When comparing Opera Mini vs GNU IceCat, the Slant community recommends GNU IceCat for most people. In the question“What are the best Android web browsers?” GNU IceCat is ranked 1st while Opera Mini is ranked 16th.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Completely free
Pro Very light weight
Great for phones with lower RAM or performance issues.
Pro Has built-in ad blocker
Pro Has a data saver
Opera mini's data saver has two modes - regular and extreme. great for people with smaller data plans when not on wifi. Has also the ability to control the quality of downloaded images and some video optimizations.
Pro Optimized for Facebook
Pro All the benefits of Firefox, but with 100% free software
Pro LibreJS
LibreJS blocks proprietary JavaScript code, ensuring your user freedom.
Pro Protects your freedom, certified free by the FSF
Pro Extra security and privacy features
Pro Made by idealists
It is part of the GNU Project.
Pro No spyware
Pro Https-Everywhere by default
Pro SpyBlock
Blocks privacy trackers.
Cons
Con Doesn't support some common modern browsers functionalities
Some web pages might look a bit broken but from personal experience it doesn't happen often enough (or at all) to be a major issue.
Con Many bugs
In extreme data saving mode, it sometimes won't load page correctly.
Con Has issues while playing video
It will crash when you are playing video.
Con Too much bloat
The browser comes with 15 addons installed by default, most of which are useless or ruin one's browsing experience.
Con Mainly just an old Firefox
It is mainly a renamend older version of Firefox that comes preinstalled with some extensions.
Con Not up to date
Latest binary is still version 60.7 ESR and was last updated over a year ago
Con Requires too much unnecessary configuration to use
You have to manually delete all the bloated addons from your files (only for them to show up again when the browser is updated) and manually install some addons and themes that the browser labels as "corrupt".
Con Very slow boot time
It takes 10+ seconds for the browser to load up
Con Can't install some Firefox themes/addons
"Installation aborted because the addon appears to be corrupt".
Con Includes LibreJS by default with no way to remove it
Con Very slow boot time
It takes 10+ seconds for the browser to load up
Con Dependent on Mozilla
Since IceCat is based off Firefox, it's dependent on all of Mozilla's decisions.
Con Made by idealists
It is part of the GNU Project.