While Google Chrome has been the undisputed default on Android, its growing reputation as a resource-heavy RAM hog is becoming harder to ignore.
After noticing my background apps constantly closing and my mobile browsing feeling sluggish, I finally did the unthinkable: I disabled Chrome entirely.
I made the switch to Via, a minimalist lightning-fast browser that packs an incredible amount of power into a sub-5MB package.
I didn’t just save storage space; I cut my RAM usage considerably and rediscovered what ‘instant’ browsing actually feels like.
The problem with Chrome’s invisible bloat
When I checked my Chrome app information, I was shocked to see it sitting there taking up a major chunk of storage.
It’s not just the app itself. It’s the mountain of cache, user data, and pre-fetched content that Google insists on storing to make the web feel faster.
Beyond the technical specs, there is the UI bloat. Every time I opened a new tab to quickly search for something, I was met with the Discover feed — a cluttered mess of clickbait headlines and suggested content that I already consume from the home screen.
It consumes data and processing power to load those thumbnails, and it consumes my attention when I’m just trying to get work done.
Chrome has stopped being a simple window to the internet and has turned into a heavy, noisy platform that prioritizes Google’s services over my phone’s efficiency.
Why Via is the solution
There is no shortage of third-party browsers on the Play Store. However, most of them felt heavy and bloated.
For someone like me, who values a lean, optimized setup, finding and launching Via for the first time was a genuine lightbulb moment.
The first thing that blew my mind was the file size. We live in an era where lite apps are 50MB and standard browsers are 100MB+, yet Via sits well under 5MB.
It’s so small that it downloads and installs in the blink of an eye. It’s an ideal fit for a low-powered Android phone, too.
When I open Via, it doesn’t greet me with a Discover feed, trending news, or a wall of sponsored shortcuts. It’s pure white space with a standard bottom bar for easy access (unlike Chrome’s top menu) and a search menu.
It respects my attention by staying out of the way until I actually type something into the bar. It’s why the app feels so snappy.
There are no background services pinging servers or pre-loading ads I don’t want to see. It’s just me and the web.
Via is packed with customization options
When I first opened Via, it looked almost too basic with just a search bar and a vast expanse of white space.
It looks like a lightweight utility on the surface, but underneath, it offers more control than Chrome ever has.
I headed into the Settings and spent a good 10 minutes just tweaking the start page.
I swapped out the default icon for a custom search logo, changed the search bar style to fit my aesthetic, and even uploaded a custom background image that makes the app feel like a premium part of my phone’s theme.
One of the biggest issues with mobile browsers is that websites don’t support a native dark theme. I toggled on the Dark mode in Via, and it’s been a game-changer.
It inverts colors on every single website I visit and makes late-night reading on my Google Pixel so much easier on my eyes.
Via doesn’t try to force a Google-approved layout on you. Instead, it gives you the customization keys to make it truly yours.
Via nails the basics and more
Via has covered all the basics you would expect from a modern Android browser in 2026.
There is a bottom navigation bar to access all the features instantly, it uses less RAM, and it renders web pages quickly.
There is even a built-in ad-blocking feature and an option to block images on web pages. It’s a lifesaver when I’m on a weak connection or just want to burn through text without the distraction of massive high-res photos.
The reader mode is also quite customizable (from settings) and strips away all the unnecessary elements with a single tap.
Read Aloud is another hidden gem. If I’m doing chores or out for a walk, I can have Via read an article to me without natural-sounding text-to-speech.
You can also create an account to sync your history, bookmarks, passwords, and more across devices.
However, it lacks a desktop version, which is a bummer for many professionals.
Beyond Chrome
Overall, switching to Via proved that a mobile browser doesn’t need to be resource-heavy to be functional.
By stripping away news feed, sponsored junk, and unnecessary AI add-ons, Via has turned my daily browsing from a sluggish chore into a lightning-fast experience that respects my device’s RAM.
If you are tired of your background apps constantly reloading or your phone heating up over a few open tabs, do yourself a favor: disable the default and give this tiny powerhouse a week on your home screen.
While you are at it, check out other productivity apps that deserve a place in your app drawer.
