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This creative alternative to Web browsing is now available as an app for Android devices 

This creative alternative to Web browsing is now available as an app for Android devices 

Vote: (88 votes)

Program license: Free

Developer: Opera Software ASA

Version: 12.1.8

Works under: Android

Vote:

Program license

(88 votes)

Free

Developer

Version

Opera Software ASA

12.1.8

Works under:

Android

Pros

  • Feature-rich with handy tools like a download manager, mobile or desktop views, and bookmarks
  • Supports full HTML rendering for improved image and multimedia quality
  • User-friendly interface with Speed Dial and multi-tab support
  • Supports HTML 5 audio and video, making it great for interactive, rich web content.

Cons

  • Slightly slower page loading compared to other browsers due to full HTML rendering
  • Does not support changing the default search engine from Google
  • Occasional crashes reported in its latest version
  • Lacks support for third-party add-ons

Opera Mobile Classic is an alternative browser for Android devices jam-packed with features, making it a solid choice for those seeking something beyond the stock browser.

A Plethora of Features

At first glance, Opera Mobile Classic brings to mind its sibling, Opera Mini, in terms of its user interface, however this application offers much more. Although it has been superseded by the newer Opera Browser for Android, some users might continue to find this classic version appealing.

One key distinction between Opera Mini and Opera Mobile Classic is their webpage rendering approach. While Opera Mini focuses on speed by serving compressed versions of pages, Opera Mobile Classic affords users a richer quality by rendering the full HTML of pages. This does result in slower loading times but notably enhances the quality of images and multimedia elements. However, for users who prefer faster loading, Opera Mobile Classic offers the Turbo mode option, which mimics Mini's speedier, compressed page view.

Opera Mobile Classic's build involves useful features such as a download manager, the ability to switch between mobile and desktop views, bookmarks, and a Google search bar. Unfortunately, the search engine cannot be changed. Furthermore, the application also incorporates Opera Link, allowing users to synchronize their bookmarks, history, start page, and more between their mobile and desktop versions of Opera.

Enriched Multimedia Experience

The latest version of Opera Mobile Classic for Android now comes equipped with Flash content support. Alongside this, it also brings HTML 5 audio and video support to the table, making it a great choice for users fond of interactive, rich web content.

Third-party add-on support, akin to what Firefox offers, can make Opera Mobile Classic even more versatile. This would surely be an improvement much appreciated by users.

User-Friendly Interface

Navigating through Opera Mobile Classic is a joy, thanks to its easy-to-use interface packaged with a Speed Dial feature. This lets users set quick, one-click shortcuts for up to nine frequently visited websites. With its multi-tab support, users can effortlessly switch between various pages using an intuitive thumbnail preview bar. The browser also makes page zooming seamless with its pinch-to-zoom feature, alongside a button to snap back to full screen view.

However, some users reported occasional crashing with the app's latest version. Hopefully, this glitch will be smoothed out in the forthcoming updates.

A Worthy Competitor

While not the fastest Android browser, Opera Mobile Classic impresses with its feature-rich and user-friendly interface. This makes it a noteworthy choice for those who want to move away from the standard Android browser.

Pros

  • Feature-rich with handy tools like a download manager, mobile or desktop views, and bookmarks
  • Supports full HTML rendering for improved image and multimedia quality
  • User-friendly interface with Speed Dial and multi-tab support
  • Supports HTML 5 audio and video, making it great for interactive, rich web content.

Cons

  • Slightly slower page loading compared to other browsers due to full HTML rendering
  • Does not support changing the default search engine from Google
  • Occasional crashes reported in its latest version
  • Lacks support for third-party add-ons

This download is no longer available. This could be due to the program being discontinued, having a security issue or for some other reason.

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