In the latest Sailfish OS 4.5.0 there is a built-in web browser based on ancient Firefox 78, scoring only 496 points in HTML5Test. What are the current up-to-date alternatives to it?
One option is to use one of Android web browsers, such as: Fennec, Mull, FOSS Browser, Privacy Browser, but it requires a paid Sailfish OS account and adds some overhead of the Android Support layer.
Another option is to use WebCat or WebPirate from OpenRepos.net, but they are based on an outdated Qt Web Engine and they seem to be discontinued (last updated >2 years ago). They also require some ancient libopenssl libraries no longer available in SFOS 4.5.
So is there a modern native web browser for Sailfish OS 4.5+? Or could anybody fork the stock browser and update the Gecko engine to the latest version?
The lack of a modern and secure web browser in the world of ever-growing Progressive Web Apps is a big inadequacy and shortcoming for new users. I am also using Ubuntu Touch, where the stock Morph Browser is being continuously updated.
No, it’s not. But as I mentioned above, Ubuntu Touch provides a modern web browser out-of-the-box for free. Why would such a basic app need to be paid? I have no problem in paying for extra features like the Android app support or cloud storage, but no other mobile OS-es are paid for essentials (be it Android, iOS, UT, PostmarketOS).
So first you say it is not bad; and then you complain about it?
As mentioned; it is also being worked on.
Turns out this is an even worse argument/metric than i thought.
496/555 is actually a good score. Most of what is “missing” doesn’t seem very interesting/relevant.
Firefox 118 on my desktop scores 485.
These you do pay for. Both upfront and by being advertised to etc.
Thanks, I didn’t know about Angelfish. I’ve just installed it using Chum GUI and it looks modern, it is based on Qt WebEngine 5.15.14 scores 516 points in HTML5Test.
Not only HTML5Test. I’ve tested both browsers in AnTuTu HTML5 Benchmark and the stock browser scores 5314 points, whereas Angelfish scores 8433 points.
Any modern browser is a humongous piece of software. Developing and upkeeping such a code base is an anormous effort. If we do not pay for this, we will be billed otherwise on our privacy, security and life choices. I would be eager to pay for a decent desktop browser.
I find Morph on UT to be beyond basic to be kind of annoying to use. Been awhile since I used Sailfish, but the browser was way better when I last did. I mean Morph cant even save password and login info.
