WebKit Browsers [Still] Top HTML5 Benchmark

When we last had a look at HTML5 support in the range of mainstream browsers for the Mac, Webkit-based products dominated. Over a month later, a lot of new and updated code has been pushed out and there’s even a revised 377 (vs. 315) point testing scale — who’s benefitted and fallen in the standings?

Niels Leenheer’s The HTML5 Test is designed to be an indication of how well a browser supports the nascent HTML5 standard, though it doesn’t try to test all of the new features offered by HTML5 nor does it test actual usability of these features.

So, in essence, we’re looking at an imperfect measure of more and less imperfect implementations of the features tested — still the results are interesting and the competition is keen.

Who’s Rocking The Boat?

The biggest mover in this month’s survey is Firefox 4 beta 5, which added 45 points to its score. Google’s Chrome 7 beta and Apple’s Webkit both posted strong incremental improvements with the former earning enough to take the lead by a nose.

• Chrome 7 beta — 239 (222)

• Webkit 9/9 Build — 237 (227)

• Firefox 4 beta 5 — 235 (190)

• Chrome 6 — 233 (202)

• Opera 10.6.2 — 203 (159)

• Safari 5.0.2 — 220 (213)

• iCab 4.8 — 220 (213)

• Sunrise 2.1.5 — 220 (213)

• Firefox 3.6.9 — 145 (139)

• SeaMonkey 2.0.7 — 130 (126)

• Camino 2.0.4 — 49 (N/A)

Additionally, Chrome 6 beta and Opera 10.6.x also posted strong gains. The three mainstream Safari variants, however, hardly budged.

Thereupon, whereas last month’s survey was utterly dominated by Webkit-based browsers, Firefox 4 beta and Opera have greatly improved their scores, entering the Top 5. Kudos to Mozilla and Opera for upping their game…

What’s your take?