Evie Launcher review: Still simple, stylish, and steadily improving
In this world full of fancy customised launchers, Evie launcher stands out with its simple and minimal interface. The world of Android theming is beset with big, bold, bombastic launchers that throw everything but the kitchen sink into their features, bells, and whistles, but sometimes you don't need all the pomp and pizzazz. If you're in the market for a launcher that's as simple as it sophisticated, Evie Launcher may earn its place as your next home screen, and as a free launcher, giving Evie Launcher a try doesn't cost you anything but a little time.
Minimal Design and Interface
Evie Launcher's default setup is breathtakingly simple, featuring only four apps at the bottom of the desktop and one permanent search bar at the top. The Evie Launcher keeps a minimal setup of 4-5 icons on the main screen. By default, Evie Launcher keeps the dock turned off, which definitely sets it apart from the pack, but it also leads to Evie missing the dock icons when importing a layout from another launcher during the initial setup. However, the latest update allows it to turn it back on.
Grid Layout and Customization
Another break with tradition is Evie's default grid size. While 4x4 has been the standard since the 4-inch phone days, Evie Launcher has a default desktop of 5x6 and is willing to take on any grid size from 3x4 to 12x12. The apps can be distributed into any grid size, and you can also customize the size of icons and font size. Users can edit the icon pack and choose the set they like the most.
- Grid Range: From 3x4 to 12x12
- Default Grid: 5x6
- Desktop Setup: 4-5 icons on the main screen
- Price: Free
Search and Gesture Navigation
The search bar is a permanent part of the Evie Launcher home screen, and it features one of the two gestures that are permanently turned on: swipe down to search. It features a constant search bar on the top which let’s its user search for apps or contacts from anywhere. The other permanent gesture fits in with the Samsung Galaxy line and the Google Pixel: swipe up on the desktop to open the app drawer, and swipe down from the top of the app drawer to return to the desktop.
Beyond setting an icon pack and adjusting your app drawer grid, you can turn on unread badges or Android O notification dots, and even turn on a few extra gestures. There's still one gesture here I highly recommend turning on: double-tap to lock. There are even two methods you can choose from—a method that actually locks the phone and a method that just times out the screen in order to keep your phone unlocked via Smart Lock.
Unique Features and Integration
Evie Launcher has also integrated with Google Assistant to make it more helpful in the search. You can touch the voice option in the search bar and converse with the Google Assistant right away. One of the most interesting features is that it can hide any app from the app menu, without the help of another third-party solution. The latest update also added a new feed to showcases news and stories, which can be accessed from the swiping the left to right just like Google Now on Google Now Launcher. Evie Launcher is definitely showing promise, especially for users who will be left wanting when Google Now Launcher is pulled from Google Play.