Do Opera and Opera Mini for Android 5 still Receive Security Updates?

[Eggcorn]

Eggcorn last edited by

I have an Android 5 tablet, and I installed Opera and Opera Mini via the Google Play store. But I can't tell if those browsers are up-to-date, I know Google Play gave me an outdated version of Chrome.

My question is: Are Opera and Opera Mini for Android 5 still receiving updates, most importantly, security updates?

[sgunhouse]

sgunhouse Moderator Volunteer @Eggcorn last edited by

@eggcorn Easiest way to find out ... what version does it say you have?

[sgunhouse]

sgunhouse Moderator Volunteer @sgunhouse last edited by

@sgunhouse Just checked, mine says 69.3 (couldn't copy the version number so I couldn't post the rest).

[Eggcorn]

Eggcorn @sgunhouse last edited by

@sgunhouse

Opera Mini: 63.0.2254.62069

Opera: 66.2.3445.62346

[sgunhouse]

sgunhouse Moderator Volunteer @Eggcorn last edited by

@eggcorn I don't use Mini, can't say about that, but looks like Opera for Android isn't updating.

[Eggcorn]

Eggcorn @sgunhouse last edited by Eggcorn

@sgunhouse My Opera is 66, yours is 69. Either you misread a 6 as a 9, or my Opera is an older version than yours.

But my Opera could still be receiving security updates, just not feature updates.

[leocg]

leocg Moderator Volunteer @Eggcorn last edited by

@eggcorn Current version of Opera for Android Beta is 70, so I guess stable one should be 69.
Opera Mini beta is 63.

[Eggcorn]

Eggcorn @leocg last edited by

@leocg said in Do Opera and Opera Mini for Android 5 still Receive Security Updates?:

Opera Mini beta is 63.

My non-beta Opera Mini is also 63. Seems Opera Mini still gets updates on Android 5.

[Eggcorn]

Eggcorn last edited by

I did some more digging. I can confirm that Android 5 (or at least, my Android 5 tablet) runs the latest version of Opera Mini. It runs 63.0.2254.62069 , the latest version according to APK Mirror.

Unfortunately, the same can not be said for plain Opera. Google Play gave version 66.2.3445.62346, released in December 2021, which seems to be the latest version available on Android 5.

Other editions of Opera (such as GX) do not even appear in my Google Play store. Presumably, this means that even outdated versions of those Operas are incompatible with Android 5.

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Bottom line: If you browse the Internet on Android 5 (or Fire OS 5), do not use plain Opera! Use a browser that still gets security updates, such as Opera Mini.

With one caveat: It's possible that by the time you read this, Opera Mini will no longer be getting updates on Android 5.

So go to the Google Play app (not the website) on your Android 5 computer, and lookup Opera Mini. Check the "Last updated" date (in the "What's new" section). If Opera Mini hasn't been updated for a few months: It's probably time to get a new tablet, because you probably won't find a browser that's still getting updates.

[Eggcorn]

Eggcorn last edited by

I'd like to thank Opera for keeping Opera Mini updated on Android 5. Android 5 isn't as outdated as you might think: My 2017 Fire tablet has Android 5, and will get security updates until at least 2024. Yet few browsers are updated on Android 5 anymore, I'm glad Opera Mini's one of them.

However, it's dangerous that plain Opera is available on the Android 5 Google Play store despite no longer receiving security updates! Vivaldi, Edge, and Brave, which are no longer updated on Android 5, do not show in the Android 5 app store. I strongly urge the Opera company to remove plain Opera from the Android 5 app store. Alliteratively: Program plain Opera to warn Android 5 users of the security risks, and recommend switching to Opera Mini.