Use firefox and simply deal with the slightly slower app?

I find configuring an ad blocking private dns over https DOH in Firefox much faster and efficient compared to other methods. Firefox Extensions and VPN add unnecessary over head.

If interested, the steps are documented in my notes - https://abskmj.github.io/notes/posts/android/firefox-dns-https/

Personally I use my own selfhosted AdGuard Home instance, configured on my phone as the private DNS server, therefor connecting via encrypted DOT. I've also got this server configured as the DNS on my home network router, meaning every and any device in the network profits from the adblocking, no matter how the respective DNS is configured. If you dont want to mess around with linux, docker and selfhosting in general, NextDNS seems to be a very valuable option as well. In any case, this is a lot more efficient than having an adblocking extension in your browser, since AGH/NDNS will also block ads and tracker in any other app that isn't Firefox.

If you don't mind paying, Blokada has a "cloud" subscription. You set your DNS settings on the phone to what they give you, turn it on in the app once, then it runs without using the VPN method.

I use it because, even though it's another God damn subscription, it seems to work better for me and now I don't have to think about it.

personalDNSFilter for whole phone adblocking.

I'm in a restricted country and my phone is not rooted, so if I use ad block apps like AdAway or Adgaurd they need to create a VPN connection in order to function unless the phone is rooted, and that VPN connection doesn't let me to enable another VPN in order to visit filtered websites or apps.

Ultimately, I think rooting is the way to go, but only if you have a device with a decent XDA thread guide and support. If you choose not to root, Adguard has their own VPN service integrated if you wanted to pay for that (haven't tried), or else you can add your own proxy servers through the app – so you can add individual server IPs for (say) Nord and connect to them while still using Adguard in VPN mode.

Im not very familiar with Opera but do you have the "Allow Acceptable Ads™" setting still on?

Edit: I just used an ad block testing site with Allow Acceptable Ads turned off and tracker blocking and the score it got is about the same as firefox mobile with ublock

Setting up a PiHole is a method that should work. Costs a bit if you don't already have something to host it on.

I recommend cromite's (fork of bromite) adblocking. It works well and I don't see ads (at least the big ones, maybe I overlooked some smaller ones)

And that is the reason why I'm rooted and you should be to. Also if you want to add firewall into combination with vpn and adblock, there is definitely no other way.

Iceraven

I use the Samsung browser with the Adguard plug-in, which works great with customizable filter lists.

Samsung browser: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sec.android.app.sbrowser
Adguard for samsung browser: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.adguard.android.contentblocker

firefox beta with ublock.
if you use beta, you can install any extensions by adding them to an AMO extension collection.

also make sure to get some sort of dns ad blocker for blocking in-app ads/trackers and vendor tracking:
you have three options:

• Self-hosted: Pihole
• Cloud: NextDNS (this is what I'm using)
• Local: AdAway (drains battery unless you have root)

Get Firefox from https://github.com/Tobi823/ffupdater then its fast