Why I feel these 6 Android launchers are a minimize above the remaining

Third-party home screen launchers are one of many oldest and most helpful staples of the Android working system. Briefly, they’re apps that present another tackle the principle app-launching interface, they usually typically function an intensive suite of choices for personalisation lovers.

A part of what makes residence display screen launchers such a strong resolution is their interoperability — no matter whether or not you are rocking a Samsung Galaxy, a Google Pixel, or one other Android-based model fully, you may obtain and set up a various set of launchers, every with its personal strengths and weaknesses.

I have been utilizing varied launchers for numerous years now, and plenty of of my favourite choices are fortunately nonetheless being developed and actively supported. Listed here are the actual Android launchers that stand up above all the remaining, or in any other case stand out to me.

1 Nova Launcher

Probably the most iconic launchers to ever be launched

Nova Launcher / Pocket-lint

By far, essentially the most well-known third-party Android residence display screen resolution has obtained to be Nova Launcher. It has been round for seemingly perpetually, and it is completely crammed to the brim with customization choices.

Should you’re a fan of tweaking each nook of your cellphone’s residence display screen, app drawer, folders, icons, and extra, then Nova Launcher completely delivers the products. I personally go for an app drawer that separates my video games from the remainder of my put in software program library, and have it set to most info density.

Nova Launcher is free to obtain on the Google Play Store, with an non-compulsory ‘Prime’ in-app buy to unlock all features.

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2 Niagara Launcher

A singular tackle the house display screen, and one which feels extremely fluid throughout use

Peter Huber / Pocket-lint

Niagara Launcher may simply be my favourite of all of them. In contrast to most launchers, which keep on with the essential grid-of-apps residence display screen paradigm, Niagara is not afraid to attempt one thing new. Fortunately, the ensuing product is an absolute resounding success.

The idea is easy: you pin your favourite apps to a vertical record on your own home display screen, and also you shortly entry the remainder of your put in apps through a scroll bar. The actual magic lies in the truth that widgets are supported and by some means really feel completely at residence right here, and the gorgeous animations and interface design are the cherry on prime. It may well take a couple of minutes to get used to the gesture workflow, however when you do, you may be flying by way of the interface at file velocity.

Niagara Launcher is free to obtain from the Google Play Store, with a ‘Professional’ in-app buy wanted to unlock some features.

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3 Microsoft Launcher

Should you’re an enormous consumer of Microsoft companies, then this one’s for you

Microsoft / Pocket-lint

Lately, Microsoft now not releases its own Android-based hardware, however the firm’s native launcher remains to be supported on third-party units. The launcher performs properly, is pretty well-refined, and has respectable choices in the case of the world of residence display screen tweaking.

As you’d anticipate, Microsoft Launcher ties in closely with varied Microsoft companies, together with Begin, Copilot, Bing day by day wallpapers, and extra. It might be a far cry from the times of Home windows Telephone and Home windows Cell, however that is neither right here nor there.

Microsoft Launcher is free to obtain from the Google Play Store.

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4 Lawnchair 14

Marrying a primary and clear Android expertise with a sprinkling of extra superior options

David Sn / Pocket-lint

Lawnchair has been round on the Android scene for fairly a while, however its newest launch — Lawnchair 14 — is presently nonetheless in beta. Should you’re working an Android cellphone that has a closely modified software skin on prime, comparable to Samsung’s One UI, then Lawnchair is a superb solution to unlock a extra Pixel-like expertise.

Even with its simplicity, there are many customization choices right here to sink your tooth into. The launcher even comes with its personal tackle Google’s At a Glance widget, infusing the expertise with additional choices and preferences.

The newest beta launch for Lawnchair 14 might be downloaded as an .apk file from the developer’s website.

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5 Launcher 10

Home windows Telephone could also be lifeless, however its core interface lives on by way of Android

nfwebdev / Pocket-lint

No, I nonetheless have not gotten over Microsoft’s unceremonious exit from the cell phone market, and I do know I am not the one one with nostalgia for reside tiles and the Metro design language. Fortunately, Launcher 10 is right here to scratch that lingering itch, by bridging the hole between the interfaces of each Home windows 10 Cell and Android.

There’s not rather a lot happening right here from a customization standpoint, however the launcher does provide you with granular management over the feel and appear of the tiles themselves. In true Home windows Telephone vogue, a easy swipe will take you over to an alphabetic record of all of your apps, and the house display screen tiles might be organized and resized to your liking.

Launcher 10 might be downloaded at no cost on the Google Play Store, with an non-compulsory in-app buy to take away advertisements and unlock further features.

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6 Beacon Recreation Launcher

A retro sport launcher for emulation that is a pleasure to navigate by way of

Nerds Take Over / Pocket-lint

There are tons of options on the market in the case of retro game emulation on Android, however my private favourite is Beacon Recreation Launcher. It is a sexy front-end interface that piggybacks off of your already put in emulator apps.

The consumer expertise has been optimized for panorama orientation and for wireless game controller enter, and the whole expertise is streamlined and user-friendly. The launcher will robotically scrape for sport cowl artwork and extra metadata, which it then presents fantastically on display screen.

Beacon Recreation Launcher is free to obtain from the Google Play Store.

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