2012 was certainly an exciting time for Google Chrome – we finally got reasonably-priced Chromebooks that are starting to go mainstream, Chrome for Android and iOS was released, and Chrome finally surpassed Internet Explorer as the most popular browser of users around the world. The latter actually happened all the way back in May 2012, when Chrome’s user share had risen to 32.4%, as opposed to Internet Explorer’s 32.1%.
Now, Chrome is all the way up to 36.4%, while Internet Explorer has continued to decline to around 30.8%. Firefox is declining, too – it fell 3% to 21.9%. Safari is rising in popularity, but it’s still at just 7.9% overall.
The mobile Chrome browser, currently available on Android and iOS, isn’t doing too hot, though. Since its release on Android back in February, it has only gotten to about 1.5%. However, there are lots of reasons behind this: since Chrome for Android can only run on devices running Android 4.0 and higher, that immediately excludes more than half of all Android devices currently on the market, thanks to Android’s extreme fragmentation. Additionally, many Android devices – even newer ones – still bundle the stock Android browser with the phone’s software, rather than Chrome. This is changing gradually, particularly with Nexus devices, but it’s still something to note. As time goes on, and people buy newer Android devices running the latest software, and as Google starts to phase out the existing stock Android browser, Chrome for Android is sure to increase.
Additionally, iOS users generally seem happy with their devices’ stock browser – especially since Apple makes it practically impossible to actually change the default browser that one uses.
Hopefully, as Google continues to actively develop Chrome, it will get better on mobile devices, and eventually the gap between desktop and mobile versions will be bridged, as Google has already promised.
Chrome is the best mobile browser I’ve ever used, hands down. Shame it’s only compatible on 4.0 and up. The Sense browser was horrid. Switched as soon as I could.
Yeah I completely agree. On my EVO I was stuck using Maxthon. I was so happy when I got my Note 2 to install Chrome.
I love that I can be looking at a site on my desktop and find something I want to show a coworker. I then can grab my iPad and open up Chrome on there and have the page loaded by the time I walk to their office. No more walking in, and telling them what site to go to.
I would use Chrome mobile if it supported Flash. Too many times I’d have to switch browsers to see a page properly. I decided the sync feature wasn’t worth it.
Using Boat browser now and it seems to be pretty decent.
Love Chrome and use it on all my devices, Win, Mac, ios, android. best hands down…imho
Chrome for desktop? AMAZING. as for Mobile not so hot…it’s kind of a disappointment. But still is one of the better own i really only keep it for the sync feature.