The best part about Android is its flexibility, with a big part of this being how easily you may change the default apps on your phone. Despite this, most of us stick with the pre-installed default apps. I used to rely on Google Chrome as my main browser, but not anymore.
Chrome on Android Feels Outdated Now
I still remember the day I picked up my first Android smartphone and started using it. Back then, there weren’t many browser options on Android, and Chrome was a fast, reliable choice that was packed with features. However, almost a decade later, Google Chrome still (mostly) looks the same.
In the interim period, Google hasn’t focused much on adding useful features to Chrome on Android. Sure, the company has added several security and privacy functions, but we’re still asking for extension support on Android after all these years.
Chrome has started to feel really outdated, especially with newAI browserslike Arc and Opera’s Aria offering a more minimal and “2025-worthy” internet experience. These browsers let you search and extract information without manually opening websites—something Chrome hasn’t caught up with.
While I haven’t switched to an AI browser just yet—partly because I rely less on AI due to trust concerns—I have permanently switched to Samsung Internet on most of my Android phones. Samsung Internet offers a richer set of features with a UI that feels modern and well-suited to me.
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Samsung Internet Offers More Where It Counts
I first started using the Samsung Internet browser in 2023 when I got the Galaxy S23. Since then, on every Android smartphone I’ve tested, I’ve used Samsung Internet as my primary browser. It’s not just that it feels fast—though tests have shown thatSamsung Internet has faster loading speeds than Google Chrome—it simply offers more features out of the box.
My favorite part about Samsung Internet is how customizable the UI is. While Chrome only allows you to switch between Dark and Light modes and customize a quick shortcut button in the toolbar, Samsung Internet goes further. You can move elements around (such as showing the address bar at the bottom) and even enable a tab bar like on desktop.
Moreover, you’re able to customize the menu to add your favorite shortcuts—likeFind on Page,Request Desktop Site, andRead Aloud—toward the top for faster access. Dark Mode is also properly implemented on Samsung Internet, which not only forces websites into dark mode but also turns elements on select sites pitch black. This makes them look far better than Chrome’s basic dark address bar.
In addition, Samsung Internet supports third-party extensions. On Galaxy phones, you can download add-ons, like those that find discount codes on shopping sites. While not all extensions you use on desktop browsers are available here, Samsung offers a few select third-party add-ons that are genuinely useful. On other Android phones, while not all extensions work, you can still install select ones easily.
The Secret mode in Samsung Internet is something Chrome doesn’t match. WhileChrome lets you lock Incognito modebehind biometrics, Samsung Internet’s Secret mode has a unique feature: any file or image you download in Secret mode isn’t visible in your gallery or file manager. They’re only accessible while Secret mode is open, making it more private than any other browser.
It Works Flawlessly on Foldables Too
Coming back to the UI aspect, another reason I prefer Samsung Internet over Google Chrome on Android is due to the UI’s scalability. I test a lot of Android devices every month, includingultra-slim foldable smartphonesand standard slab phones, and no other browser on Android scales as well as Samsung Internet.
Yes, Google Chrome also offers a UI optimized for tablets and foldables, but Samsung Internet delivers a much more desktop-like experience on foldables. And when you’re using the cover display on the front, it seamlessly scales back to a mobile version, keeping it optimized for that screen. This is something Chrome doesn’t handle quite as well as Samsung Internet.
In addition, Samsung Internet offers a handyPrivacy Dashboardthat lets you monitor which websites are trying to track your browsing. And while Samsung Internet isn’t as AI-focused as Arc, the browser still includes features like Browsing Assist, which lets you quickly summarize and translate websites on the go.
Overall, it’s starting to feel like Chrome on Android has been left in the dust, with other browsers catching up in both features and usability. While Samsung Internet doesn’t have the minimal UI I’d like to see in a 2025 browser, its feature set has become too good to ignore. That’s why it’s now my default browser on all Android phones.
