Phoenix is a fast and intuitive web browser designed explicitly for Android devices. Developed by CloudView technology in 2016, Phoenix is best known for simplifying watching and downloading videos online. 

It’s also quite fast, lightweight, and easy to use, considering it can work in collaboration with Chrome. 

Whether or not Phoenix can be your next default browser will be answered today — read our guide till the end to know everything about its features, disadvantages, privacy policies, and more.

Phoenix browser: Features

Phoenix supports video downloads in multiple formats and from multiple sites. Downloads happen faster and with minimal load on your system. 

To keep your video downloads private, we recommend using Phoenix’s private video download feature. It’ll delete your history and remove every trace of the download.

Say you want to know which videos are downloadable on a site — you don't have to click on them individually to check. 

Phoenix has a smart video detection feature that automatically points out downloadable videos and leads you to them. However, this feature doesn't work on YouTube owing to Google Play’s privacy policy.

Another benefit of using Phoenix is its built-in video player. No more hopping onto your gallery to play a video you've downloaded — play the video directly on the browser and lock the screen to avoid disturbances.

The Phoenix browser comes with an incognito mode very similar to Chrome that gives you access to the internet while remaining anonymous. No data is saved when you're using the incognito mode, neither on your browser account nor by the Phoenix team.

Phoenix’s interface is a treat to the eyes. Its web view is built on Chromium, just like Chrome and Edge. This means that when you load a new site, all the elements of that site are displayed without breaking the site design. Unlike Opera, Phoenix doesn't struggle with rendering the files of a website.

Our favorite thing about Phoenix is the no-image mode. Under this, the websites will only load the texts and leave out the images. This mode is perfect for researchers, students, and readers who don't want the images to distract them or cause a delay in loading the page — the page loads much faster when images are left out of rendering.

The browser also lets you take custom screenshots of the web page. You can take a custom-sized picture by dragging your mouse and then annotating the picture right after. Unlike other browsers, you won't have to go back to the gallery for the edits. 

Phoenix has recently added a built-in ad blocker that keeps away ads, pop-ups, and annoying notifications. You can also check how many pages have been filtered and blocked during each session.

Phoenix browser: Privacy

Phoenix does fairly well in terms of privacy. For starters, it has an incognito mode that you can use to prevent the browser and other third parties from logging your data and search history.

Along with that, you can also use Phoenix’s “Privacy Space,” which basically acts as a second space on your browser. The downloads, bookmarks, and searches on this space do not overlap with the content on your main browsing page. 

If you’re worried about someone snooping around your system, find respite in the “Clear Data” feature under the Toolbox option. In just one click, all your data, including your web history and cookies, will vanish. This feature can also be enabled to automatically delete your activity logs after every session.

Phoenix browser: Ease of use

Phoenix’s interface is fairly simple and easy to understand — that’s because it can be connected to Google. This way, you can get the perks of Phoenix on the interface of a browser you already know.

If you want the full Google experience, go to Settings and switch from “Google Custom Search” to just “Google.” Also, remember to opt out of their customer experience improvement program if you don't want them to collect your data. 

The only trouble you might face using Phoenix is that it sends you news notifications almost every day, and sometimes these notifications are not even based on your preference (because they don't collect your data).

Phoenix browser: Competitors

The Phoenix browser is specially designed for Android users, so its biggest competitor should technically be Chrome. 

However, Phoenix might have realized that competing with Chrome would be quite challenging, especially since Phoenix debuted much later than Chrome — in 2016. 

That’s why Phoenix decided to work together with Chrome, and it is now also available as an add-on to your existing Chrome account. This way, you get the best of both browsers without switching apps.

Additional benefits that come with Phoenix include faster video downloads, faster page loading, and better security.

The one thing that makes Phoenix better than Chrome and Edge is the option to opt out of data collection. While the data collected by Phoenix will strictly be used to personalize your experience and serve you better, you still have the choice to say NO to it.

However, when it comes to other browsers like Avast, Opera, Mullvad, or even Firefox, Phoenix gets a lower rank in terms of user privacy. All these browsers offer extra privacy in some way or the other — either through a built-in VPN or an antivirus. However, all that Phoenix has to offer for free is an ad-blocker.

Need a top VPN for 360-degree security? Check out our best VPN buying guide. 

