Question

<style type="text/css">
    .hidden-image-container {
        display: none;
    }
</style>
<div class="hidden-image-container">
   <img src="lulcats.png" />
</div>

I’m mainly interested in what mobile browsers make the optimization of not downloading an image that’s in a hidden container.

This would allow me to signficantly reduce initial download time.

Related reference question about loading images across devices

Answer 1

Someone has tested this before:

http://www.w3.org/2009/03/image-display-none/test.php

Edit:
Looks like the list does not contain many mobile browsers (yet).