A look at alternative web browsers for HTC Sensation XL

The HTC Sensation XL is an ideal web browsing device, thanks in no small part to the web browser that comes included as part of the HTC Sense package. However, you also have the option of downloading alternative web browsers from the Android Market and in this article I will review some of the popular alternatives.

First, I’ll review the default Sense web browser that comes standard on the HTC Sensation XL. The web browser includes a number of innovative features, as you would probably expect from the Sense interface. Automatic text reflow uses the pinch-to-zoom functionality of the touch screen. When you zoom in on a section of text on a website, it will automatically resize to fit the screen so you can read it in its entirety without having to constantly scroll when the text is off screen. Plus, it has all the standard features of many other web browsers, such as tabbed browsing and the ability to bookmark websites and create a home page using the website of your choice.

mini-opera
A notable alternative to the stock Sense browser is Opera Mini. This has a number of advantages over most other web browsers. One of the significant benefits of this app is that it is much faster than most of the competition. This is achieved by compressing a website’s data using its own servers rather than on the phone itself. Additionally, using Opera Mini uses up to 90% less data than other web browsers, again through data compression. So if you have a limited data allowance in your plan (500 MB or 1 GB, for example), Opera Mini is an attractive option. There are many other advantages of this application, such as the ability to assign up to 9 home pages that can be accessed with a single touch on the screen.

MozillaFirefox
A popular desktop and portable browser, Mozilla Firefox is now available on the Android Market and has been optimized for smartphones like the HTC Sensation XL. The interface and many of its features are similar to the PC-optimized version. Its key features include the ability to open more than one website in separate tabs when opened, so you can assign your favorite websites and they will then load and be instantly available. Other notable features include the ability to accurately predict what website you’re typing in, before typing the full URL in the address bar. This works by narrowing down potential websites after each character you type and then displaying them in a dropdown menu and then ranking them by popularity. So, for example, if you have typed ‘go’ in the address bar, it will predict that you are typing ‘Google’ and this will show up in the menu. Simply tap this and Google.com will open. This can be a real time saver, as it drastically reduces the amount of typing required to get to the desired website.

Of course, all the browsers mentioned in this article have many more advantages (and indeed some disadvantages), but as you can see, if you own an Android smartphone like the HTC Sensation XL, you have several other options besides the standard apps. Plus, Opera Mini and Mozilla Firefox are both free to download, so there’s no reason not to try them out before deciding which one suits your needs best.