Having a great phone is one thing, and all of our chosen phones' standard browsers are more than adequate. iOS brings Safari, WP7 brings along a special version of IE9 and Google brings along... Android.
Maybe Google has missed a trick here by not bringing the superb Chrome along, but there are alternatives on the Android Market. That said, on all systems you might prefer an alternative.
If that sounds like a situation you're familiar with, then we strongly suggest you check out our selection of the best alternative mobile browsers.
Dolphin
The Dolphin browser comes under three different guises. For Android there is Dolphin Browser HD and Dolphin Browser Mini, and for iPhone there's Dolphin Browser.
As an alternative browser, it brings different features for different users. The basic browser provides a raft of features from tabbed browsing and gestures to side bars and a speed dial, all of which make browsing easier and more intuitive.
While tabbed browsing and the speed dial speak for themselves, gestures and side bars don't. A small translucent button in the bottom of the screen brings up the gesture screen, where tracing your finger performs a customised action, from refresh and back, to loading Google.
Side bars are another very useful feature. Swiping the screen to the left brings up a small bar on the right, where your installed add-ons live, and swiping to the right brings the bookmark bar up on the left.
Android users are treated to a fuller web experience, with a variety of add ons. Some of these change the theme, and some add a whole new layer of functionality. There are too many to name here, so we recommend you check them out.
Opera
Opera has had an offering for mobile while most other browser developers were still trying to hone their desktop versions. The browser comes in two main variants, Mini and Mobile.
The Opera browser duo are available across all platforms, including Android, Windows Phone 7, iPhone and BlackBerry, and they're reliable and perform well on each OS.
Like similar browsers, you are able to browse the web in full screen, access tabbed browsers and all the best features of a good mobile browser. Even text reflow is a dream, working instantly.
Where Opera Mobile really shines is in its sharing abilities. With a simple tap you can share to any number of networks, including Facebook and Twitter, or connect and transfer to nearby devices.
Firefox
The Firefox mobile browser comes in two flavours, depending on the handset you are using. Android users are blessed with the full Firefox browser, whereas if you are using an iPhone you are limited to using the bookmark manager - Firefox Home.
Firefox enables full screen browsing, which is great because it cuts out the toolbars and other rubbish that can often hinder a web experience on a mobile device.
Usability-wise, tabbed browsing is offered simply by swiping the left of the screen to bring up the tabs bar. Firefox also comes with built-in Amazon, Twitter and Wikipedia searching alongside the usual Google search.
Using a simple sync feature, (helpfully called 'Sync') you can also access all your bookmarks, history and even open tabs from your PC browser, meaning you'll only need one browsing session with no duplication.
Skyfire
Like others, Skyfire is available cross-platform, but we'd be lying if we said its main USP wasn't for the iPhone. Because of the iPhone's inability to handle Flash, users are often disappointed by non-loading videos.
Skyfire fixes this issue by serving iPhone-friendly versions of web video, using its cloud-based technology to convert them to HTML 5.
That said, Android users can benefit too. Packing in a trial of the paid Video Optimisation feature, Android users can save their data plan as videos are compressed up to 75%.
Skyfire also comes with tabbed browsing, full screen mode and easy sharing links. Another neat feature is that you can access your Facebook and Twitter accounts from a small toolbar at the bottom of the page. The app connects to them and saves your details, enabling quick access without switching apps.
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