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A Comparison of Opera Mobile and Opera Mini

How Opera Mobile Compares to Opera Mini as a Mobile Browser

By Daniel Nations Daniel Nations Writer University of Texas at Arlington Daniel Nations has been a tech journalist since 1994. His work has appeared in Computer Currents, The Examiner, and other publications. He is a developer who has published apps in the Apple App Store, Google Play marketplace and Amazon Appstore; he also has worked as a data analyst and DB administrator. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on September 11, 2020 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email

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Expand Jump to a Section Performance Interface Security Final Verdict If you're a fan of the Opera web browser and would like the same functionality on your phone or mobile device, you have a choice between Opera Mobile and Opera Mini. Which is the right one for you? Opera Mobile is designed for smartphones, tablets, and PDAs. It is a strong browser with plenty of features and supports secure websites. Opera Mini is a pared down version of the Opera Mobile browser, but it does have some advantages over Opera Mobile, and some users prefer it. Lifewire Opera Mobile More fully featured than Mini. Slower performance but more secure. User-friendly. Opera Mini Pared down version of Opera Mobile. Compressed pages make for faster performance. Not ideal for secured sites.

Performance Mini Means Speed

Opera Mobile Consumes more hard drive space. Includes option to save data via compressed technology but is not on by default. Opera Mini Compressed pages improves performance by saving data, which can make some web pages load faster than on other web browsers. Opera Mini works by sending a request to the Opera Servers which, in turn, downloads the page, compresses it, and sends it back to the browser. Because the pages are being compressed before they are transmitted, this can lead to increased performance, which makes some web pages load faster than on other web browsers. Along with compressing the pages, the Opera Servers also optimize them for display on mobile screens. This means that some pages will look better on the Opera Mini browser than on the Opera Mobile or other full-fledged web browsers.

Interface Opera Mobile Is More User-Friendly

Opera Mobile More complicated but detailed zoom function. Opera Mini Somewhat more cluttered interface. Opera Mobile makes navigating the web easy with an interface that features standards from desktop browsers like buttons for going back one site or forward one site and a refresh button, though we wouldn't mind seeing the refresh button replaced with a favorites button. Favorites are accessed through the action menu, which also allows you to bookmark a page, go to your homepage, and go to the top of the current page. Opera Mobile also allows you to open multiple windows, so you can flip back and forth between pages. While viewing a page, you can use the menu to zoom into a page up to 200% or zoom out until the page is 25% of its original size, which is enough that most pages will fit as much content on your mobile screen as they would on your desktop screen, though text becomes unreadable at that size. While Opera Mobile browser has options for zooming, the Opera Mini has a simpler interface. There are only two phases—regular and zoomed in—but you are able to toggle between them with a simple tap, which makes it much easier to use.

Security Mobile Better for Secured Sites

Opera Mobile Better choice for secured websites and data. Opera Mini Encryption tech makes Mini less suited for secure websites. Opera Mobile supports secured web pages, whereas Opera Mini isn't the best browser for secure sites. The high memory version of Opera Mini will support encrypted pages, but because all websites are loaded through the Opera servers, the page will be decrypted and then re-encrypted. Opera Mini will load encrypted pages, but they will be decrypted.

Final Verdict Depends on Your Preference

Opera Mobile or Opera Mini? Ultimately, the choice comes down to preference. If you go to secured sites on a regular basis or really like the ability to open multiple windows in your browser, Opera Mobile might be the best choice. On the other hand, Opera Mini's easy zooming features make browsing non-mobile websites a breeze. If you don't need the multiple windows and don't go to many secured websites, Opera Mini might be better for you. Finally, like many others, you can decide not to choose at all. Many people like having both the Opera Mobile and Opera Mini browsers installed on their mobile device. Simply put, Opera Mobile is good for doing some tasks, while Opera Mini is good for others, so the best of both worlds is to install both. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Use Opera Mini for iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch How to Fix a Connection-Is-Not Private Error Is Microsoft Word Free? Yes, It Can Be Opera vs. Google Chrome The Top 10 Internet Browsers for 2022 What's the Best Mobile Web Browser? How to Clear Cookies for a Specific Site How to Disable Images in the Opera Web Browser What Is the Google Chrome Browser? How to Use the PS4 Web Browser How to Disable JavaScript in Google Chrome What Is the Opera Browser? How to Clear Internet Cache in Every Major Browser Home Pages: What Are They? How to Use Firefox's Privacy and Security Features How to Save Web Pages in the Opera Desktop Browser Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies