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

A part of what makes house display 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 fully, 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 numerous 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 remainder, or in any other case stand out to me.

1 Nova Launcher

One of the iconic launchers to ever be launched

By far, essentially the most well-known third-party Android house display answer has acquired to be Nova Launcher. It has been round for seemingly eternally, and it is crammed to the brim with customization choices.

In case 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

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

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

2 Niagara Launcher

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

Peter Huber / Pocket-lint

Niagara Launcher may simply be my favourite of all of them. Not like most launchers, which follow the essential grid-of-apps house display 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 listing on your own home display, and also you rapidly entry the remainder of your put in apps through a scroll bar. The actual magic lies in the truth that widgets are supported and in some way really feel completely at house right here, and the attractive 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 will be flying by the interface at document pace.

Niagara Launcher

A singular and pleasant reimagining of the Android house display.

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

In case you’re an enormous consumer of Microsoft providers, then this one’s for you

Microsoft / Pocket-lint

Lately, Microsoft 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 with regards to the world of house display tweaking.

As you’d count on, Microsoft Launcher ties in closely with numerous Microsoft providers, together with Begin, Copilot, Bing every day wallpapers, and extra. It could 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

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 at the moment nonetheless in beta. In case you’re working an Android cellphone that has a closely modified software skin on high, similar to Samsung’s One UI, then Lawnchair is a superb approach 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.

Lawnchair 14

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

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

5 Launcher 10

Home windows Telephone could also be lifeless, however its core interface lives on by 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 stay 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 loads occurring 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 style, a easy swipe will take you over to an alphabetic listing of all of your apps, and the house display 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 Telephone consumer interface.

Launcher 10 could be downloaded at no cost on the Google Play Store, with an optionally available in-app buy to take away adverts and unlock extra capabilities.

6 Beacon Recreation Launcher

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

Nerds Take Over / Pocket-lint

There are tons of options on the market with regards to retro game emulation on Android, however my private favourite is Beacon Recreation Launcher. It is a pretty 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 all the expertise is streamlined and user-friendly. The launcher will routinely scrape for sport cowl artwork and extra metadata, which it then presents superbly on display.

Beacon

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

Beacon Recreation 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 provides a simplistic interface that strips out a lot of the fluff. Even with its give attention to minimalism, nevertheless, its house display 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 throughout the app drawer, which pulls inspiration from Apple’s App Library. In case you desire the traditional Android grid type, it is fortunately additionally accessible as an choice right here.

Choices for personalisation are considerably restricted, however the launcher does offer you management over your accent shade, icon packs, in addition to the power to completely disguise functions from view.

Stario Launcher

A chic and decluttered house display launcher that focuses on productiveness.

Stario Launcher could be downloaded at no cost from the Google Play Store. Better of all, the app has no adverts or in-app purchases of any form.