On the lookout for a singular Android launcher? Listed here are 9 tremendous choices

The app launcher is the very coronary heart of the Android telephone. You utilize it each day, typically with out discover, to launch apps, view widget data, examine the time, and revel in your wallpapers. Whereas many OEM Android launchers are glorious, there are some significantly left-field choices if you wish to attempt them. I’m not simply taking Nova Launcher alternate options, both. Under, I spherical up some distinctive Android launchers effectively price a go.

Pie Launcher combines an possibility wheel with fast gestures to launch apps in a single clean movement. By default, it shows a very icon-free display screen, however the round pie menu pops up once you contact any a part of the show. To launch an app, hover over or pull within the course of its icon and raise your finger.

The launcher matches solely a handful of apps, however this little element and distinctive icon format make it easy to make use of one-handedly. You may also faucet the house button to discover a extra conventional app launcher grid format. I haven’t encountered some other Android launcher that makes use of this wheel (sorry, pie) mechanic, and it really works effectively to slim distractions and give attention to intentional app launches.

Discreet Launcher is one other minimal launcher. True to its title, it supplies an icon-free residence display screen that provides method to a conventional grid app drawer once you swipe up. However swipe down, and a customizable favorites menu shade seems from the highest of the show. This can be a nice little design addition, even when it’s utilitarian in design. You possibly can pin particular person apps or folders of apps for higher group and customise a number of aspects of its operation.

A shocking variety of command-line Android launchers can be found, however Yantra is one of the best instance. Visually, you get what you’d anticipate — an all-black display screen with contrasting script, an inventory of your earlier instructions like an precise terminal window, and different enjoyable information, together with the launcher’s model and your telephone’s mannequin quantity.

To launch an app, kind in “launch” adopted by the app’s title or faucet the Launch possibility alongside the underside management bar. This backside bar may also populate as you kind with apps that match the string. It takes somewhat getting used to, however it’s remarkably fluid when you get used to the workflow.

Some actions have been buggy after I examined them; they by no means affected the core performance. Utilizing Yantra was massively entertaining, like few Android launchers nowadays.

On the floor, ReZ Launcher appears to be one other simplified launcher displaying minimal apps alphabetically with a dock operating alongside the underside of the display screen. However scribble a letter along with your finger, and also you’ll uncover its hidden search smarts. For instance, scribble the letter “s” to avail an inventory of apps beginning with or containing that letter. You possibly can scribble sequential letters to slim down the search, too.

It’s a wierd expertise, as looking for apps this fashion takes somewhat extra time than utilizing a search bar and the keyboard. Nonetheless, I meant this checklist to doc distinctive Android launchers, and ReZ definitely matches the invoice.

Earlier than Launcher is amongst my favourite launchers on this checklist. As one of many many productivity-focused launchers obtainable, its objective is to clear muddle and scale back speedy visible distractions.

The default residence display screen accommodates an inventory of eight icon-less apps offered in giant, daring font. You may also allow clock, date, and unlock counter widgets above this checklist. Swipe to the correct, and also you’ll discover a notifications supervisor. That is Earlier than’s celebration piece, because it suppresses notifications and retains a operating checklist of these you’ve obtained. Lastly, swipe left to open a conventional checklist of searchable apps.

I’m on the fence about minimalist launchers offering extra focus for wayward smartphone customers, however I do like Earlier than’s clear, uncluttered stylings.

Have you ever ever wished to run Home windows in your Android telephone? Win-X offers you a good concept of what it could possibly be like. I vastly loved utilizing this launcher, particularly as a result of it offered a view into a unusual timeline the place Home windows Cell nonetheless existed.

So, how far do the Home windows-inspired parts go? You possibly can pin shortcuts to your “desktop” or faucet the beginning button to launch the beginning menu/app launcher, which is surprisingly useful. It affords an area for pinned apps, an alphabetical checklist of apps, and an possibility to go looking mentioned checklist. You possibly can even entry a “This PC” dialog, which lists the storage choices with conventional Microsoft nomenclature and built-in picture and audio gamers. There’s additionally a Microsoft folder from which you’ll be able to set up Phrase, Excel, and different Workplace apps.

Importantly, Win-X isn’t a launcher made by Microsoft (you’ll want Microsoft Launcher as an alternative). I additionally don’t suppose its design is conducive to productiveness, however it’s definitely a enjoyable Android launcher to make use of on foldables, Android tablets, and for Home windows lovers.

Minimalist is just like Earlier than in that each launchers give attention to lowering visible muddle, however I actually admire Minimalist’s stripped-down design. By default, it shows the year-in-progress and day-in-progress widgets as horizontal bars, which could be decidedly disconcerting. Scroll to the left, and also you’ll discover an alphabetical checklist of put in apps.

There’s an array of customizations on provide, together with theme colours, choices to make use of customized icon packs or no icons in any respect, and numerous gestures.

Phrase clouds have been an important a part of blogs within the early 2010s, permitting guests to go to tag pages in a jiffy, however this setup works surprisingly effectively for an environment friendly Android launcher, too.

ap15 Launcher is designed fully round this concept. All of your apps are displayed in a phrase cloud of kinds, making for a unusually cohesive trendy artwork aesthetic. Faucet on the app’s title to open it, and that’s just about it. The extra typically you faucet an app, the bigger its font grows, making it simpler to hunt out and choose the apps you open typically.

Loads of minimalist launchers are on this checklist, however it’s time for some maximalism. Extra is extra, and that’s the logic embraced by AIO Launcher.

For being so cluttered, AIO is effectively organized, useful, and pleasing to the attention. A lot data is on show right here, together with change fee information, a Bitcoin worth graph, a full-sized name dialer, and an RSS widget. This counts in the direction of the launcher’s performance, although, as you typically don’t have to launch a selected app to view the information it shows. AIO additionally lets customers choose numerous widgets to incorporate right here, whereas extra themes are additionally on faucet.

As talked about, there are many unconventional and distinctive Android launchers on the market providing various design philosophies. However there are some I couldn’t embrace each single one. Listed here are a couple of different launchers effectively price a point out:

• Unlauncher: I loved utilizing Unlauncher because of its tiny file dimension and swift performance. It doesn’t do a lot past the normal minimal launcher however is open supply.
• Ratio: Ratio is one other focus-first launcher that splits apps into classes, features a separate display screen devoted to app conversations, and has a backside dock. It didn’t fairly resonate with me, and it’s manner too buggy for each day use.
• Lens Launcher: It was tough to decide on between Lens and Pie for the first checklist, however Lens misplaced out as a consequence of its lack of an actual novelty characteristic. It shows all apps on the house display screen. When you choose a selected app, its icon will increase in dimension, whereas others fade to the background. It’s a cute visible impact however doesn’t add to its usability.
• Niagara: Niagara has change into among the finest Android launchers, so together with it on this oddball checklist felt like a cop-out. However, in some ways, Niagara is left-field relating to conventional launcher design. It has gained many extra sensible options, together with widget help and Privateness Area help for Android 15.
• Kvaesitso: My private favourite Android launcher, Kvaesitso combines the minimal launcher aesthetic with a search-rich, tag-based app group system. It additionally helps widgets, gestures, and exterior search suppliers.