Firefox Lite is dead: development has ended

Firefox Lite, a mobile version of the Firefox web browser designed specifically for Asia, won't receive any updates anymore after June 30, 2021.

Developed by Mozilla Taiwan, Firefox Lite was released in 2018 for Google's Android operating system. The browser was designed for Asian markets, not included on Google Play, but was not region-locked either. Anyone with access to the APK file could install it on a compatible Android device.

Firefox Lite was based on Chromium WebView, and not on Mozilla's own rendering engine; this set it apart from Firefox for Android but also from many Chromium-based browsers for Android, as one focus of development was privacy.

The web browser came with a Turbo Mode that blocked known trackers and advertising, options to block the loading of images, and also a component that highlighted coupons on specific sites.

Our only review of Firefox Lite dates back to 2019 when Firefox Lite 2.0 was released.

Mozilla laid off 250 employees in 2020 as part of a restructuring of the organization. Active Firefox Lite development ended and development switched over to maintenance mode. Mozilla did release patches for the mobile browser in that time that focused on security fixes.

A recent SUMO overview on Mozilla's website confirms the end of Firefox Lite. The browser was sunset on June 1, 2021, and will be abandoned on June 30, 2021. Firefox Lite won't receive any updates, security or otherwise, after June 30, 2021 anymore.

Mozilla recommends that users switch to the new version of its Firefox web browser for Android.

Firefox for Android offers a different experience, since it is not based on Chromium WebView. Some features can be added by installing extensions, e.g. to block advertisement or prevent tracking, but others may not be supported by Firefox for Android. Most Chromium-based browsers don't support extensions at all, on the other hand.

Closing Words

Mozilla maintains two main browsers for Android currently, even after the abandoning of Firefox Lite. There is the main Firefox web browser for Android and Firefox Focus/Klar. The classic Firefox web browser for Android is not supported anymore, just like Firefox Lite.

Now You: which mobile browser do you use? (via Sören Hentzschel)

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