<strong>the best web Browsers for iPhone and iPad

With the arrival of Chrome on iPhone and iPad, the browser wars for iOS have become a little more interesting. Here’s a rundown of our favorites.

Before we get into the best features of each browser, we have to address the factor of speed. mobile Safari will almost always be faster than Other browsers because it uses a special Javascript engine called Nitro (you find a full explanation of it over on Daring Fireball). Other apps, browsers included, are not allowed to use this built-in function. Therefore, by most accounts, Safari will always be faster, so we’re not going to take that into consideration here.

Speed isn’t everything, and the other top browsers bring more than enough to the table to make them relevant. We took a look Safari, Chrome, Dolphin, and Atomic Browser.

Safari

Safari is your default browser and it’s easily the most used browser on the iPhone. Safari is the easiest to use and since it’s built into every function of iOS, it’s also the most convenient.

The Good: easy to Use, Ready Out of the box, Speedy

Safari’s strengths are pretty obvious. It’s your default browser, so it’s integrated well into every other app straight out of the box. As we mentioned above, it’s also probably the fastest of all your options.

If you’re a Safari desktop user you can sync bookmarks between the devices (and across your iPhone and iPad). It doesn’t transfer your history or anything else, but it keeps everything in line on all of your devices.

Safari is also integrated into everything you do. If you want to open a link in an email, on Twitter, or anywhere else, the default place for that to happen is Safari. As a functioning web browser, Safari does just fine even though it doesn’t have a lot of special features.

The Bad: It’s a Little Boring and Doesn’t Have a Lot of Options

Safari is fine for most things and you won’t find anything terribly wrong with it. That said, the syncing features are a moot point since Safari isn’t that popular of a browser on desktop. It also has a lot of limitations on the amount of tabs you can use, and the fact it forces you into the mobile version of websites is a bit annoying.

More than anything, it’s just a simple, somewhat boring browser. It doesn’t have many features for power users and you can’t add any functionality or change how it works. It also stuffs a lot of it’s most useful features, like Private Browsing, cache clearing, and password info, all the way back in the Settings app instead of inside Safari. This means you have to make a few extra and unnecessary steps just to change up simple settings. For most people, this is fine, but if you’re looking for a bit more from your web browser, Safari is a bit bland.

Who It’s Good For: Most Everyone Who Doesn’t Want to Play Around with Settings

If you’re a Safari user on desktop than Mobile Safari is great because of the bookmark syncing. It’s also the easiest and most accessible one to use. If you open up a lot of links in other apps, or you just don’t want to futz around with settings, Safari is the go-to browser.

Chrome

Chrome is the newest player on the field, but the fact the desktop version is the number one browser means the iOS versions have a leg up on the competition. I’ve been using the mobile version of Chrome since it was released and have been mostly happy with the results.

The Good: Syncing, Incognito Mode, Speed Dial, and More

Chrome on iOS isn’t as fast as Safari, but it’s not slow by any means. That said, the best feature of mobile Chrome it is the fact it syncs across all your computers. Bookmarks, open tabs, and recently opened tabs on your computer can all be pulled up on the mobile version in an instant. You also get an Incognito mode for browsing privately, and an unlimited amount of tabs.

Chrome has a few subtle, but handy features as well. You get a speed dial page when you create a new tab, and you can open up the desktop version of any mobile site by selecting “Request Desktop Site” from the options menu. You even get some simple gesture browsing with the ability to swipe to the right to change out tabs. If you’d like to use it as to open URLs without jailbreaking, you can do so with a simple bookmarklet.

The Bad: Interface Takes Some Getting Used To, Crashes

The iPhone version of Chrome is smooth and responsive, but it takes a little while to get used to how the tabs and everything else works. Once you do it works like a charm, but unlike Safari you might not be able to hand it to a friend with the expectation they’ll know how to use it. It also has some issues with crashing when you load up more complicated sites. This only happened to me with the iPad version with consistency, but it was still annoying.

Chrome has its share of annoyances as well. For instance, the swipe gesture to change tabs (pull to the right) is easy to trigger on accident. The tabs work great on iPad, but they’re easy to lose track on the iPhone’s smaller screen and the card-stack layout of the tabsis a bit tricky to get the hang of.

Who It’s Good For: Desktop Chrome Browser Users

If you use Chrome as your primary desktop browser and you’re synced up with your Google account, then Chrome for iOS is a fantastic option. It’s fast enough, has lots of great features (seriously, the Desktop View is fantastic), and syncs everything across all of your devices immediately.

Dolphin

As the name suggests, Dolphin is the most playful of the bunch. Its core principle is gesture based control and it offers a very different way to browse the web. It’s our pick for the best web browser on Android, and the iPhone version is just as strong.

