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 mad it hard for me to leave Samsung Internet behind. ATM I’m using both browsers BTW.

Any suggestion is appreciated!

  • darkkite@lemmy.mlBEnglish
    1·
    1 hour ago

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

  • Stovetop@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2·
    2 hours ago

    I had been using Samsung Browser for a while. With the latest push by Google to retire Manifest v2 in Chromium, and also not wanting to feel like I need to stick with Samsung for my next device (hopefully not for another long while), I switched to Firefox mobile.

    To be honest, I hated it. The interface is pretty clunky, it would keep just pulling up my keyboard at random times when browsing pages, it doesn’t seem to work reliably with Android’s native back button, and despite me having my preferences set to reopen my last used tab when launched, it keeps bringing me to the blank home/new tab page (blank because I disabled all of the Mozilla bloat).

    I like that it has extensions, though Bitwarden doesn’t seem to work well in Firefox mobile (I just use the Bitwarden app on my phone instead, which is ok).

    I missed having the separate bottom nav bar like Samsung Internet allows, but did learn that one exists in Firefox Nightly, so I switched to that version and have been doing my best to get used to it. It stinks a bit that Firefox is not nearly as customizable as Samsung internet, but at least with the nav bar, it’s familiar enough for my muscle memory to deal with for now.

    I guess everyone hates the nav bar though, the general consensus I’ve read online is that people want to keep everything hidden in the “More actions” menu, so if they end up removing the nav bar entirely I may look for something else.

    I was tempted to try Brave, even. But with all of the sketchy crypto shit, unfortunately right-wing leadership, and still using Chromium as its backend, that ended up being a hard no for me.

    • char_stats@lemm.eeOPEnglish
      1·
      39 minutes 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!

  • Clot@lemm.eeEnglish
    5·
    4 hours ago

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

  • Whooping_Seal@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    1·
    2 hours 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.

  • kia@lemmy.caEnglish
    191·
    6 hours ago

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

    • Sifu@lemmy.worldEnglish
      422·
      6 hours 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
        132·
        6 hours 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
          39·
          6 hours ago

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

          • kia@lemmy.caEnglish
            51·
            5 hours 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.

      • Condiment2085@lemm.eeEnglish
        12·
        5 hours 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

  • PeterisBacon@lemm.eeEnglish
    2·
    5 hours 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.

    • char_stats@lemm.eeOPEnglish
      1·
      4 hours 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

  • dontblink@feddit.itEnglish
    1·
    5 hours ago

    Probably an unpopular opinion but if you want absolute minimalism without ads use Violoncello text browser!

    • nfreak@lemmy.mlEnglish
      81·
      5 hours ago

      Just to clarify, Fennec is a privacy-focused fork, kind of in the same vein as libreWolf but not as extensive. Since LW isn’t available on mobile, Fennec seems to be the next best thing.

      I can’t really think of any browsers that have all the features OP is looking for. FF (+forks) is probably the closest thing out there.

      • Ilandar@lemm.eeEnglish
        3·
        5 hours ago

        Vivaldi is very close, it’s only missing the FOSS requirement which I’m guessing is one OP would be willing to compromise on.

        • char_stats@lemm.eeOPEnglish
          2·
          4 hours ago

          Your guess was correct. However, as I’m currently testing both browsers, it seems like the uBlock extension in Fennec (or any FF fork) is way superior to any filter in Vivaldi. So Fennec still on top for me.

          What I found out is that Vivaldi’s filter (even uBlock and AdGuard ones) can’t block sponsored posts, while uBlock extension, apparently, can

        • nfreak@lemmy.mlEnglish
          1·
          4 hours ago

          True true. There’s also GrapheneOS’s Vanadium browser to keep an eye on, but so far I don’t think it’s usable outside of GOS without jumping through some hoops. Personally not a fan of Chromium-based browsers so I haven’t done much digging outside of the Firefox ecosystem though tbf.