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What Browser should we use on Android 5 (Lollipop)?
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I have a tablet-computer running Android 5 (Lollipop). Vivaldi (as of June 2022) requires Android 6 or later. What browser would you folks suggest for my Android tablet, and other tablets running Android 5 or below?
And before anyone asks: My tablet is still getting security updates.
Edit: Changed title from "What Browser should we use on Old Versions of Android?".
Edit 2: Here's a list of Android 5 browsers.
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@Eggcorn Can't you download Vivaldi Android from anywhere at all?
If not, what about Firefox or Brave?
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@ingolftopf I can download Vivaldi (the Vivaldi site offers an apk file), but I can't install it! As I said: Vivaldi requires Android 6 or above, I have Android 5.
But I can install Firefox, that works fine.
I haven't tried Brave.Edit: Brave, like Vivaldi, requires Android 6 or above. -
@Eggcorn said in What Browser should we use on Old Versions of Android?:
@ingolftopf I can download Vivaldi (the Vivaldi site offers an apk file), but I can't install it!
Maybe there is a trick that someone here knows.
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@ingolftopf Even if we can force Vivaldi to install, would that be a good idea? Forcing an Android 6+ browser to install on Android 5 sounds like asking for trouble.
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Here's something interesting: Chrome requires Android 6 or above, which explains why the Google Play store gave me an outdated Chrome. It also explains why Vivaldi and Brave require Android 6: Presumably, they inherited that from Chromium.
Firefox may be the only option for an up-to-date browser on Android 5, it's the last browser that isn't Chromium-based.
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Hello, @Eggcorn
Hello
It is more normal than we think that there are outdated equipment in full use in the market. Not many have the tools/economy to upgrade, or in the simple case it is not needed.
I would recommend an older version of Vivaldi, Vivaldi 3.0 runs on Android 5.0+. You could even try a couple more updated ones.
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@RealMat0s Isn't is a security risk to use an outdated Vivaldi (or any other outdated browser)? Or am I missing something here?
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Clearly not the best option (in terms of security).
However, if you only need to browse for specific things, it is an option that is on the table.
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@RealMat0s That is a major caveat! I wouldn't recommend a browser that's not getting security updates. But if you're going to, you must warn people about the security risks!
While the regular posters of this forum are likely computer-savvy enough to know the risks of an outdated browser, the readers of this forum are another matter. Someone could read your post, install an outdated Vivaldi without knowing the risks, and then get a virus.
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Absolutely true. And the clarification is right.
If we're talking outside of Vivaldi, I've always been particularly fond of Opera Mini on low requirements devices - it's the one I used a lot before I knew about Vivaldi.
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@RealMat0s Both Opera and Opera Mini show in my Google Play store, and I can install them fine. But I can't tell if they're up-to-date (as I said, Google Play gave me an outdated Chrome).
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In that case you could look into that community and find out - If it appears in the Play Store, perhaps they will update it as necessary to make it secure as far as Chromium will allow them to.
If that is the limitation for your version, you will have to choose another engine - For example, Firefox.
''I will never go to bed without learning something new''.
Technonaut, lover of browsers and a good coffee.
Community Specialists in Vivaldi from Venezuela -
@RealMat0s said in What Browser should we use on Old Versions of Android?:
outdated equipment in full use in the market. Not many have the tools/economy to upgrade, or in the simple case it is not needed.
It's not as outdated at you might think. It's a 2017 Fire Tablet, generated to get security updates through at least 2023. I was surprised to read that regular Android 5 got it's last security update in 2018, seeing as the Android 5 on my tablet is still getting security updates. Perhaps Fire tablets are the way to go, if you want a secure Android.
Edit: And yes, you can install the Google Play store onto a Fire tablet.
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Can you install LineageOS on it?
Latest Firefox with hardened settings + uBlock Origin.
And maybe start looking for the new tablet
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@Stardust said in What Browser should we use on Old Versions of Android?:
Can you install LineageOS on it?
LineageOS doesn't support Fire tablets. Which is unfortunate, because my other Fire tablet no longer gets security updates.
Latest Firefox with hardened settings + uBlock Origin.
I have been using Firefox with uBO's dynamic filtering on my tablet (I don't want any random website running JavaScript). Aside from Firefox crashing a couple of times, it's mostly been a pleasant experience.
But what do you mean by "hardened settings"? Also, I get the feeling that you're concerned about security on my tablet? Are you worried that it's insecure now, despite receiving security updates? Or are you just worried about it after it stops receiving security updates?
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@Eggcorn said in What Browser should we use on Old Versions of Android?:
But what do you mean by "hardened settings"?
mostly Privacy & Security settings in the FF UI
Also, I get the feeling that you're concerned about security on my tablet? Are you worried that it's insecure now, despite receiving security updates? Or are you just worried about it after it stops receiving security updates?
kinda both
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@Stardust Why are you worried that it's insecure now? No explanation needed for why you'd be worried about it after it stops getting security updates!
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@Eggcorn said in What Browser should we use on Old Versions of Android?:
Why are you worried that it's insecure now?
maybe because it's too old, well, I would be worried. Maybe it's okay as you say it is still getting updates
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@Stardust Still, that was a good idea about LineageOS. It won't work for my tablet. But it might fix this problem for other Android 5 tablets: If LineageOS can update them to Android 6 or above, then they'll be able to run Vivaldi.
Correct me if I'm wrong about this: Because LineageOS doesn't support my tablet, it's impractical for me to install LineageOS on it. There's no practical way for me to upgrade my tablet to Android 6 or above, unless Amazon (makers of the Fire tablet) or LineageOS produce an update for my tablet's model.