Phoenix browser: Final verdict

Phoenix is a pretty decent browser. Sure, it doesn't drop jaws in any parameter, be it privacy or features, but it does a little bit of everything, which makes it the perfect solution for those looking for a comprehensive solution. 

Also, Phoenix is relatively fast and easy to use. For most average browser users, these two features make or break it.  

Now, if you have advanced expectations from your browser, features like the “No Image Mode,” “One-click Data Clear,” and “Custom-sized Screenshots” may be enough to persuade you to get Phoenix.

We've listed the best business VPN.

DuckDuckGo is the third-largest browser in terms of user base. The biggest reason people prefer DuckDuckGo over other browsers in the market is its security and privacy protocols. 

The best part is that you don't have to move your files to DuckDuckGo’s interface in order to use it — simply get DuckDuckGo as an extension to your existing browsers, such as Chrome or Edge. 

Eager to know more about DuckDuckGo, including its features, pros, and cons? Read on to find if it's the best web browser for you.

DuckDuckGo Private Browser: Features

DuckDuckGo forces almost all websites (if not all) to convert to an HTTPS version so that you can have a secure browsing experience. The best part is that forcibly converting these websites does not tamper with their functions in any way.

It comes with a built-in web and app tracker blocker that protects you from third-party software designed to collect your data for marketing purposes or leave behind any malware. 

While we don't recommend turning it off, DuckDuckGo still gives you the option to do so. However, you can choose which trackers you wish to block — lots of room for customization. 

If you want to know how safe a site is, DuckDuckGo's site rating feature will be your friend. This tool assesses the site’s privacy protocols, activity trackers, and past records to formulate a score that’ll help you decide whether or not you should visit it. 

Although the feature comes under “Site Privacy Protection,” site ratings will be available even if it's not enabled.

With DuckDuckGo, you’ll also have the option to whitelist some sites that you trust. Whitelisting implies that the trackers on such websites will be allowed to collect your data. 

Use this feature if you want your data to be used to create a more personalized experience for you.

If you want to quickly remove your search history and delete every piece of evidence of your online activities, use DuckDuckGo’s “fire” button. One click and it'll immediately burn all your saved cookies, close the tabs and remove your bookmarks. 

Say you want to exclude certain websites from this purge — use the “fireproof” option to protect your data.

Looking for a less severe way to clean your browsing history? Enable data-auto clear. This feature will wipe off your history, tabs, cookies, and other such assets after every session. 

DuckDuckGo Private Browser: Privacy

DuckDuckGo is a lot more secure than all mainstream browsers. That’s because the browser’s configuration stops sites from stealing your data, especially without your consent. Even DuckDuckGo's team members don't have permission to collect user information.

The only issue with DuckDuckGo’s privacy is that it’s not equipped to ward off new trackers — it can only stop well-known trackers that it has previously interacted with. 

However, since malicious entities these days are developing new trackers at a rapid pace, you might want to get a third-party tracker blocker.

A no-nonsense way to amp up your security is through a VPN. Get the best one for your needs by checking out our best VPN buying guide.

DuckDuckGo Private Browser: Ease of use

DuckDuckGo’s interface is a lot like Google's. The search bar is in the center of the main page with the logo on top, so it's quite impossible to miss it. 

The tabs are displayed horizontally on the top header, followed by the navigation controls that let you reload a page or move to the next.

The home page is where you'll find a report on how many trackers have been blocked in a given number of days. This will tell you how effectively DuckDuckGo is doing its job.

Just like Chrome, DuckDuckGo also allows you to add quick links to your favorite apps (the ones you visit most frequently) to get faster access. If you have already used Chrome, using DuckDuckGo will be a cakewalk for you.

DuckDuckGo Private Browser: Competitors

DuckDuckGo is nowhere close to beating Google in terms of popularity. The latter has the largest market share in the industry. However, with close to 0.75% market share, DuckDuckGo is growing at a tremendous rate and is now the third most used browser.

That said, DuckDuckGo's security and data privacy protocols are better than Chrome's. While Chrome is infamous for collecting user data and selling it to third parties, DuckDuckGo protects your data both from external parties as well as its own team members — no exceptions are made. 

Speaking of usability, DuckDuckGo is surely easier to use than Opera or Firefox. It looks a lot like Chrome and can even be added as an extension to another browser in case you don't want to learn to use a new platform. 

On the other hand, Opera, Firefox, and Avast, too, have too many options that can easily overwhelm a beginner.