The Good: Sidebars, fun Browsing Experience, Webzine Feature

Dolphin is easily the odd-man-out amongst browsers and it’s the only one trying to do something new. For the most part, this comes in the form of using gestures to quickly load up web pages (draw a “T” to go to Twitter, for instance), and browse the app. While that’s Dolphin’s main selling point, it still has a lot of other great features.

One of the the best is the webzine format that works similar to Flipboard and makes browsing your favorite sites a little more fun. It also has a great sidebar function where you can quickly glance at your bookmarks and history without fumbling around.

The Bad: No add-ons, a Little Confusing At first

One of the great things about the Android version of Dolphin is the add-ons. These mini-extensions can do the same sorts of things you do with extensions on your desktop, but on your mobile browser. The iPhone version doesn’t get these.

Dolphin is also a different looking browser that takes a little getting used to. Hand your phone over to a friend and they’ll probably be a bit confused if you give them Dolphin instead of Safari. Still, it doesn’t take long to get the hang of it and once you do it’s a fun way to browse the web.

Who It’s Good For: Anyone Looking for a Different Way to Browse

Dolphin has a lot of fun features and the gestures make it an enjoyable browser to use for pretty much anybody. That said, it doesn’t have a lot of really powerful features or options. It can do a lot of the things the other browsers can, and it’s certainly the most original on this list. If you want a new way to browse the web and interact with your web browser, Dolphin is for you.

Atomic Web Browser

Atomic Web Browser has been our pick for the best web browser on iPhone for a while. It’s easily the most feature-rich browser on the iPhone, although it doesn’t come with a lot of design flare.

The Good: Tons of Options, Settings, Browsing Modes

Atomic has a ton of options and settings that we’re not going to list off here. Our favorites include ad block, Dropbox support, and the ability to download files. You can customize Atomic in a lot of ways as well. You can set up themes, turn features on or off, and even configure your own gestures.

It’s also a less weighty browser that doesn’t keep junk around you don’t want. You can automatically delete cookies, clear history, and clear out autofill directly from the app itself. Basically, you can make Atomic into your favorite browser if you’re willing to play around with the settings a bit.

The Bad: It’s a Little Ugly

We didn’t have a lot of complaints when we picked Atomic for our favorite iPhone browser and we still don’t now. It certainly isn’t the prettiest to look at of all the options, but the interface is functional and works well. It’s a little overwhelming to use at first because of all the various settings, but once you get used to Atomic it’s a terrific browser. You can grab a free version, but the full-featured Atomic Browser is $1, making it the only browser on this list you have to pay for.

Who It’s Good For: Power Users Who Like Options

Atomic is all about options. You can easily change nearly any setting, drop into private browsing, run in full screen, and even block ads. If you don’t care about syncing to your desktop browser, Atomic is a good bet.

One last thing we should note is if you’re jailbroken, you can set any of the above browsers as your default browser with the Browser Changer tweak available in the ModMyI repository. Once you set it up, every link you open from any app will be your browser of choice.

We couldn’t cover every single browser on the iPhone, so if you have an opinion about one we didn’t cover, tell us what you love (and hate) about it.

the Rinser toothbrush is your standard teeth-cleaning implement with a little secret: it has a tunnel in its chest that creates a water fountain when you place it under faucet. This makes it easy for you to rinse out your mouth without setting the toothbrush down and picking up a cup or something else.

Aside from the primary purpose of this clever multi-tool, you can replace the brush heads when they get worn out. They just snap on and off so you don’t have to buy a new brush every month. Currently the rinser brush is available for pre-order. $22 gets you one brush and one brush head replacement, but you can pre-order more if you want. It’s not the cheapest toothbrushes in the world, but it’s one of the more clever ones.

Rinser Brush | via The Awesomer via Swissmiss

Dear Lifehacker,
I’ve spotted some amazing deals on Craigslist, but I also know people sometimes get screwed (out of money!) on Craigslist. How can I weed out the scams from the legit listings and make sure I get the best buys?

Signed,
new Craigslister

Dear NC,
Craigslist is a terrific resource for nabbing great deals on everything from furniture to bicycles to electronics—but it’s also full of duds and scams. Although not all listings on Craigslist are fraud attempts, it’s smart to take extra precautions when buying fromany stranger online (whether on Craigslist or eBay or another buy-and-sell site). Here are a few things you can do before and during the sale to make sure you don’t get ripped off.

