We live in a world where technology and its several other features have become tremendously advanced hitherto and are indefinitely going to introduce even more progressions in upcoming years.
Web browsers and search engines have made it so convenient for humans to search about anything and everything by just typing the words and clicking the search option.
There are several web browsers with their independent designs, compositions and versions. Two of such web browsers are 1. Opera, and 2. Opera Mini.
Key Takeaways
- Opera is a web browser available for desktop and mobile devices and offers various features such as VPN, ad-blocker, and customizable themes.
- Opera Mini is a lightweight version of the Opera browser optimized for low-end devices and slow internet connections and provides features such as data compression and faster browsing speed.
- While Opera is more feature-rich and suitable for high-end devices, Opera Mini is ideal for low-end devices and slow internet connections.
Opera vs Opera Mini
Opera is a web browser developed by Opera Software in 1995. In 1998, developers started working on the development of opera for mobile phones. There are different versions of opera. Opera provides multiple features. Opera Mini is a web browser for mobile phones. It was developed by Opera Software AS in 2005.
Opera software developed a Chromium-based, multi-platform web browser on 10 April 1995, which is known as Opera. Opera is available to people in 42 languages and has a freeware license. Linux, Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DSi are their operating systems.
It took nearly a year for Jon Stephenson von Tetzchner and Geir Ivarsoy to completion of the browser. For the initial ten years since its release, Opera was considered commercial software.
On 10 August 2005, Opera Software AS developed a mobile web browser which is known as opera mini. Its derivation was made for the Java ME platform, but now it is also available for Android.
Android, iOS, Windows 10 Mobile, Windows Phone 8.1, BlackBerry and Symbian are its operating systems. The Opera mini web browser is available to people in 90 languages. As of March 2012, opera mini had nearly 168.8 million users.
The original purpose of creating opera mini was to use it on mobile phones that are not able to run a traditional web browser.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Opera | Opera Mini |
|---|---|---|
| Released on | 10 April 1995 | 10 August 2005 |
| Written in | C++ | C++, Java, Pike |
| No. Of languages | 42 | 90 |
| Operating systems | Linux, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DSi, Android, Microsoft Windows, macOS, MS-DOS, QNX, Solaris, OS/2, BeOS, FreeBSD | Android, iOS, Windows 10 Mobile, Windows Phone 8.1, BlackBerry, Symbian |
| Engine | Blink | Extreme/mini mode |
| Developers | Opera Software, Otello Corporation, Opera Limited | Opera Software AS |
What is Opera?
Opera software developed a Chromium-based, multi-platform web browser on 10 April 1995, which is known as Opera. Jon Stephenson von Tetzchner and Geir Ivarsoy started the work in the year 1994.
They did so while working at a telecommunications company in Norway. Initially, it was released as commercial software.
The development of Opera’s first web browser for mobile phone platforms began in the year 1998.
Several versions of the browser have been introduced until now to the world, and each version was a more developed one than its previous version and also resolved the drawbacks that existed in its previous version.
The features of Opera include built-in messengers, usability and accessibility, privacy and security, crypto wallet support etc. Opera announced its feature of having a cryptocurrency wallet in the year 2018.
It also includes features like the bookmarks bar, download manager, and speed dial and also was one of the first browsers to support cascading style sheets.
Built-in messengers in Opera include WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, Twitter, Telegram and Vkontakte. Opera GX is another version of Opera that is gaming-oriented. Today, Opera is one of the top 5 browsers with maximum use worldwide, and as of April 2021, it had 320 million users.
What is Opera Mini?
On 10 August 2005, Opera Software AS developed a mobile web browser which is known as opera mini. It is written in programming languages like C++, Java and Pike and is available to people in 90 languages. It is a derivation of the Opera web browser.
The original purpose of creating opera mini was to use it on mobile phones that are not able to run a traditional web browser.
In countries like Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland, a beta version of opera mini was introduced on 20th October 2005. The official global release of the browser took place on 24 January 2006.
Opera mini 2.0, a version of opera mini, was released on 3 May 2006, including new advanced features like files download, new custom skins, speed dial, search engine option on the search bar, improved navigation etc.
The opera mini 3 beta version was capable of features like RSS feeds, safe browsing, photo posting and content folding. It was introduced on 1 November 2006.
The opera mini 4 was able to provide features like viewing web pages, overview and zoom options, synchronization with the Opera web browser etc.
Later on, on 16 August 2009, the opera mini 5.0 beta version was introduced, which included even advanced features like tabbed browsing, password management, touchscreen support, a new interface etc.
The opera mini was introduced in iPhones by means of an iPhone version on 13 April 2010. The tasks carried out in Opera Mini take place much faster because of its various features.
Main Differences Between Opera and Opera Mini
- The Opera web browser is available to users in 42 languages. On the other hand, the opera mini is available to users in 90 languages.
- The Opera web browser was released before the Opera mini. Opera was released on 10 April 1995. On the other hand, the opera mini was released on 10 August 2005.
- The Opera web browser uses more hard drive space. On the other hand, opera mini occupies less hard drive space.
- The Opera Mini has a rather disorganized interface. On the other hand, the Opera web browser has a detailed zoom function.
- The Opera web browser is a fully-fledged browser version. On the other hand, the opera mini is the derivation or, rather, the cropped version of the Opera web browser.
- The Opera web browser is a user-friendly browser. On the other hand, the opera mini is not ideal for secured sites.
Last Updated : 16 June, 2023
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Sandeep Bhandari holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computers from Thapar University (2006). He has 20 years of experience in the technology field. He has a keen interest in various technical fields, including database systems, computer networks, and programming. You can read more about him on his bio page.
Opera and Opera Mini’s features are extremely advanced and will only continue to progress in the future.
I completely agree with you. It’s amazing to see how technology is constantly evolving.
The expansion of Opera Mini’s availability to 90 languages indicates its global reach and accessibility.
This level of localization is essential for serving diverse user communities around the world.
The progression and distinct features of Opera’s browsers highlight the relentless innovation in the technology sector.
With over 320 million users, Opera has carved its place among the top 5 browsers in the world.
It’s impressive to see such widespread adoption of Opera’s browsers.
However, the competition in the browser market is fierce, and Opera must continue to innovate to maintain its position.
The multi-platform support for Opera and Opera Mini makes them versatile choices for users across different devices.
Let’s hope they can keep up with the rapidly evolving technological landscape.
Indeed, the cross-platform compatibility is a significant advantage for Opera’s browsers.
Opera’s cryptocurrency wallet feature and support for other built-in messengers are unique in the browsing world.
These features definitely set Opera apart from other browsers and offer added convenience for users.
Opera seems to be more suitable for high-end devices, while Opera Mini is perfect for low-end devices and slow internet connections.
Yes, it’s great how they cater to different needs based on device capabilities.
Opera and Opera Mini have unique features, making them suitable for different types of users and devices.
I’m not convinced that Opera Mini can fully replace the functionality of Opera on high-end devices.
I think it’s impressive how they’ve managed to optimize Opera Mini for low-end devices.
The details about Opera’s development and the early versions are quite fascinating.
It’s incredible to see how far these browsers have come since their inception.
Who would’ve thought that Opera Mini would become so successful considering its original purpose?
The comparison table provides a clear overview of the differences between Opera and Opera Mini.
I believe Opera’s longevity in the industry speaks to its reliability and performance.
Yes, it’s a useful reference for understanding which browser is more suitable for specific use cases.