However, Opera, Firefox, and Avast beat DuckDuckGo in terms of security, thanks to their in-built VPNs. Both Firefox and Opera offer free VPNs, whereas Avast is an industry leader for its antivirus and VPN, both of which come preloaded with the Avast browser.

While DuckDuckGo  does its best to protect you by keeping away trackers, it surely does not make up for the lack of a VPN.

DuckDuckGo Private Browser: Final verdict

DuckDuckGo is a must-try, especially for those very particular about the security their browser tags along with. While DuckDuckGo is not as efficient as Firefox or Opera in terms of privacy, it does the job better than Edge and Chrome.

The browser is respectful of your right to confidentiality and even prevents its own employees from collecting your data.

Also, DuckDuckGo is available on other browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Opera as an add-on. This way, you won't have to change your default browser to reap the benefits of DuckDuckGo .

We've listed the best business VPN.

Maxthon was designed to support blockchain apps and make it easier for users to access them. Released in 2002, this Chromium-based browser is compatible with Android, Linux, Windows, and macOS. Currently, it's available in 53 different languages.

The browser is best known for its rich catalog of features. It might not be as popular as Chrome or Edge, but it certainly provides features that even such market leaders can't match.

In this review, we have covered everything about Maxthon’s features, competitors, and pros and cons so that you can decide for yourself whether it's the best browser for you.

Maxthon: Features

Maxthon comes with a built-in notepad called “Maxnote” that can be used to take notes as you browse, copy information, web addresses, and images, and arrange them on different platform devices.

The Passkeeper is a password manager that helps you save passwords, usernames, and other login credentials in one click. The next time you try logging in, Maxthon will automatically offer to auto-fill the details on your behalf.

Maxthon’s most unique feature is the “Snap Screen.” This box selection tool lets you select a particular area of the screen to take a screenshot. With most other browsers, you’ll have to take a screenshot and then crop it in the gallery. However, with Maxthon, you can directly crop the desired area before taking the snapshot. If you want to capture the whole screen with a click, go for the “Snap Page” option. 

If you want to run a quick background check on certain images, videos, or music, Maxthon’s resource sniffer will be your friend. Within seconds, this feature will extract the URL of any digital asset and lead you to it. The only issue is that this feature is only available in the desktop version.

Maxthon is perhaps the only browser that lets you customize the mouse feature. Under this, you can change the mouse cursor’s color plus the meaning behind each mouse gesture.

Another benefit of using Maxthon is “Tab Grouping.” This feature lets you group tabs on similar topics together to create a more harmonious workspace. After all, if you’re working on multiple topics and have multiple tabs open, keeping track of each page without proper categorization can be challenging.

If you have a lot of tabs open at once, you can also put the inactive ones to sleep. This will prevent your system from lagging or going into overload.

Maxthon: Privacy

Maxthon, like most browsers, mentions in its privacy policy that it doesn’t disclose user data to any third party apart from certain special scenarios, such as legal cases.

Maxthon also states that it collects some amount of user data. For example, when you visit its website, it’ll collect visitor statistics such as IP addresses, usage patterns, and at what time you visit the website. Maxthon says this data is used to improve your experience and better cater to user needs.

However, if you’re uncomfortable with having your data collected, you might want to consider other options, such as DDG or Avast. Or perhaps get a VPN for added security. Read our best VPN buying guide to explore your options.

Maxthon: Ease of use

Truth be told, there are better browsers out there than Maxthon in terms of speed and security. However, its navigable interface makes it a preferable choice among users.

The main page is pretty basic. The address bar, navigation controls, and tabs are all at the page's top. Other options, such as night mode, settings, and screenshots, are all embedded in the top-right corner of the screen. 

Settings contain options to manage your tabs, auto-fill passwords, and mouse gestures. You can also create and manage browser shortcuts for frequently-visited websites, which will help you save time on a daily basis.

What’s more, your favorites, such as social media sites or OTT platforms, are displayed right under the shortcuts, giving you quick access to them.

Maxthon: Competitors

Maxthon was founded way before Chrome and Edge, which is why it enjoys a user base of over 100 million users in 140 different countries. 

As an old and experienced player in the market, Maxthon is aware of what users want, which is evident through its smart features. 

For example, it comes with a unique screen-splitting feature that gives you two interfaces to work with at the same time. This feature is a godsend for multi-tasking fans.

