Opera Max (Samsung Max) alternativas

On Android you can easily see which applications are using the internet and how much data they are using. This can be seen in Settings > Use of data. It is useful both when the user connects through a Wi-Fi network as well as through a cellular network. This use of the internet not only involves data costs (important if it is a cellular connection) but also extra battery consumption.

The Android operating system itself allows you to disable or limit the use of mobile data, but it is a limited control.

Control data consumption with Opera Max

Opera Max (available to download at this link now how “Samsung Max«) Is an application that offers relatively more complete control for applications that use the internet. It not only allows you to block the internet application by application in Wi-Fi and mobile networks. It also offers a data saving system. This is important when blocking is not the solution and when the user has a limited data plan.

Updated August 14, 2017: Opera, the company behind the development of Opera Max, has just announced that it is discontinuing this application. That is, it will no longer offer any more updates and will eventually stop working. Under these paragraphs we explain the reason and the alternatives to Opera Max.

The latest version of Opera Max has an option called Blocked Applications. There you can add apps to prevent them from connecting to the internet. This control is independent for the Wifi and Mobile connection. For reference, the application indicates the data consumed by the applications up to that point.

Preventing an application like Google Chrome from connecting to the internet is not logical. A complete block is not recommended in that case, but at least Opera Max will take care of reducing the data consumption generated by that application when it connects to the internet.

That would help the user extend the life of their limited “megabyte” pack. This work of make smaller the data to consume less, it is not only done in the mobile connection but also by Wifi. In theory, this should help you navigate faster when connected to slow Wi-Fi, such as in a cafe.

Data is compressed on Opera servers, except HTTPS

To block the internet and compress the data, the Opera Max application must take full control of the internet connection. When “Connect”, the application establishes a “tunnel” or VPN connection with its servers. This is where the work of blocking the connection and reducing the data size is actually done. Not all data flows through these servers. Encrypted data (those using a secure connection) such as those handled by the Facebook application are not captured by Opera Max. File downloads and updates from Google Play are not compressed either.

Applications like Opera Max are used to block the advertising that exists in certain applications (which requires the internet). It is a combination between Firewall No Root (blocking the internet to applications) and Onavo Extend (reduce data usage). It would be good if in the future it integrated an option to choose to block the data in the foreground (when the user is viewing the application). Also in the background (when the user is not viewing the application) both over Wi-Fi and over mobile networks.

You probably don’t need to use it if you just want to save data when browsing the internet. Browsers such as Google Chrome or Opera itself already have a system similar to that of Opera Max incorporated.

Opera Max will stop working

Unfortunately, Opera just announced the end of Opera Max. As he explained, the reason is that the application had a “substantially different value proposition to the products that Opera develops” and had a “different approach”. Now the company says it will “focus on its browsers and upcoming products.”

You have explicitly stated that there will be no more updates for Opera Max from now on. It says that it has removed the application from the Google Play Store, although right now I still find it available. You have to be careful of the possible copies that appear in the Play Store after the disappearance of this app. The original creator of Opera Max is Opera, but on Google Play they have named themselves “Max Apps” as the developer.

Those who have the application installed or those who from now on download the APK from somewhere else to install it, should not harbor hope either. Opera has indicated that in the short term it will disconnect the servers in charge of carrying out the data compression that Opera Max does. This will be previously notified to users. Basically, the application will be unusable from that moment.

Alternativas a Opera Max

Data saving option in Google Chrome for Android

Unfortunately, Opera Max is a unique application. Currently there are no applications that perform the same function. However, strictly for browsing the Internet, you can use Google Chrome with data saving enabled. You can also use the same Opera browser, which has a similar feature called Opera Turbo.

Onavo Extend, which was the ideal alternative to Opera Max, with identical functionality, unfortunately it no longer exists. The creators of Onavo had another app on Google Play called Onavo Spaceship that also unfortunately disappeared, although it only had part of Opera Max’s functionality of blocking data in the background, exclusive use of WiFi, alerts when consumption reaches a certain limit and VPN functionality.

Other apps similar to Opera Max

There are other related applications that can also help you save data. For example, you can install a data monitor, like 3G Watchdog O My Data Manager. In these apps you will be able to see the consumption per application in detail and receive alerts when preset limits are exceeded. NetGuard serves to block the internet to applications individually and under certain conditions.

Opera Max used a VPN connection to its servers, which is where data was compressed. But that VPN also provided a secure connection. The alternative to that is another app from the same company, called Opera VPN. Not only does it secure your connection but it also allows you to pretend that you are connecting from another country. This is commonly used to access services that are blocked in certain regions. Nothing has been mentioned about the future of Opera VPN. Hopefully it doesn’t end up like Opera Max. If you are going to download opera VPN from Google Play, make sure the name of the developer is “OSL networks”. The developer is supposed to be Opera, but for some reason they have used this name.

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