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Kyle76

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jan 22, 2017
413
330
North Carolina
I’ve never downloaded a third-party web browser to mu iPad. Am I missing out? Obviously, Safari has some compromises and just plain sucks on some websites. Are there iPad browsers that work more like a desktop browser and avoid some of the issues Safari has on the ipad?
 

rui no onna

Contributor
Oct 25, 2013
14,920
13,269
All web browsers on iPad use webkit anyway so not much point unless you need it for cross-platform syncing.

I'm actually hoping this is one of the things that will change come WWDC. I like Safari well enough but even on the MacBook, I've encountered a few websites that needed Firefox or Chrome in order to work.
 

doboy

macrumors 68040
Jul 6, 2007
3,776
2,948
I use 6 different browsers depending on what I’m doing. My favs are Duckduckgo, iCabMobile, and Safari, but also use Firefox, Firefox Focus, and Edge.
 

TheIntruder

macrumors 68000
Jul 2, 2008
1,769
1,281
If you desire a desktop-class browser for your iPad, I'd suggest looking at iCab Mobile.

It's the closest thing to a desktop browser I've used (since Mercury, before it was sold and ruined), with myriad customization, functional, and import/export options, including direct support for the major ad-blocking lists (it does not rely on iOS' system content blocker). It's more like Firefox desktop than Mozilla's own iOS browser is, and the developer is responsive to users.

A browser is far more than its rendering engine. To suggest otherwise is silly, and akin to telling the developers of Edge, Vivaldi, Brave, etc. that they have no reason to exist, just because they employ Blink like Chrome. That also applies to iOS.
 

Digitalguy

macrumors 601
Apr 15, 2019
4,655
4,490
If you desire a desktop-class browser for your iPad, I'd suggest looking at iCab Mobile.

It's the closest thing to a desktop browser I've used (since Mercury, before it was sold and ruined), with myriad customization, functional, and import/export options, including direct support for the major ad-blocking lists (it does not rely on iOS' system content blocker). It's more like Firefox desktop than Mozilla's own iOS browser is, and the developer is responsive to users.

A browser is far more than its rendering engine. To suggest otherwise is silly, and akin to telling the developers of Edge, Vivaldi, Brave, etc. that they have no reason to exist, just because they employ Blink like Chrome. That also applies to iOS.
They should have a free trial, personally I am not spending any money to try a browser that might not work for me. Many of the browsers I have tried didn't match all my requirement, like working reliably with gmail, without reverting to the mobile version, easily syncing my desktop bookmarks with it etc.
 

DiegoVLatam

macrumors member
Nov 20, 2020
45
67
They should have a free trial, personally I am not spending any money to try a browser that might not work for me. Many of the browsers I have tried didn't match all my requirement, like working reliably with gmail, without reverting to the mobile version, easily syncing my desktop bookmarks with it etc.
You can request a refund from the app store if you decide not to buy the software.

 

Digitalguy

macrumors 601
Apr 15, 2019
4,655
4,490
You can request a refund from the app store if you decide not to buy the software.

I have already bought an app that didn't work properly and while the app developer was fine with refunding Apple refused it. So, no, I am not doing that again
 

DiegoVLatam

macrumors member
Nov 20, 2020
45
67
I have already bought an app that didn't work properly and while the app developer was fine with refunding Apple refused it. So, no, I am not doing that again
Not my case. I had refunded at least 5 apps with no issue whatsoever. I always do it during the first week from the purchase though.
 
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Digitalguy

macrumors 601
Apr 15, 2019
4,655
4,490
Not my case. I had refunded at least 5 apps with no issue whatsoever. I always do it during the first week from the purchase though.
I did it in the first week. It was the developers that gave me the same link you gave me. But Apple rejected the request, they didn’t give a specific reason and simply said my request did not meet the conditions and referred me to their policy....
On Android I don't have to do this s***t, they process the requests automatically within the first hour or 2, no need to give a reason. So no, I am not testing paid apps on the App store unless I am convinced in advance they'll serve me well... (and in this case I am well served by Safari already).
 

NastyMatt

macrumors 6502a
Jul 7, 2020
522
741
I use Safari and Chrome. Every now and then something just won't work in Safari (a drop down list in our PSA tool was the latest) fire up Chrome and it works fine. Then they changed something in the PSA and now something else is broke in Chrome but works in Safari.. back I go.

The kicker is I do (or - can do) my entire job in a web browser and if iPadOS could nail a desktop quality browser working on an IPP would be perfect.
 

LibbyLA

macrumors 6502a
Jun 16, 2017
825
857
DuckDuckGo most of the time, Chrome when downloading files for Every-Tuesday courses and tutorials, and Safari occasionally.
 

Gregg2

macrumors 604
May 22, 2008
7,271
1,240
Milwaukee, WI
I’ve never downloaded a third-party web browser to mu iPad. Am I missing out?
If you are, so am I. I haven't found a website that wouldn't load in Safari. Since all the places I go work, I haven't had a reason to install another browser.
 

richpjr

macrumors 68040
May 9, 2006
3,763
2,594
I am mostly using Edge (used to be Chrome), because I have to bounce back and forth between a Windows PC, my MBP, an iPhone and an iPad. I need my bookmarks synced across all devices and while there are extensions that will sync between Safari and Edge or Chrome, they suck and constantly screw up my bookmarks.
 

mi7chy

macrumors G4
Oct 24, 2014
10,626
11,298
All mobile browsers are gross. Give me a full desktop browser with uBlock Origin.
 

Surfer13134

macrumors 65816
Jun 12, 2010
1,047
790
Florida
I use Brave, Browser and ad blocker is pretty good and you can choose to view certain ads that relate to you and in return you get BAT which can be used to purchase giftcards etc.
 
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