Why I believe these 6 Android launchers are a reduce above the remainder

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 primary app-launching interface, they usually typically characteristic an in depth suite of choices for personalisation lovers.

A part of what makes house display 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 completely, 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 a lot of years now, and lots of of my favourite choices are fortunately nonetheless being developed and actively supported. Listed below are the actual Android launchers that stand up above all the remainder, or in any other case stand out to me.

1 Nova Launcher

One of the crucial iconic launchers to ever be launched

Nova Launcher / Pocket-lint

By far, probably the most well-known third-party Android house display resolution has acquired to be Nova Launcher. It has been round for seemingly without end, and it is completely crammed to the brim with customization choices.

In the event you’re a fan of tweaking each nook of your cellphone’s house display, 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 optionally available ‘Prime’ in-app buy to unlock all features.

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2 Niagara Launcher

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

Peter Huber / Pocket-lint

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

The idea is straightforward: you pin your favourite apps to a vertical record on your house display, and also you rapidly entry the remainder of your put in apps by way of a scroll bar. The true magic lies in the truth that widgets are supported and one way or the other really feel completely at house right here, and the gorgeous animations and interface design are the cherry on high. It will probably take a couple of minutes to get used to the gesture workflow, however when you do, you may be flying via the interface at report pace.

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

In the event you’re a giant person 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 effectively, is pretty well-refined, and has respectable choices in the case of the world of house display tweaking.

As you’d count on, 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 fundamental 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 at the moment nonetheless in beta. In the event you’re operating an Android cellphone that has a closely modified software skin on high, comparable to Samsung’s One UI, then Lawnchair is a superb method to unlock a extra Pixel-like expertise.

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

The newest beta launch for Lawnchair 14 could 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 via 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 offer you 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 tiles could be organized and resized to your liking.

Launcher 10 could be downloaded without cost on the Google Play Store, with an optionally available in-app buy to take away adverts and unlock further features.

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6 Beacon Sport Launcher

A retro sport launcher for emulation that is a pleasure to navigate via

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 Sport Launcher. It is a sexy front-end interface that piggybacks off of your already put in emulator apps.

The person 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 superbly on display.

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

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