Very
good
 |
Chrome Beta – A New Browser For Android
Tested version: 0.16.4130.199
Latest version: 0.18.4409.2396
Requires Android: from 4.0
|
Summary
Browsers for smartphones are steadily improving and becoming better and better in terms of user comfort and speed. In fact, the stock Android browser is nothing to sneeze at, especially the one featured on Android 4.0.
But now – drum roll please – there’s Chrome Beta. Find out why we’re so enthusiastic about this new browser in today’s review.
Features & Use
Section rating:
Test device: Samsung Galaxy Nexus
Android version: 4.0.2
Mods: Root
Chrome Beta will run on Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) or higher.
When you first launch the browser, you will be prompted to sign in with your Google Account in order to enable syncing with your desktop browser. Logging in isn’t obligatory, but we do recommend doing so.
Bookmarks and browser history will be synced. A great feature: you are automatically logged into the Google services without having to enter your account information. You can disable this feature in the options.
As for browsing: there’s a bar with three controls elements (the URL bar, the button for the tab index and a menu key ) at the very top. The URL bar is also a search tool. The tabs are displayed with a small animation. Large thumbnails of the tabs are displayed, and even though they are rendered as large as possible you will find that you can still see all open tabs at a glance. The tabs slide together when scrolling—yet another lovely animation. Despite all the animations I did not get the impression that the app was overloaded with animations.
One of the coolest features this browser has to offer: you can see and access all the tabs you’ve currently got open on your computer! This is awesome in situations when you simply don’t have time to send yourself an email with all the links.
There’s also a private browsing mode.
Switching from one tab to the next is nice and easy and can be done by swiping across the display.
Selecting links is just as easy: whenever there are a few links clusered together an enlargement of the are with the links pops up. You can then select the link you're after.
The supports many HTML5 functions, even embedded videos.
The only drawbacks I can see is that the browser doesn't support Adobe Flash (for which the blame lands on Adobe and not Google, btw), that it isn't possible to set up a main page and that desktop versions of sites can't be accessed when using a tablet. As far as viewing Adobe Flash animation goes, HTML5 is spreading like cold germs so your browsing experienced shouldn't be hindered too much by the missing Adobe Flash support.
Bottom line:
Those are the browser’s main features. Chrome Beta does resemble the Ice Cream Sandwhich Android Browser, but I am very impressed by by the features. Hurrah for superior browsers!
Screen & Controls
Section rating:
Using Chrome Beta is super intuitive, and fun, too, thanks to the cute animations.
The whole thing – tabs, controls elements, etc. – looks rather chic and there are animations here and there to keep things interesting.
The most important controls elements are always visible, and all other features can be accessed via the menu top right.
Speed & Stability
Section rating:
Chrome Beta trumps all other browsers, even the very impressive Galaxy Nexus one when it comes to speed.
Everything loads within the blink of an eye (including websites, naturally), even big sites such as The Verge (15 seconds the first time I accessed the site, and 10 seconds ever since).
The browser is also exceptionally stable – it didn't cave even when laoding complex, large sites (the same cannot be said for the standard browser). We're very impressed, bearing in mind especially that this is the Beta version, so let's see what the future holds in terms of developments.
Price/Performance Ratio
Section rating:
Chrome Beta is free which we feel deserves a big fat five star rating, even though free stuff is what we’ve come to expect from Google. I would issue a serious word of warning to Chrome’s competition, especially the pay-for browsers: there’s a new kid in town, and this kid is better and cheaper (read: free) than all of y’all!
Let’s see what the future has in store for this open source project—we’re on the edges of our seats with anticipation!
Developer
No developer added yet.
Are you this appʼs developer?Then check out our developer program right away.
Features
Screen
Speed
Price
Market Rating:
AndroidPIT User Rating:
Own Rating:
Log yourself in!
Ad
Bookmark / E-Mail
Click on an icon to bookmark this test report. » Send this article via e-mailScreenshots
All Test Reports
- Applications (505)
- Games (300)
Archive
- 2012 (142)
- May (25)
- Songify – Speech to Music
- Money Tab – Everything's Under Control!
- 500px – The Official App
- Get-neutral – Environmental Activism à la Android
- OsmAnd+ – Navigation Made Easy
- TimeTable++ Schedule – What's On Today?
- GRAVITY PROJECT – A Better Temple Run?
- AlarmDroid Pro
- Chord! Free (Guitar Chords) – Crazy Chords
- Rail Maze
- Cartoon Wars
- mSecure - Password Manager – The Ultimate Security Service
- Get Taxi – The London Edition
- Akinator the Genie – Omniscience For Android
- Talking Tom Cat 2 Free – Return Of the Cat
- Solitaire – A Classic
- trainANDtrack! – How fit are you?
- Sonos Controller for Android – Music In the Palm Of Your Hand
- Folder Organizer – Tidy smartphone, tidy mind!
- BMX Boy
- IMDb Movies & TV – Films and Telly Galore
- ICQ Messenger – Chat! Chat! Chat!
- Samurai II: Vengeance – Pure Action!
- Remoteless (for Spotify) – Remote Control for Spotify
- Tiki Kart 3D – Does it compare to Mario Kart?
- April (29)
- March (29)
- February (30)
- January (29)
- May (25)
- 2011 (360)
- 2010 (303)
Feb 13, 2012 6:24:08 PM
When is it coming to the rest of us that don't have an ice cream sandwich phone?! This really is disappointing....
Feb 13, 2012 7:30:11 PM
— Edited on Feb 13, 2012 7:30:18 PM
Hi David, I'm not sure when or even if Chrome will become available for anything lower than Ice Cream Sandwich... To be frank, I doubt it will become available for older Android versions, though I could be wrong. I will try to find out for you and get back to you if I come up with anything.
Write new test report comment:
You must log in or register now,
to submit a comment!
As a logged in user, you can also change the order of the comments.
Market Comments
Rufus, Apr 18, 2012
Awesome Thanks for not including flash, I don't want to see annoying ads in my browser! And it's super fast and getting better with each update. Great job, Google.
Dsmith, Apr 18, 2012
Great browser replacement! I would have given it 5 stars, but it doesn't scroll as smoothly as the default.
Andrew, Apr 18, 2012
Needs flash support. I so want to use this as my daily browser, but lack of flash makes impossible. How iPhone users cope, I have no idea.
Roshen_Rujj, Apr 18, 2012
So so Not so impressive... I was expecting something super-buper... But is usual browser
A.D., Apr 18, 2012
Too had it crashes constantly Great, intuitive but gets slow...and then crashes after about 10 minutes and a few tabs open. :-( boo. Got to uninstall.
Dinh, Apr 18, 2012
Scroll prob When I scroll down, it get back immediately, especially on facebook :<
EUCLIDES, Apr 18, 2012
Se bloquea Esta aplicación bloquea mi galaxy S2 pero hay que reconocerle que tiene mucho potencial...
Robert, Apr 18, 2012
Stunning browser! Other OS's envy! Quick, simple, well designed, the best browser for 4.0! Only drawback is NO ADOBE FLASH!! :/
michael, Apr 18, 2012
Was working Used to work till update now no chrome on my ice cream sandwich phone because chrome only works on ice cream sandwich phones
ET, Apr 18, 2012
Not working after update Since the update chrome does not work. It opens then closes. Cleared data and cache still same issue. Rooted Samsung Captivate running cm9. *UPDATE* had to uninstall and reinstall
wayne ramautar
I think it is very imfomitive