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Best Android Launchers: We Tested Google Play’s Finest, So You Don’t Have To

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Best Android Launchers: We Tested Google Play’s Finest, So You Don’t Have To

You don’t have to put up with Samsung, Sony and HTC’s bespoke Android overlays… You CAN get a launcher. And THESE are the best


Reviews

The great thing about Android (as opposed to, say, iOS) is the level of control and customization you have across the OS. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a lot to be said for a clean, consistent, and beautiful interface like Apple provides, but it’s also nice to mix things up from time to time. And the most radical way you can customize your experience on Android, of course, is by installing a new Launcher.

The Launcher on Android is generally referred to as the start or home screen where you interact with your apps and widgets. While the stock and custom launchers (like Samsung’s) pre-installed on Android devices will suffice for most users we’ve compiled a list of the top ten coolest third-party launchers in case you want to mix it up a bit.

Buzz Launcher (free)

Buzz is one of the simpler launchers on this list, but it’s also one of the most visually customizable. Matter of fact, the biggest feature of Buzz is that it not only allows you to change the look of your launcher, it also comes with over 500,000 downloadable themes and widgets that allows you to radically alter the look of everything on your device. 

If you want to make everything look art deco on your Android, Buzz is how you do it. Want to make your icons look like books on a bookshelf? Buzz is the way to go. It’s also got some simplified gesture navigations that are an added plus.

EverythingMe Launcher (free)

The concept behind EverythingMe is that a launcher should learn about you and rearrange itself to meet your current needs.

The creators say the algorithms in EverythingMe combine, “machine learning, statistical modeling, and domain knowledge expertise to identify specific life scenarios”, which in turn allows the launcher to know what you’re doing, where you are and the most likely apps you’ll need at any given moment. EverythingMe then presents suggest apps and folders full of apps to you throughout the day. It’s also got a great minimalist design.

GO Launcher EX (free) 

GO Launcher EX made this list simply for the way it looks. I think it’s probably one of the most beautiful Android launchers I’ve ever seen–thanks to the new UI and UX in version 5. Matter of fact, I think a lot of users feel that way. GO Launcher EX has been downloaded over 200 million times. GO includes over 10,000 themes, 25 slick animated transitions, and 15 free widgets. It’s also got some great gestures that allow you to launch individual apps. 

Next Launcher 3D Shell (£5) 

Next Launcher 3D Shell is the only paid launcher on this list, but it made it because it’s a launcher with guts, I tell you, guts! That’s because this launcher allows you to operate in 3D space. It has beautiful interactive 3D graphics and transitions.

Next looks like the launcher that was created by Hollywood graphic designers solely to look cool for a five second spot in a movie. But while the launcher gets major props for its “wow” factor be aware, using it will likely chew through your battery life; there’s a lot of GPU intensive stuff going on inside it. 

Nova Launcher (free)

Getting back down to earth, Nova Launcher is a more practical launcher that will appeal to those Android users who don’t like to stray too far from the default launchers installed on their devices. That’s not to say Nova isn’t highly customizable; it just looks like a “typical” launcher more than some of the previous ones in this list do.

Some excellent features of Nova include a scrollable dock, infinite scroll of home screen pages (they loop back on one another), and (thanks Nova) the ability to backup and restore all the customizations you’ve made to the launcher should you need to restore your phone. 

Smart Launcher 2 (free)

Smart Launcher 2 made this list because it’s so damn beautiful. The main screen is made of a ring of icons with your most frequently used apps and then on the app screen all of your apps are presented in a beautiful list. The launcher also offers landscape mode and a ton of customizability, but since Smart is designed and arranged so well, chances are you aren’t going to want to change a thing. 

Start (free)

Start is a launcher that looks a lot like Smart (above), which is why I like it so much. Its design is tailored to give you quick access to the services you use most on your Android, which is done in the minimalist list of icons that cascade down the left side of your screen.

Simply slide one out to launch the app or service you need to use. Then tap the ring in the centre bottom of the screen and slide it to a category icon to access more apps that are grouped together based on what they do (email and messaging, photo sharing, etc). Beautiful launcher. 

Themer (free)

Like Buzz, Themer’s primary feature is to quickly change the way your entire device looks. The launcher has hundreds of themes that allow you to tweak each one individually. Each also comes with its own widgets, icons, and settings.

Other nice features include auto-categorization of your apps and app icon gestures. If you want to play around with themes, Themer is a great choice. 

Yahoo Aviate Launcher (free)

It seems these days Yahoo is desperately trying to find where it fits – and if it’s still relevant, at all – in the tech world. So the company has created its own Android launcher, and it’s actually not bad. Aviate is another launcher that organizes itself around your day and location.

For example in the morning it will make it easy for you to quickly access traffic conditions on your way to work and – a really cool feature –when you plug in your headphones it will reorganize itself to give you access to all the apps, such as music, dialler, and messaging – that you might use with headphones. 

And despite Yahoo falling behind the likes of Google and Facebook, the company does have some excellent designers. Aviate looks beautiful.

Zeam Launcher (free)

The last on this list made it because it doesn’t require the most powerful Android devices to run well. Matter of fact Zeam was built for one purpose: to run well on all Android devices no matter how old or underpowered. It’s a simple launcher with a nice folder layout and some customizability. 

And because it’s optimized for even the “lowest” Android devices it’s not going to drain your battery. Sadly, Zeam is no longer in development so download it while you can.


