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Chrome for Android saw an update in the Google Play Store today, bringing about a number of stability and security improvements. Aside from was was listed on the app’s Play Store page, the 18.0.1026311 update also added compatibility for x86 devices meaning Android users with devices branded “Intel Inside,” can finally enjoy sync’d tabs and other Chrome goodies.
Here’s the official changelog:
Chrome for Android M18.1
This version update includes a number of security and stability improvements. Additional highlights:
- Location preference now integrated to system level Google apps location setting.
- Youtube videos controls now work in full screen mode; videos continue playing after a screen lock/unlock
- Fixes to make third-party IMEs work better with Chrome
Honestly, it’s been awhile since I’ve used Chrome for Android. I find the stock app to be much faster so I normally just stick with that (unless I need to access my desktop’s tabs, in which case I’ll jump on Chrome). What’s more is apparently Chrome for iOS is a full 3 versions ahead, adding just a bit more insult to injury. Out of curiosity, what are you guys using as your default web browser?
Chris:
“Honestly, it’s been awhile since I’ve used Chrome for Android. I find the stock app to be much faster”: On what device is this? I’ve found Chrome to be very ordinary on the S2. But on my nexus devices it flies.
“What’s more is apparently Chrome for iOS is a full 3 versions ahead”
This is nonsense. You know chrome for iOS is just a wrapper of the iOS safari browser.
I’ve seen numerous comments on Reddit and social networks and whatnot. Stock Android browser is much faster. Could have something to do with the Galaxy Nexus, I dunno. =/
And it’s odd you say on the GS2 it’s slow, cuz on my old Epic, Chrome was super fast.
Yup… in my experience Chrome runs great (better than stock) on newer / nexus hardware. It’s struggled on my S2 though.
not just faster but smoother especially when pitching to zoom.
True.
Chrome runs great on my GS3.
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I’ve tried using chrome on every update and i stand behind Chris 200%, the stock nexus browser is faster and smoother than chrome and offers more features. For the name and logo alone i want to like the browser but its performance just leaves me wanting. I’ve stopped relying on replacement browsers since ICS and JB.
Chrome is da bomb! Seems to be lighter and faster on my GS3 running CM10… one might even say buttery smooth :-D
chrome suck on my gn, always need to load for a while after opening before it start working.
typo in the title… should say Android, not Andorid.
*Fixed. Thanks. It’s annoying how titles in Word Press don’t have spell check =/
I’ve been running Chrome as my default for a couple months now. No intention to go back to the stock browser, it lacks in comparison.
I use stock on my Nexus S 4G. I’ve twice installed (and uninstalled) Chrome, wanting it to be better, but stock is smoother and faster. I like the labs features on stock too (i.e., shortcuts available by touching the edge).
when they fix the battery drain ill use chrome again. but for now ill stick with ics browser+
I love Chrome on my GN, the “other” browser (isn’t Chrome now considered stock on JB devices?) feels clunky and slow to me.
AOKP jb build 3, Galaxy Nexus…tried most of them, but Chrome consistently beats ’em. Even the stock browser…not sure what I’m doing differently than others who claim otherwise. O.o
Chrome seems slow to me. I use xscope pro!
As Chris, I keep chrome for my desktop links but I really hate using it.
What I find a lot, is chrome’s followers tend to just believe its better and don’t really compare.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMsLArefSOw&feature=youtube_gdata_player hahahaaa guys watch this iphone 5 girl in line its hilarious
Chris you should post this man I couldnt stop laughing
That has to be fake… she seems to be acting and/or retarded.
It’s not fake, and yeah.. I felt kinda bad watching it. I refuse to post at the possibility she might actually have a disability.
doubt it…probably on drugs
How would she be able to afford it?
That’s not the hair style of a set up actor.
This is why I’m never getting an Intel-based device. I don’t want to deal with all the issues. Even Chrome wasn’t working on it until now. Who knows how many other apps don’t either.
I use dolphin browser, its quite fast on my gs3
I was using Dolphin HD as my main broswer but since I had to pay a third party per month to get my firefox Bookmarks synched to it I switched over to Maxthon and its faster and smoother then Dolphin on my ancient speced Samsung Galaxy Prevail and I even use the Maxthon for 10″ Tabs on my Nook Tablet running CM7. Nice browser that fully supports flash and I can even view videos like those on Hulu without hulu telling me it cant play the videos on my device which is a great thing.
Since I stuck with firefox and have not moved to Chrome on the desktop I have no need for chrome on my android devices when both are still running GB based roms.
I use firefox on my phone because of the sync.
Dolphin is marvellous!
Got JB on my VZW Galaxy Nexus today, and switched (at least temporarily) from Chrome to stock browser.
Since you ask, my default is the stock ICS “Browser”. I’m running an unofficial build of CM9 on my Inc2 (built from aeroevan on xda, which is 100% stable and almost perfect but still uses the 2.6.35 kernel since garbage HTC doesn’t support phones from a year ago) therefore CM team doesn’t have an official build.
Chrome runs BAD on my phone. The scrolling is sluggish, it feels generally unresponsive, and I don’t like that ugly grey bar at the top. Also javascript just behaves weird, for example Engadget the scrolling through their top articles behaves strangely compared to the stock GB and ICS browsers. Page load times are decent, about the same as “Browser”, but overall just not a great experience.
‘Browser’ works awesome though.
Chrome on my GS3, Galaxy Nexus, Nexus S, and Nexus 7 has always been the fastest. I’m really shocked to see so many comments pulling for the stock browser. It has Flash, which is nice, but I find myself using that less and less nowadays, and I have Dolphin for those occasions I do need it. Chrome is definitely the fastest and just nicest overall.
Stock browser with the quick controlls turned on.
Chrome because I have a nexus 7
I do miss using the feature in cm9 to save my web page for off line reading