Andy Walker / Android Authority
Choosing a web browser is a deeply personal decision, as I’ve learned from reading spicy comments on various forums over the years. I’ve been loyal to Firefox for a long time, but Mozilla’s recent missteps and the browser’s growing flaws have started to bitter my experience. So, I explored the Play Store for sweeter alternatives and stumbled across a potential candidate: Banana Browser.
What Chromium-based browser do you use? 60 votes I use Google Chrome. 43 % I use a Google Chrome alternative (mention in comments). 27 % I don't use a Chromium browser. 27 % I'm unsure if my browser is based on Chromium or not. 3 %
It’s rare for me to be impressed by a Chromium browser, but here we are. Banana has been a surprisingly positive addition to my Android phone in recent weeks. It’s an app I only recently discovered, even though it launched in 2020. It’s a relatively mature project in that sense, and it shows. Largely devoid of tricks and gimmicks, Banana Browsers offers nearly all the features a picky Firefox user like me could want.
A rather a-peeling Google Chrome alternative
Banana Browser offers plenty for those seeking a Google Chrome alternative on Android, too. While it feels different, it’s not too divergent. It adopts a broadly similar UI to other Chromium browsers, with a few welcome alterations. A Microsoft Edge-like bottom bar is perhaps the biggest change. It includes all the essential shortcuts and buttons I could want. The browser excels in one-handed ergonomics, with a quick overflow menu closest to my thumb at the bottom right corner of the screen. Master this menu (and rearrange it to your liking), and you’ll easily zip around the browser in no time. I’ll admit it takes some getting used to, but the learning curve is worth it.
Banana includes built-in extensions, including Adblock, a quick DNS selector, and an excellent media player feature.
Banana Browser also addresses one of my biggest pain points with Chrome on Android: extension support, albeit the extensions are integrated directly into the browser. Those on tap include Adblock, which also supports custom blocklists, a global dark mode option, and a secure DNS switcher to quickly switch between Cloudflare, OpenDNS, and others. The browser allows an external download manager to handle file grabs, and, more intriguingly, tit offers a master lock feature for added access security — a feature you don’t see on many major browsers.
To remain trendy in the age of AI, Banana Browser does bow to some fads. It offers quick access to ChatGPT through a shortcut button. Tapping it brings up the generative AI service’s dialog for quick contextual searches and more. Sure, the button is a nice option and gives Banana an edge over Chrome, but I think it adds unnecessary bloat to the experience.
Andy Walker / Android Authority
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