It’s taken the large web browser makers a while, however they are here now. “Firefox 4” for Android exited beta in March, “Opera Mobile” has been available for many months already – plus there are odd, boutique options from upstarts like Dolphin, Skyfire and more.

Here we’ll tell you the most popular alternative Android web browsers, giving you a couple of pointers as to whether that it is worth the hassle of switching everything over to a different system.

We’re using an HTC Desire running Android 2.2 as our benchmark phone for all speed observations and performance tests – so results at the end will obviously vary based on what hardware you’re using.

The SunSpider JavaScript performance test is here to give you a general idea of overall performance, as a browser’s speed is just as fast as your internet connection and the site you’re using.

But hopefully these results will give a good outline of the pros, cons and features on offer from the alternate Android browsers on the market. Sadly, Internet Explorer fans are at a complete loss.

Opera Mobile Web Browser

Version 11 of Opera’s Android internet browser launched earlier this year, bringing a remarkably fast web experience with it. The browser now supports Adobe’s Flash Player add-on as well, with the choice to only load Flash content whenever you tap the waiting icon to keep things flowing extra-fast.

There’s also an option to activate the same server-side compression system found in the company’s Opera Mini browser, if you’re using a slower phone or suffering from a fixed data allowance.

Browser windows are handled by a very user-friendly pop-up tab list, and it’s by far the quickest browser on test when it comes to zooming, loading and scrolling pages.

Dolphin Browser HD

Tab handling is extremely nice in “Dolphin Browser“, using the standard desktop browser system of getting a visible collection of tabs across the top of the screen. İt was the only browser that crashed during our test process, even though it did at least offer to reopen the tabs it last had open upon reboot.

You’re prompted to determine if you would like Flash content always on or loaded at will when first installing the application, plus custom settings let you alter the function of the volume key – using it to scroll pages or even switch tabs.

Dolphin is one for the tinkerers, especially as the default colour is a rather unfortunate green which necessitates the immediate installing of a new theme. It also prompts you to pay off the cache and history upon exit, if you wish. Which might please certain special interest users.

Skyfire 4.0

Skyfire is a very busy browser with tabs and buttons all over the place and numerous added features. Quite the opposite of the standard Android Webkit option – but its pop-up Flash content window is actually a life-saver for those on phones that don’t officially support Flash content. It converts Flash video content on the Skyfire server, after which beams it to non-Flash phones.

You additionally get custom tabs that pull in popular pages and may link to your Twitter and facebook profiles, plus its own custom ‘Keep Screen On’ setting that overrides Android’s defaults.

If you’ve got a phone with a big screen so there’s room for website internet pages between its many icons, Skyfire 4.0′s advanced functionality is a winner for social media users.

Firefox 4 for Android

Mozilla has finally released the official version of Firefox 4 for Android App, after many months of beta testing. The end result is a feature-packed browser that takes many functions from the desktop tool.

Compatibility with Mozilla’s cross-platform bookmark, background and password syncing tools makes this the ideal choice for people who haven’t embraced the app world and demand a complicated browser on their mobiles.

Sadly there’s no Flash Player support in Firefox 4 for Android right now, but if you only crave speed and desktop-like features rather than videos of fat people dancing, it is a good alternative.

Webkit 2.2

Also known as The normal One Google Puts On The Phone. The default Android browser’s strength is its compatibility with Adobe’s Flash Player – while you are on Android 2.2 or above and have a phone deemed powerful enough to run it.

The number of settings to play with has increased with each Android update, with the browser now featuring the ability to switch off pictures, JavaScript or Flash to save data, plus password and form data management options to help stay secure. Sadly there aren’t any bookmark sync or management options, which seems odd as that’s one area where Google’s Chrome desktop internet browser excels.

The amount of settings to play with has grown with each Android upgrade, with the web browser now featuring the ability to turn off images, JavaScript or Flash to save data, plus password and form data management options to help stay secure. Sadly there are no bookmark sync or management options, which seems odd as that’s one area where Google’s Chrome desktop browser excels.

Miren Browser 1.2

The Chinese-made Miren Browser is an odd little wildcard, offering a clean, Apple-inspired design that’s focused around a desktop-like tab system. It has some crazy options to enjoy, just like its own in-built lighting setting slider, volume level button page scrolling and a simple gesture navigation system

Miren Browser was the slowest in the SunSpider test scores and not the perfect at manipulating pages via multi-touch zooming, but it features a nice floating icon system that puts back and stop/reload over the corners of the webpages, freeing up extra screen space. It’s a quirky one for the outsiders who don’t play by the guidelines.

The best Android web browser is…

For high-powered phones, the Opera Mobile browser is definitely the fastest at manipulating pages. It’s so comically fast at scrolling and zooming that you start doing it just for fun.

If you’re running a tablet, it is best sticking with the Google android standard Webkit option for now. None of these browsers feature specific tablet optimisations, so think before yourself with the hassle of changing sides just yet