What Browser should we use on Android 5 (Lollipop)?

Eggcorn

@RealMat0s Good news, Opera Mini still gets updates on Android 5. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for the other editions of Opera.

Catweazle

@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.

Eggcorn

@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.

Eggcorn

The following browsers still get updates on Android 5, as of June 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.

Opera Mini (APKM) - Only Opera Mini, other Operas don't get updates on Android 5.
Firefox (APKM)
Firefox Focus (APKM)
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.
Maxthon browser (APKM)
Mi Broswer (APKM)- By Xiaomi, a computer company nicknamed "The Apple of China".

sgunhouse

@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.

Eggcorn

@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.

Catweazle

@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

Stardust

@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.

Eggcorn

@Catweazle said in What Browser should we use on Old Versions of Android?:

It is rather the question which version of Android your tablet supports, not necessarily the one provided by Amazon.

How would I know which version of Android my tablet supports?

Catweazle

@Eggcorn , consulting the min sys specs from the OS. I have an old Mobile Alcatel 1 c with 1Gb RAM and I use Android 8.1 without problems

Eggcorn

@Catweazle Min sys specs? You mean the minimum amount of disk space, memory, etc. needed to run the Android version I want to install? I thought there was more to it than just specs. My understanding is: Tablet hardware doesn't have the standardization that laptop and desktop hardware have.

So, no matter the specs: You can't just take a stock Android, install it onto any tablet, and expect it to work. The Android must be modified to work on that particular model of tablet. That's why tablet-manufactures are so bad at applying security updates. That's why LineageOS has tablets they support, and tablets they don't.

Am I wrong, do I have an exaggerated impression of how poorly stock Android works on any old tablet?

Eggcorn

@Eggcorn I've ran into problems with Firefox on Android 5. ~~It's crashed quite a few times.~~ And when I leave a tab, it reloads the tab, which makes it exceedingly difficult to copy-and-paste from one tab to another!

I'm trying Opera Mini now. No crashes, and I think it's not reloading tabs automatically the way Firefox does. But unlike Firefox with uBlock Origin, I don't think there's a way to block JavaScript.

Edit: The Firefox crashing is, apparently, a bug that was corrected in the latest update.

Eggcorn

@Catweazle said in What Browser should we use on Android 5 (Lollipop)?:

I use Android 8.1 without problems

Unless I'm mistaken: Android 8 isn't getting security updates anymore. Isn't it dangerous to have an Android 8 computer connected to the Internet? Unless you have a distribution that's still getting security updates, rather than vanilla Android 8.

Catweazle

@Eggcorn , 8.1 still get security updates, in fact I received one 2 weeks ago and it will not be the last. If not, I would have already received a notification that Google is ending support.

Apart from this I use my mobile very little to navigate, only to check my mail and sometimes to see what is happening in this forum, things like that and only when I am at home. I don't use the Internet when I'm on the street and less on a public WiFi.

I don't think there are any problems because of this, apart from that it's a hassle with my mobile due to its low power, posting on a social network is a pain with it with this small screen and my eyes that are no longer what they used to be.

I'm not a smombie, I use my mobile for what it is, to make and receive calls, practically the same as I used before my old Nokias 3300 (which I still have in a drawer, probably still with some battery charge 😂)

Eggcorn

@Catweazle said in What Browser should we use on Android 5 (Lollipop)?:

8.1 still get security updates, in fact I received one 2 weeks ago and it will not be the last.

According to this chart on Wikipedia, the last security update to Android 8.1 was in October 2021.

Catweazle

@Eggcorn , as I say, it had recived a security update 2 weeks ago. Anyway with my use of it, I don't thik that I am in risk. Perhaps it would be, if I would use it all day hooked up to WhatsApp on public WiFi at a McDonald's or downloading anything, but this is not the case, I don't have chat apps in my mobile, nor sensitive information on my mobile either, such as banking apps or things like that, I don't use it. deactivated GPS or other things that may be of interest to malicious people.
Yes, I have Vivaldi installed, but I use it most only with a PWA of Andysearch and Metager. I use Sync mainly as backup.

Eggcorn

This post is deleted!

Eggcorn

I'm surprised that there aren't more people here using Android 5. Or at least, I was surprised. I didn't realize how old it was.

Ayespy

@Eggcorn Yeah. My last device with Android 5 installed is 9 years old. My current device is Android 12. Possibly my favorite android phone ever so far was released in Jun 2015, but I had to let it go when the bank where I have to do my mobile deposits updated their app and Andoid 7 would no longer run it. And 7 was the last update it could get.

Eggcorn

@Catweazle said in What Browser should we use on Android 5 (Lollipop)?:

I have an old Mobile Alcatel 1 c with 1Gb RAM and I use Android 8.1 without problems

Perhaps the better question is: How did you install Android 8.1? Did you just download a regular old Android 8.1, and install it? Or did you need one specifically made for a Mobile Alcatel 1 c?