + iPad | 54.9 MB | Free | DOWNLOAD

One of the most sophisticated browsers in the App Store. Mercury Browser has everything a demanding user might need: support for extensions, AdBlock, the ability to change User Agent, reading mode, themes, offline reading list, full screen mode, support for cloud services, gestures and much more.

Almost every component in Mercury Browser is customizable. For example, you can choose to display tabs like on a computer or leave the classic iPhone thumbnails.

The search window supports working with third-party sites.

A widget in Notification Center provides quick access to your favorite sites.

Mercury Browser is packed to the brim with features, but this did not affect the browser's performance. The program is fast, you can browse the Internet comfortably and high speed.

Yandex browser

iPhone | 66.1 MB | Free | DOWNLOAD

The browser of the same name from the Russian search engine stands out due to its different placement of the address bar. It is at the very bottom, which eliminates the need to reach up each time to enter the address.

This is a balanced browser, without any outstanding features, but fast, convenient and neat.

The main screen of Ya.Browser is divided into beautiful blocks with sites from your favorites.

One of the best browsers for iPhone. It has high operating speed even on outdated devices, as well as a number of additional functions that ensure convenient networking.

Yandex.Browser for iPhone will help you quickly find the site or information you need on the Internet, thanks to its smart search bar. You can enter both website addresses and search queries into it and use both printed and voice input for this. At the same time, you can quickly find out numbers, facts and even short biographies of famous people in the form of convenient tips and quickly go to the necessary sites, even without knowing their addresses.

In addition, Yandex.Browser for iPhone will help you quickly get to your favorite sites. Just by clicking on address bar browser, you will call a special Tableau, which displays the most frequently visited sites. You can also add the required sites manually to the Tableau.

One of the most useful and popular functions of the Yandex Browser for iPhone is the Turbo function. With its help, you can compress the content of web pages and thereby speed up their loading even with a slow Internet connection. Besides, this technology helps to significantly save traffic.

A nice feature of Yandex Browser is the ability to synchronize bookmarks with your other devices. All bookmarks and lists of favorite sites are automatically transferred to other devices. At the same time, the data is stored on the Yandex server, which will ensure its safety even if the smartphone is lost, stolen or broken.

At the same time, if you have Yandex.Browser synchronization enabled on your computer and iPhone, you can use the function "Quick Call". It allows you to dial a specific number from your smartphone by simply clicking on it in the browser on your computer.

Besides, Yandex Browser for iPhone boasts a built-in assistant. Alice will help you find any information you are interested in on the Internet. At the same time, she understands simple spoken language.

A person always looks for an alternative when something does not suit him. Is Photoshop expensive? Hello Pixelmator! Not happy with Windows? You need to try OS X and Linux. And, as a rule, there are plenty of alternatives. Here is the standard built-in Safari browser From the very first days of its existence, there were so-called alternatives on the iPad.

Now I want to give a rather superficial but useful overview on the topic: “Why are alternative browsers needed?”

Safari with every iOS version is improving. Now it's wonderful mobile browser with many useful features and settings. But there are a number of useful functions that iOS developers, for one reason or another, did not build into it. And the creators of alternative browsers are practically unlimited and therefore their solutions are often more advanced than Safari. The question is, does the user need it? I don’t encourage you to switch to them (I myself am a supporter of standard solutions and use Safari), but you need to know about other programs.

I will give examples of alternative browsers and point out some of their important advantages...

Apple doesn't like Flash, so Flash is not supported in Safari. The most popular and long-running solution is Puffin. Puffin allows you to not only watch videos in this outdated format, but even enjoy Flash games.

You can play with a virtual joystick.

Puffin also boasts loading acceleration technology. Visually, indeed, sites load much faster in it than in Safari.

Red Onion - Tor Browser

Are you paranoid? Got Ros thief surveillance that blocks sites?

Then Tor is coming to you.

Tor (short for The Onion Router) - free and open software to implement the second generation of so-called onion routing. This is a proxy server system that allows you to establish an anonymous network connection that is protected from eavesdropping.

The Red Onion Browser allows you to anonymously surf the World Wide Web. And you are not afraid of any blocking. Tor technology makes it easy and painless to bypass all restrictions. The main thing to remember is that Tor works slowly, this browser is only convenient for use for its intended purpose.

Also a nice bonus to Tor technology is the download manager.

Download Red Onion 75 rubles

iCabMobile

The oldest paid browser in the App Store. Huge functionality: from a built-in loader (able to work with archives) to support for a bunch of lazy reading services. No one else has such a huge number of settings...

This is a browser for those who want to control everything and everyone in the program. The developer constantly updates his creation.

Download iCabMobile 149 rubles

In one line mode about other notable browsers:

  • Mercury is not bad, but there are inadequate in-app purchases (1,790 rubles full version and subscription). Goodbye!
  • Dolphin is annoying with its constant crashes... But overall it was once good. We are waiting for updates. Now it’s bad...
  • The Firefox web browser is only for unassuming Fox fans. In terms of functionality, nothing...