Michael Grothaus

14:18, 15 Aug 2014

You don't need to put up with Samsung, Sony and HTC's bespoke Android overlays... You CAN get a launcher. And THESE are the most effective

Reviews

The wonderful thing about Android (versus, say, iOS) is the extent of management and customization you've throughout the OS. Don’t get me improper, there’s lots to be stated for a clear, constant, and delightful interface like Apple supplies, nevertheless it’s additionally good to combine issues up sometimes. And probably the most radical means you possibly can customise your expertise on Android, in fact, is by putting in a brand new Launcher.

The Launcher on Android is usually known as the beginning or house display the place you work together together with your apps and widgets. Whereas the inventory and customized launchers (like Samsung’s) pre-put in on Android units will suffice for many customers we’ve compiled an inventory of the highest ten coolest third-social gathering launchers in case you need to combine it up a bit.

Buzz Launcher (free)

Buzz is likely one of the easier launchers on this record, however it’s additionally probably the most visually customizable. Matter of reality, the most important function of Buzz is that it not solely lets you change the look of your launcher, it additionally comes with over 500,000 downloadable themes and widgets that permits you to radically alter the look of all the things in your system. 

If you wish to make the whole lot look artwork deco in your Android, Buzz is the way you do it. Need to make your icons seem like books on a bookshelf? Buzz is the best way to go. It’s additionally received some simplified gesture navigations which might be an added plus.

EverythingMe Launcher (free)

The idea behind EverythingMe is that a launcher ought to study you and rearrange itself to satisfy your present wants.

The creators say the algorithms in EverythingMe mix, “machine studying, statistical modeling, and area information experience to determine particular life situations”, which in flip permits the launcher to know what you’re doing, the place you're and the most certainly apps you’ll want at any given second. EverythingMe then presents recommend apps and folders filled with apps to you all through the day. It’s additionally acquired a fantastic minimalist design.

GO Launcher EX (free) 

GO Launcher EX made this listing merely for the best way it seems to be. I feel it’s in all probability one of the crucial lovely Android launchers I’ve ever seen--because of the brand new UI and UX in model 5. Matter of reality, I feel loads of customers really feel that approach. GO Launcher EX has been downloaded over 200 million occasions. GO consists of over 10,000 themes, 25 slick animated transitions, and 15 free widgets. It’s additionally received some nice gestures that let you launch particular person apps. 

Next Launcher 3D Shell (£5) 

Subsequent Launcher 3D Shell is the one paid launcher on this listing, nevertheless it made it as a result of it’s a launcher with guts, I inform you, guts! That’s as a result of this launcher permits you to function in 3D area. It has lovely interactive 3D graphics and transitions.

Subsequent seems just like the launcher that was created by Hollywood graphic designers solely to look cool for a 5 second spot in a film. However whereas the launcher will get main props for its “wow” issue remember, utilizing it should probably chew by means of your battery life; there’s a number of GPU intensive stuff happening inside it. 

Nova Launcher (free)

Getting again right down to earth, Nova Launcher is a extra sensible launcher that may attraction to these Android customers who don’t wish to stray too removed from the default launchers put in on their units. That’s to not say Nova isn’t extremely customizable; it simply seems to be like a “typical” launcher greater than a few of the earlier ones on this listing do.

Some wonderful options of Nova embrace a scrollable dock, infinite scroll of house display pages (they loop again on each other), and (thanks Nova) the power to backup and restore all of the customizations you’ve made to the launcher ought to you want to restore your telephone. 

Smart Launcher 2 (free)

Sensible Launcher 2 made this listing as a result of it’s so rattling lovely. The primary display is product of a hoop of icons together with your most ceaselessly used apps after which on the app display your whole apps are introduced in a stupendous listing. The launcher additionally gives panorama mode and a ton of customizability, however since Sensible is designed and organized so properly, likelihood is you aren’t going to need to change a factor. 

Start (free)

Begin is a launcher that appears rather a lot like Sensible (above), which is why I prefer it a lot. Its design is tailor-made to provide you fast entry to the providers you employ most in your Android, which is completed within the minimalist listing of icons that cascade down the left aspect of your display.

Merely slide one out to launch the app or service you want to use. Then faucet the ring within the centre backside of the display and slide it to a class icon to entry extra apps which are grouped collectively based mostly on what they do (e-mail and messaging, photograph sharing, and so forth). Lovely launcher. 

Themer (free)

Like Buzz, Themer’s main function is to shortly change the best way your complete system seems to be. The launcher has tons of of themes that can help you tweak every one individually. Every additionally comes with its personal widgets, icons, and settings.

Different good options embrace auto-categorization of your apps and app icon gestures. If you wish to mess around with themes, Themer is a superb selection. 

Yahoo Aviate Launcher (free)

It appears today Yahoo is desperately looking for the place it matches – and if it’s nonetheless related, in any respect – within the tech world. So the corporate has created its personal Android launcher, and it’s truly not dangerous. Aviate is one other launcher that organizes itself round your day and site.

For instance within the morning it can make it straightforward so that you can shortly entry visitors circumstances in your method to work and – a very cool function –if you plug in your headphones it can reorganize itself to offer you entry to all of the apps, corresponding to music, dialler, and messaging – that you simply may use with headphones. 

And regardless of Yahoo falling behind the likes of Google and Fb, the corporate does have some wonderful designers. Aviate appears lovely.

Zeam Launcher (free)

The final on this record made it as a result of it doesn’t require probably the most highly effective Android units to run properly. Matter of reality Zeam was constructed for one objective: to run nicely on all Android units regardless of how previous or underpowered. It’s a easy launcher with a pleasant folder format and a few customizability. 

And since it’s optimized for even the “lowest” Android units it’s not going to empty your battery. Sadly, Zeam is not in improvement so obtain it when you can.

Michael Grothaus 14:18, 15 Aug 2014
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