An Android Police reviewer who had used Google Chrome for 14 years spent 60 days testing three rival Android browsers, Microsoft Edge, Samsung Internet and Firefox, to see whether Chrome still deserved its place as the default choice.
The reviewer tested each browser in turn, comparing ease of use, performance, tab handling and other features, according to Android Police.
Microsoft Edge
Edge was the first serious candidate. It impressed with strong performance and smooth syncing of bookmarks, passwords and tabs across devices, the reviewer said. The browser also offers features Chrome has long lacked, including advanced start screen customisation, custom wallpapers and a universal clipboard, and its mobile version supports extensions.
Within a few weeks, though, flaws emerged. While using Samsung DeX on a tablet, the reviewer could not properly rearrange tabs, since holding down a tab opened it in a separate window instead of letting it be moved. Intrusive prompts and interface elements tied to Microsoft's Copilot assistant ultimately pushed the reviewer to look elsewhere.
Samsung Internet
Samsung Internet came next. The reviewer liked its speed, light interface and effective ad blocking, and noted it offers mobile add-ons and more customisation options than Chrome. But on a Galaxy Tab S10 FE tablet, tab management proved awkward, and persistent sign-in problems on Windows disrupted syncing between devices.
Firefox wins out
Firefox was tested last and was not initially expected to be a favourite, but it was the one that changed the reviewer's mind fastest. The browser offers full extension support, including advanced ad blockers, along with strict privacy settings and tracking protection.
Firefox was praised in particular for its tab syncing and its feature for sending an open page to another device. The reviewer reported no noticeable freezing even under heavy use, and said tab handling on both smartphone and tablet was easier than with its rivals.
The one significant drawback cited for Firefox was the lack of a built-in universal clipboard, meaning text and images have to be moved between devices using third-party cloud apps such as Google Keep.
After two months of searching for a full replacement for Chrome, the reviewer settled on Firefox, concluding that it offers nearly everything missing from Chrome: full extension support, strong stability and convenient tab management.
Chrome still dominates the market
The switch comes despite Chrome's continued dominance of the mobile browser market. According to Statcounter, Chrome holds a 66% share of mobile browser use, with Edge in second place and Samsung Internet third. Firefox does not appear even in the top five.
Users have separately noted that Chrome has begun automatically downloading a 20GB artificial intelligence model onto devices' storage. If the model is located in a device's files and deleted, Google reinstalls it after the next update.