While Searching: Watch Out for Red Flags in Craigslist Listings

The risks: getting suckered out of your money, giving up personal info to a scammer, and losing your faith in humanity

How can you spot a Craigslist scam? Many of them feature the same telltale signs:

• An abundance of spelling and grammatical errors. A typo here and there is forgivable, but when a listing is riddled with poor English, it’s an indication an overseas scammer posted the ad using automated translators—or the person behind the ad just doesn’t care about the listing. Either way, you probably want to stay clear.
• Generic product photos. Look for real photos instead of the typical product pics or photos found elsewhere on the web. It’s hard to believe the seller actually has the item in question if he’s using PR photos.
• Ad posted in multiple places. Sellers are only allowed to post their ad in one city. If you see the same ad posted word for word in a distant city, that’s a huge red flag. You can search all Craigslist sites at once with previously mentioned Search All Craig’s or more recently highlighted Craiggers. Search Google for the ad wording to see if it’s been posted elsewhere or check the Craigslist Scammers blog dedicated to just this purpose.
• Too good to be true. The biggest telltale sign of a Craigslist (or other) scam is if the ad promises a ridiculously good deal. When you’re buying from sellers seemingly desperate to get rid of their used stuff, it’s hard to know what’s a true offer or just bait for your personal info. Know what your product is selling for (see below) and, if you have any doubt, pass on it.

Craigslist offers other common sense rules to avoid scams, including only meeting in person for local listings, never wiring any money, and never giving out any personal or financial information.

When You’ve Found an Item to Buy: Vet the Seller and Know Your Product

The risks: wasting your time buying a fake or a broken item or something other than what you’re expecting; paying too much for it

Let’s say you found what looks to be a legit deal—the photos are unique and the listing doesn’t look like typical Craigslist scams. Now it’s time to ask some questions and find out more about the seller and the item.

Ask detailed questions about the item you want to buy over multiple emails or calls.Does the laptop come with all the installation CDs and has a virus scan been done on it recently? For an apartment rental, what’s included in the rent or what amenities are nearby (you can verify this with Google Maps)? What problems or issues with the item has the seller had? Why is this person selling the item? What’s the exact model number of the item? Asking questions like this not only gives you more information about the product, it verifies the seller has firsthand knowledge of it.

For whatever you’re buying, also look up ahead of time common problems with the item and how to spot a fake. Google “common problems with [X product]” or “how to spot a fake [X product]” to find the right questions to ask and things to look for when testing out the item in person (see below). You can also check for recalled items at several government sites.

Look the seller up. Search the seller’s email address and phone number on both Craigslist and Google. Look up the seller’s name on Facebook and White Pages services (see if the address matches, too, if you’re given one).

Check if the price is right. Although a lot of items on Craigslist may be great deals, sometimes the prices really don’t make sense. In a Priceonomics study, people sold their used TVs on Craigslist for 14% less than the same TV was selling new, but a 30% discount for headphones. The 14% discount, Priceonomics says, isn’t enough of a deal for the hassle of possibly buying a dud. Sellers, apparently, were pricing their items based on the original prices they paid—not the market value at the time, which made them price their used TVs too high. Check out price guide Pricenomics to find acceptiable price ranges and recommended used prices. You should also check the going prices for that specific model/item on Amazon and other retailers. Want an even better deal? If you’re ready to haggle, use the 15-to-20 percent rule to find a more reasonable price (sellers may be adding in this haggling price too).

At the Exchange: Meet Safely and Inspect the Item

The risks: getting robbed or physically hurt; not noticing problems or missing features until after you’ve parted with your money

Ready to buy? Now comes the most anxiety-ridden part: the exchange.

Meet in a public location, such as a bank or coffeeshop. Craigslist says meeting in person will help you avoid 99% of scam attempts on the classifieds service. Meeting face-to-face can still be risky though, so to avoid the chance of being robbed, meet in a public place—preferably one with lots of witnesses and security cameras. A bank lobby, Gizmodo suggests, is perfect because you and the seller can withdraw and deposit cash without having to carry it around. If a bank lobby seems too odd to conduct your personal secondhand buying business, a hotel lobby, busy gas station, coffeeshop, or similar location would work (and these also usually provide ATMs for easy access to cash). (Note: Buy & Flip advises not using a parking lot, mall, or fast food restaurant because people aren’t actually paying attention there. I think Starbucks or Barnes & Noble may be perfect because of how busy these locations are and you have outlets for testing electronic items.)

Bring a friend. Go with a friend or family member for additional protection. He or she can also help you evaluate the item in question.

Kick the tires. Make sure you test everything and try using the product before you pay for it. For a used computer, check the ports, make sure you have the license keys and admin account information, confirm the battery life is what’s expected and all the specs match, and look for things like massive dust buildup. Before you buy a cell phone, make sure it can be activated by verifying the electronic serial number or ESN with your cell phone provider or atCheckESNFree. If you’re buying a car, make sure all the paperwork is available (registration papers, titles, and maintenance information) and look for other stolen car signs. If it’s got a plug, plug it in to see if it works. Push all the buttons, and try all the features.

After all your sleuthing and research, hopefully you’ll end up with a proud purchase.

Love,
Lifehacker

P.S. See our Definitive Craigslist Guide for the Recession and How to Avoid Getting Scammend When Buying or Selling Online for even more advice. Or share your tips and experience with us in the comments.

Have a question or suggestion for Ask Lifehacker? Send it to tips+asklh@lifehacker.com.

photo remixed from an original by bioraven (Shutterstock)