Another benefit of using Maxthon over Chrome and Edge is it doesn't track your behavior. It might collect basic, non-personal data such as your time and frequency of browsing, but it’ll never spy on your online activities.

Maxthon follows Edge’s footsteps to optimize speed and performance and puts inactive tabs to sleep. The logic here is quite simple — the more open tabs you have, the heavier it is on your system. But when you put inactive tabs to sleep, it’ll free up a lot of space and CPU power which can then be used to support other apps and processes.

In terms of security, Maxthon is clearly defeated by Firefox, Opera, and Avast. It neither has a built-in tracker, a free VPN, or an antivirus. Although it does its best to protect your data, it’s fair to say that the absence of such tools is a letdown.

Maxthon: Verdict

Maxthon is a good browser for those who require higher functionality. It's not the best browser in the market in terms of performance or security, but when it comes to features, Maxthon takes the cake.

For instance, it's one of the few browsers that lets you take a screenshot of a particular section of the screen. It’s also perhaps the only browser with a one-click dark mode theme option.

New and advanced features like these, mixed with standard features like a password manager and shortcut management, make it a great investment.

We've listed the best business VPN.

The Sihoo Doro-C300 Ergonomic Office Chair is a top choice - but perhaps only for those of the proper size. By this, I mean if you are a tad shorter than average, you'll still find comfort in this chair, but the lower back support will be lower to mid back support. If you're a taller individual, the lower back support will be low back and upper posterior support - but for those within the average height range, this chair is fantastic for even all-day use.

Unboxing and First Impressions

The Sihoo Doro-C300 arrived disassembled entirely, and I had to assemble everything short of weaving the fabric chair itself. I spent 45 minutes hustling to finish and built this chair from start to finish. In the box came a pair of white gloves to help keep any dirt or grime from the shipping box off of the fresh white frame and mesh.

Assembly was easy enough, with simple to follow instructions that we were able to knock out fairly quickly, with no real problems or complex parts.

Once I finished assembly, my first thoughts were quite optimistic about the chair. It looked comfortable, sleek, and quality right off the bat. 

Design and Build Quality

The Doro-C300 from Sihoo is an excellent overall ergonomic chair with a solid frame. The materials used are durable, and all are pretty comfortable - however, the armrests are the biggest downside to this chair. We like the 3D features of this armrest, allowing us to get it to the perfect spot, however, the loss for this gain is that the armrests need to be more mobile. There have been instances when I lean on the armrests to readjust my seating position or stand up, but I end up almost falling because the armrests move unexpectedly.

Outside of the love/hate relationship with the armrests, I don't have any qualms with this chair's design or build quality. The comfortable mesh material that lines the chair is breathable and is terrific for all-day comfort. I have yet to have a day of sitting in this chair that we feel fatigued or like a pressure point is being pressed in any way. I have had team members use this chair for 8-10 hour workdays with only standing up for bathroom breaks, and they have not had any issues with this chair, even for their extended use case.

In Use

For most of our team, the lower back support is a highly functional lumbar support and provides relief in all the right places. The chair's neck rest is excellent. We have tried numerous neck rests on chairs in the past that were either uncomfortable or useless, but this one is effective.

As many office chairs do, the Sihoo Doro-C300 has caster wheels on the base to make rolling the chair from place to place possible. Those are the standards these days for office and conference chairs. The caster wheels on the Doro-C300 are good overall. They may get caught up in longer carpets or rugs, but these wheels work wonderfully on short carpets or hard floors such as concrete, tile, and wood. 

Final Verdict

Overall, I did like the Sihoo Doro-C300 - at the end of the day, it's a great chair that would be an excellent option for most people. However, the one pro and con to us testing chairs all day long every day is that we have a wide range of chairs we have experience with. We have tested thproducts that cost the same as some cars and the chairs that nobody should buy and are not worth it. With all that in mind, the Sihoo Doro-C300 still sits in the outstanding category. Yes, we came down hard on the arms, but that is only one part of this chair overall. A few of our team members liked the arms, opposing the view of most of our team, but that goes to show that chairs, at a certain point, are very subjective to the user.

If you are looking for a quality chair, want a high-end chair but not the price, or are looking to outfit your office space with ergonomic chairs, check out Sihoo's Doro-C300 Ergonomic Office Chair as a great option.