The perfect Android launchers are the proper method to customise your Android expertise. Selection is without doubt one of the finest issues in regards to the Android system, and launchers provide the probability to tinker and customise the finest Android telephones in methods the inventory launcher can solely dream of.
A number of the finest launchers are designed to allow you to change nearly every part about Android, whereas others are constructed for a extra minimalist expertise. But when that is not for you there are even launchers providing a smorgasboard of shade that might put portray aisle on the ironmongery shop to disgrace.
However it doesn’t matter what you select, a launcher is the proper method to give your cellphone a contemporary new appear and feel — however with out the expense of shopping for a brand new handset. It is only a matter of selecting one, and we have been testing the very best Android launchers that can assist you pick the precise one for you.
The perfect Android launchers
1. Nova Launcher
You may’t speak about the very best Android launchers and not using a point out of Nova Launcher. Quick, glossy and extremely customizable, Nova Launcher balances in depth look and utility customizations with a minimal efficiency influence, letting you set your house display screen good with out slowing down efficiency.
There are quite a lot of choices to work via, from shade themes to icon packs, scrollable docks to app drawer customizations, to folder settings and infinite scrolling. The Nova workforce is rarely content material to relaxation on its laurels, constantly including new options, akin to Sesame Shortcuts, animations, and different enhancements.
In order for you probably the most highly effective options, flip to Nova Launcher Prime, a $4.99 model that provides greater than the free obtain.
Obtain Nova Launcher: Play Retailer
2. Niagara Launcher
Niagara is a lean Android launcher designed to position your apps and notifications entrance and heart, whereas holding different distractions to a minimal. Notifications are displayed proper on your house display screen, with spam and protracted notifications mechanically filtered out. The app drawer mechanically surfaces your favourite apps, whereas additionally offering helpful alphabetical shortcuts.
That stated, Niagara’s excessive minimalism signifies that you should not be anticipating any uncommon visible frills and choices you would possibly anticipate from most third-party launchers. it’s up to date ceaselessly and it reveals nice promise.
Obtain Niagara Launcher: Play Retailer
3. Good Launcher 5
Good Launcher has lengthy been a favourite for the very best Android launcher, with its easy “flower” favorites grid and sorted app folder. The most recent model, Good Launcher 5, provides a ton of options and refinements.
Good Launcher’s flower grid remains to be out there, nevertheless it’s joined by quite a lot of different nicely thought-out layouts designed to maintain your favourite apps inside straightforward attain of 1 hand, whereas sensible search and an intelligently sorted and customizable app drawer makes it straightforward to seek out no matter you want, whether or not in your cellphone or out within the net. Adaptive icons and colours, totally resizable widgets, and extra customizations spherical out the package deal, making for an incredible replace to a basic launcher.
You will have to shell out $7 for the Professional model of Good Launcher to entry the numerous of these additional options, together with pop-up widgets and expanded gesture controls.
Obtain Good Launcher 5: Play Retailer
4. AIO Launcher
The place different launchers would possibly supply up decluttering visible customizations, AIO Launcher is all about cramming as a lot data as potential in your display screen in a comparatively spartan format.
The app shows your ceaselessly used apps, in addition to system info, not too long ago acquired calls, messages and e mail, in addition to upcoming calendar occasions and extra.
Whereas AIO Launcher is free, in-app purchases unlock different options akin to widget help, app icons, and Android notifications within the residence display screen stream. It is not the friendliest interface on the market among the many finest Android launchers, it is nonetheless an attention-grabbing alternative if info density is not a turn-off for you.
Obtain AIO Launcher: Play Retailer
5. Hyperion Launcher
A Pixel-like launcher from the workforce behind the favored Substratum theming engine, Hyperion Launcher is a particularly customizable Android launcher app that permits you to tweak an unlimited array of settings.
Moreover the usual wallpapers and widgets, customers can configure a gamut of settings for themes, folders, transparencies, animations, icon packs and adaptive icons. Hyperion gives a ton of its options without spending a dime, however others — like launcher-level font adjustments and customized gestures — are unlocked with an in-app buy for the Professional model.
Obtain Hyperion Launcher: Play Retailer
6. Motion Launcher
Motion Launcher Pixel Version was among the many first of the massive third social gathering launchers to present itself a Pixel-style makeover, combining its excessive customizability with new interface options and types launched with the Pixel Launcher.
Motion Launcher contains an adaptive app bar, the pill-shaped Google search bar, and Oreo-style app shortcuts (backward appropriate to Android 5). A slide-out app drawer gives customers with fast entry to an app library and widgets. Particular gestures akin to “covers” and “shutters” permit for fast entry.
Motion Launcher mechanically picks out dominant colours in your wallpaper and adjusts the app drawer, folder backgrounds and search field to match.
Obtain Motion Launcher: Play Retailer
7. Apex Launcher
Apex Launcher lives as much as its title as one other wonderful Android launcher with a superb steadiness of options and efficiency.
Core options embrace the power to customise the house display screen grid measurement, with as much as 9 screens, in addition to a scrollable dock with as much as 5 pages. Infinite scrolling, transition animations, quite a few folder types and a number of app drawer types add even larger customization.
The paid model of Apex Launcher unlocks extra choices, akin to extra drawer choices, extra gestures and theme help. That is an $8.99 obtain.
Obtain Apex Launcher: Play Retailer
8. POCO Launcher
Xiaomi’s telephones, like the brand new Xiaomi Mi 11, may not be extensively out there within the US, however you will get a style of the Poco Launcher via the Google Play Retailer. The Poco Launcher deviates from Xiaomi’s traditional design sensibilities, providing an app drawer full with sensible class tabs that mechanically type apps into teams like Communication and Images.
The launcher provides a customizable display screen format, transition results, icon pack help, and notification badges. It would not supply as many deep customizations as rival launchers, nevertheless it does look good and is designed to be on the streamlined finish of issues. And up to date additions embrace darkish mode help and the power to lock your cellphone by tapping the display screen.
Xiaomi says that Poco Launcher is appropriate with Android 10.
Obtain Poco Launcher: Play Retailer
9. Microsoft Launcher
Microsoft rebranded its wonderful Arrow Launcher into the Microsoft Launcher, holding Arrow’s compact, context-sensitive app pages and customizable feed, whereas additionally working to enhance the interaction between your Android cellphone and Home windows PC.
Customers can shortly snap images from the cellphone and look at them on their desktop; they will additionally open net hyperlinks from cell to Edge on PC, or begin modifying Workplace 365 paperwork from their PC and proceed on the go together with their cell phone.
All of that is along with Microsoft’s common search bar, customizable themes, and configurable gesture controls.
Obtain Microsoft Launcher: Play Retailer
How we picked the very best Android launchers
We went hands-on with each launcher on this listing, which is how we drew the above conclusions on rating. A launcher is a really private factor, however we worth those that offer you quite a lot of performance, even when the characteristic set itself is minimal.
Ultimately, we encourage you to check out totally different launchers to see which one you want finest. You would possibly discover the extra feature-packed choices to be overwhelming, through which case you might need to have a look at one of many lighter ones.
We have used a few of these launchers extensively over time, which additionally influenced our rating right here.