Firefox Quantum vs. Google Chrome: Which browser is faster?
Firefox Quantum is here. Firefox's new web browser is the most interesting thing to happen in the browsing space in a long time, and, yes, it will let you run all the tabs you want. But there's one obstacle standing in Firefox's way to greatness, and that's Google's browsing behemoth, Chrome.
Since its debut in 2008, Chrome has cemented itself as the web browser of choice for anyone who knows better than to use the default -- a title that used to belong to Firefox. Over time, thanks to its speed and lack of bloat, Chrome made Firefox irrelevant.
Quantum aims to turn back the tide, partly by hitting Chrome where it hurts: speed. Firefox claims Quantum loads some popular websites twice as fast.
We decide to see for ourselves. We put the Quantum and Chrome to the test on a desktop computer with an Intel Core i5 2500k processor and 8GB of RAM. We recorded our test videos on a MacBook Air.
Each web browser was tested using default settings with no extensions or add-ons. Neither browser was enabled with an ad blocker or any functionality that didn't come with the original download. Browsing history, cache, and cookies were cleared beforehand. Each test was performed three times.
Ares-6 test
Ares-6 measures how quickly a browser can run new Javascript functions, including a number of mathematical functions. You can read the nitty-gritty details here.
Better browsers get lower scores.
As you can see, when it comes to the speed of complex Javascript functions, Chrome absolutely destroys Firefox.
Winner: Google Chrome
JetStream
JetStream 1.1 tests a browser's ability to run advanced web applications. It measures a number of tasks, including 3D cube rotation, integer math, and library parsing. You can see the full list here.
Better browsers get higher scores.
This time, Firefox comes out on top, but not by much. This means it's, according to JetStream, slightly better suited for "advanced workloads and programming techniques."
Winner: Firefox Quantum
Speedometer
Speedometer simulates user actions on web applications (specifically, adding items to a to-do list) and measures the time they take. Check it out for yourself here.
Better browsers get higher scores.
When it comes to user interactions in web applications, Chrome takes the day.
Winner: Google Chrome
Real-world Speed Test
Let's be honest, there's one thing you people care about, and that's how fast your tab will load. We pitted the browsers against each other in a race to load our favorite websites. See the results for yourself below.
Mashable.com:
Nytimes.com:
Nationalgeographic.com:
Cnn.com:
Amazon.com:
Chrome is the victor on National Geographic, CNN, and Mashable, with Firefox taking the lead on Amazon and The New York Times.
Winner: Google Chrome
Chrome is still the boss
Unfortunately for Mozilla, Chrome looks like it's keeping the top spot, at least for now. The only test that favors Quantum is JetStream, and that's by a hair. And in Ares-6, Quantum gets eviscerated.
In reality, however, Quantum is no slug. It's a capable, fast, and gorgeous browser with innovative bookmark functionality and a library full of creative add-ons. As Mozilla's developers fine-tune Quantum in the coming months, it's possible it could catch up to Chrome.
In the meantime, the differences in page-load time are slight at best; you probably won't notice the difference.
Topics Google Innovations
Monica wrote for Mashable's Tech section with a focus on retail, internet of things, and the intersections of technology and social justice. She holds a degree in creative writing from Brown University, and has previously written for Dow Jones Media, the New York Post, Yahoo Finance, and others. In her free time, she can be found attempting to cook Asian food, buying board games, and looking for new hobbies.
