What Browser should we use on Android 5 (Lollipop)?
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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 Someone could read your post, install an outdated Vivaldi without knowing the risks, and then get a virus.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 But I can't tell if they're up-to-date (as I said, Google Play gave me an outdated Chrome).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outdated equipment in full use in the market.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It's not as outdated at you might think.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.
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@RealMat0s Good news, Opera Mini still gets updates on Android 5. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for the other editions of Opera.
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@Eggcorn , it's really a problem and I think the best solution is to update if possible or change the OS, when you want to use Vivaldi in your tablet ((Vivaldi in Windows 95 in the PC?).
In case of problems with a soft, the first thing I look if there are alternatives, and Android has a lot of other alternatives apart from LinageOS. Maybe one of these are capable to run Vivaldi in your tablet.>Laptop Lenovo V145 15AST, AMD A9- 9425 Radeon R5 - 5 cores 3,1 GHz RAM 8GB, GPU 2+1 GB SSD 256GB -Win10 64 v22H2| Vivaldi last stable|
👉 Vivaldi links👈 My Themes
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@Catweazle Oh, I do keep my tablet updated! But none of the updates from Amazon (the makers of the Fire tablet) have upgraded my Android to version 6 or above.
As for changing the operating system: I looked though some of those operating systems in the link you gave, and they didn't seem to support Fire tablets.
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The following browsers still get updates on Android 5, as of March 2022. I'll include APK mirror links, so you can check if they're still updated on Android 5 by the time you read this.
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Opera Mini (APKM) - Only Opera Mini, other Operas don't get updates on Android 5.
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Puffin Web Browser (APKM) - Unlike the others, this one get updates on Android 4.4 and above. I don't know if "Puffin Browser Pro" or "Puffin Incognito Browser" get updates Android 5, as those don't show up on the APK Mirror.No longer supports Android 5. -
Maxthon browser (APKM)- No longer supports Android 5. -
Mi Browser (APKM)- By Xiaomi, a computer company nicknamed "The Apple of China".No longer supports Android 5.
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@Eggcorn In my experience, most tablets only get 1 or 2 version updates. My older tablet is still at Android 7; I haven't looked at the version number on this one.
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@RealMat0s According to APK Mirror: 4.3.2439.72 is the last stable Vivaldi to run on Android 5, and 4.4.2465.3 is the last snapshot (through as I said, I wouldn't recommend an outdated browser).
On a related note: I'm increasingly impressed with APK Mirror; it's helped me a lot to figure out what apps work on Android 5.
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@Eggcorn, one thing is that Amazon does not update the OS and another thing is to try to do it yourself, to remember that Android is also FOSS and available to install it. It is rather the question which version of Android your tablet supports, not necessarily the one provided by Amazon.
https://www.maketecheasier.com/turn-amazon-fire-tablet-into-stock-android-device/
https://www.wikihow.com/Install-Android-on-Kindle-Fire>Laptop Lenovo V145 15AST, AMD A9- 9425 Radeon R5 - 5 cores 3,1 GHz RAM 8GB, GPU 2+1 GB SSD 256GB -Win10 64 v22H2| Vivaldi last stable|
👉 Vivaldi links👈 My Themes
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@Eggcorn said in What Browser should we use on Old Versions of Android?:
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.
Yes. Maybe check the xda-developers forum for unofficial LineageOS version. Sure you have to trust the developer.
