Why these 7 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 an alternate tackle the primary app-launching interface, they usually typically characteristic an intensive suite of choices for personalisation lovers.

A part of what makes residence display screen launchers such a sturdy answer 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’ll be able to obtain and set up a various set of launchers, every with its personal strengths and weaknesses.

I have been utilizing varied launchers for quite a lot of 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

Some of the iconic launchers to ever be launched

By far, essentially the most well-known third-party Android residence display screen answer has bought to be Nova Launcher. It has been round for seemingly without end, and it is stuffed to the brim with customization choices.

If you happen to’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

A customizable staple of the third-party Android launcher scene.

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

2 Niagara Launcher

A novel 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 stick to the fundamental grid-of-apps residence display screen paradigm, Niagara is not afraid to strive 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 house display screen, and also you shortly entry the remainder of your put in apps through a scroll bar. The true magic lies in the truth that widgets are supported and by some means really feel completely at residence right here, and the attractive animations and interface design are the cherry on prime. It could take a couple of minutes to get used to the gesture workflow, however when you do, you will be flying by means of the interface at document velocity.

Niagara Launcher

A novel and pleasant reimagining of the Android residence display screen.

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

3 Microsoft Launcher

If you happen to’re an enormous consumer of Microsoft providers, then this one’s for you

Microsoft / Pocket-lint

Nowadays, 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 relation to the world of residence display screen tweaking.

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

Microsoft Launcher

A full-fledged Android launcher from the makers of Home windows.

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

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. If you happen to’re working an Android cellphone that has a closely modified software skin on prime, resembling Samsung’s One UI, then Lawnchair is a wonderful option 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 further choices and preferences.

Lawnchair 14

A streamlined and Pixel-like Android launcher that advertisements a aptitude of tweakable settings.

The most recent beta launch for Lawnchair 14 could be downloaded as an .apk file from the developer’s website.

5 Launcher 10

Home windows Cellphone could also be useless, however its core interface lives on by means 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 Cellular and Android.

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

Launcher 10

A nostalgic journey down reminiscence lane for these of us that cherished the Home windows Cellphone consumer interface.

Launcher 10 could be downloaded without spending a dime on the Google Play Store, with an non-obligatory in-app buy to take away advertisements and unlock extra capabilities.

6 Beacon Sport Launcher

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

Nerds Take Over / Pocket-lint

There are tons of options on the market in relation to 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 consumer expertise has been optimized for panorama orientation and for wireless game controller enter, and your complete expertise is streamlined and user-friendly. The launcher will mechanically scrape for sport cowl artwork and extra metadata, which it then presents fantastically on display screen.

Beacon

A visually pleasing front-end for all of your retro gaming wants.

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

7 Stario Launcher

A uniquely designed launcher that focuses on each minimalism and productiveness

Stario Launcher / Pocket-lint

One of many freshest-feeling launchers I’ve used shortly is Stario, which gives a simplistic interface that strips out a lot of the fluff. Even with its concentrate on minimalism, nevertheless, its residence display screen is appropriate for productiveness — the built-in RSS feed and note-taking screens are merely a pleasure to make use of.

I am a fan of the ‘classes’ view inside the app drawer, which pulls inspiration from Apple’s App Library. If you happen to want the basic Android grid type, it is fortunately additionally out there as an possibility right here.

Choices for personalisation are considerably restricted, however the launcher does provide you with management over your accent colour, icon packs, in addition to the flexibility to completely cover purposes from view.

Stario Launcher

A sublime and decluttered residence display screen launcher that focuses on productiveness.

Stario Launcher could be downloaded without spending a dime from the Google Play Store. Better of all, the app has no advertisements or in-app purchases of any variety.