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!

  • kia@lemmy.caEnglish
    361·
    7 months ago

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

    • Sifu@lemmy.worldEnglish
      450·
      7 months ago

      What are you even talking about, Firefox on android sucks. It is so outdated design wise and just terrible to use, and the download list doesnt show you download history for some reason. Firefox on other OS’s work great, I even use it as my daily driver but on android. Uff no way.

      Sure, the extensions are great, fantastic even. But its the only pro in a sea of cons.🤷

      • kia@lemmy.caEnglish
        262·
        7 months ago

        No idea what you’re talking about as I’ve had none of these issues. Also Firefox on iOS isn’t actually Firefox, it’s just another reskined webkit browser.

        • Sifu@lemmy.worldEnglish
          316·
          7 months ago

          I was never talking about the iOS variant. I meant the android version was bad. Sorry for the misunderstanding then.

          • kia@lemmy.caEnglish
            101·
            7 months ago

            I’m talking about the Android version. You mentioned Firefox on other OSs is great so I assumed you were talking about iOS, which is not actually Firefox.

            • Sifu@lemmy.worldEnglish
              12·
              7 months ago

              Sorry, not an iPhone user. I just meant the windows and Linux ones were better.

              • skepller@lemmy.worldEnglish
                3·
                7 months ago

                I mean, no shit. Of course the fully fledged PC version is better than the mobile counterpart lol, I’d say that’s a given for any browser.

                • Sifu@lemmy.worldEnglish
                  11·
                  7 months ago

                  In comparison, with other multiplatform alternatives its still bad in my opinion

        • Sifu@lemmy.worldEnglish
          16·
          7 months ago

          I just use brave and arcsearch. I’m not saying they are great alternative and completely devoid of issues but personally I’ll rather use them than Firefox in android(specifically the android version), I love ZEN browser its my daily driver on my PC but the android one, I just can’t.

            • redjard@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
              4·
              7 months ago

              Compare these:
              https://sh.itjust.works/post/34698028/17414247
              https://lemmy.world/comment/15793837

              The user is on lemmy.world, where the comment is gathered by all other instances. It is visible for me on dbzer because that pulls from lemmy.world where it still exists.
              I assume your instance admins deleted it locally for your instance only. Who knows why. I suggest you move to a different place that doesn’t randomly moderate external sublemmys for local users only.

                • redjard@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
                  4·
                  7 months ago

                  The modlog on your instance has a few entries with “reason: automod”.
                  These all aren’t present on the actual sub.
                  Another example here is

                  which still exists on lemmy.world.

                  This post has less than 30% vote ratio and more than 50 votes. There might be a cutoff under which shit.just.works simply removes content.
                  Which if true I gotta say kinda sucks. Maybe a remnant from the cp catastrophe?

                  You better get used to visiting the home instance of posts whenever you see a removed comment you wanna read. Most apps should have a “source link” option, usually with the fediverse symbol, which should open the post on the “ownership” instance, so the one authoritative over what the comment looks like. My app (summit) even offers that per commend conveniently.

      • Condiment2085@lemm.eeEnglish
        16·
        7 months ago

        I barely use Firefox because i typical use chrome but if all my shit was in Firefox it’s absolutely fine. I’d say there are certain parts of Firefox that is actually just better than chrome on Android

  • Clot@lemm.eeEnglish
    10·
    7 months ago

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

    • char_stats@lemm.eeOPEnglish
      3·
      7 months ago

      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?

  • brax@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    6·
    7 months ago

    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.

  • darkkite@lemmy.mlEnglish
    6·
    7 months ago

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

  • Log in | Sign up@lemmy.worldEnglish
    62·
    7 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.

    • subtex@lemmy.worldEnglish
      4·
      7 months ago

      To offer another take, FF has never been buggy for me. Never had this keyboard issue, or any of the stuff mentioned so your mileage may vary.

      As for the bottom nav, I have that on normal FF. If you go to Settings–>Customize, the option to pick top or bottom address bar is right there.

        • subtex@lemmy.worldEnglish
          2·
          7 months ago

          So it’s just the forward/backwards buttons you want at the bottom?

          That’s so interesting. I can’t say I ever use the forward button when browsing and for backwards I just use the back gesture (same as any other app).

          But thanks for the screenshots. I didn’t even know people use that sort of setup.

          FF should offer it then, if that’s something people use/expect as a norm.

      • fadedmaster@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        2·
        7 months ago

        I had a Fold4 and now have an s25 Ultra and had none of those issues with Firefox either. Works just fine for me and I even have some extensions I’ve put on that aren’t technically supposed to work in the mobile browser so I was fully expecting some jank. But still works fine.

    • char_stats@lemm.eeOPEnglish
      2·
      7 months ago

      I didn’t know FF Nightly had a bottom nav bar, and I just tried it a couple months ago. I guess it’s new?

      I understand some may not like it, but I hope they keep it as an option at least!

  • swelter_spark@reddthat.comEnglish
    3·
    7 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.eeEnglish
    2·
    7 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.

  • FreakazoidEnglish
    2·
    7 months ago

    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.eeOPEnglish
      1·
      7 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.worksEnglish
    2·
    7 months ago

    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.worldEnglish
      1·
      7 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.

    • char_stats@lemm.eeOPEnglish
      1·
      7 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