For years, people looking for a real browsing experience on Android phones and tablets have been left pecking through something Google called “Browser” — an open-source-based browser that wasn’t quite horrible but wasn’t quite great, either. Now, for a certain lucky few, Google’s own browser, Chrome, is available on Android devices and it’s a very nice upgrade.
First, the good news: Google Chrome is a considerable improvement over the old browser and features a “stack” system for collecting and sorting Web pages. It supports tabbed browsing on larger screens and the stacks let you organize pages on a phone or minitablet.
There is also an “incognito mode” for hiding your browsing history as well as improved page rendering. I found the whole experience a bit snappier and I really liked the ability to synchronize tabs and bookmarks among various devices and desktops using a single Google log-in.
Now, the bad news: Chrome works only on Android 4.0, a k a Ice Cream Sandwich, and it’s available only in beta, so there are still a few bugs. There are no plans to port it to the iPhone or iPad, either.
That said, it is definitely a solid upgrade from the standard Android browser and it should roll out on newer Android phones and devices as it reaches a more stable state. You can download the beta version here or just wait until it comes to your device.