The Best Android Launchers: Which Android Launcher is Best For You?
Nearly everyone these days has a smartphone, and, if we’re honest, most phones look pretty much the same. We’re all carrying around little black rectangles in our pockets, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t have a phone that’s a little more individual. Android is an excellent choice for an operating system because it’s so customisable, and one of the best ways to customise how your Android looks is to download a launcher. We’ve got everything you need to know about Android launchers…
Why Do I Need a Launcher?
We wouldn’t say that you actually need a launcher, you don’t, but it is a nice thing to have if you’re into customisation. In very basic terms, a launcher is an app that changes the way the home screen of your phone looks. All phones come with a pre-installed Android launcher that determines what icons look like, how many icons fit on your screen, how the status bar and notifications look, what kind of fonts are used on screen, and all kinds of other design type things. But because you’re on Android, you’re free to change that pre-installed launcher to a different one if you so choose.
The reason most people choose to install a new launcher is simply for aesthetics. They want to be able to change the way their phone looks so they can make it more unique. And a launcher certainly gives you plenty of options when it comes to the design of your mobile. Once a launcher is installed you’ll have plenty of choices for things like icons, but you won’t be bound to them, you can always download “icon packs” from the Play Store to increase your options even further!
Is It Complicated to Get a Launcher?
One thing that many people worry about is how complicated downloading and installing a launcher may be. There’s no need to worry though. Changing launchers is as easy as downloading the one you want from the Google Play Store and then following the instructions the app gives you when you open it (seriously, it’s no more complicated than that, if you can follow simple instructions, you’ll be fine). And if you don’t like how the launcher looks or behaves when you’ve installed it, you can just uninstall it like any other app and your phone will go back to normal.
What Are My Choices?
You have tons of choices when it comes to launchers, the Play Store is full of them. However, there are two main categories:
Free Launchers
Free launchers are, well, free. You won’t need to pay for the app. However, you may need to put up with ads, and there may be functions, settings or options that you’re not able to access. The good part about free launchers is that they give you a chance to try them out without risk, so you can see if the app is exactly what you’re looking for.
- Pros: Free, no real risk, a great chance to check out an app without investing.
- Cons: May have ads, may have features you can’t access without paying.
- Best For: Newbies, those looking to try launchers out for the first time.
Premium Launchers
Premium launchers will require you to pay, which may be an automatic deal breaker for some people. The upside of paying, however, is that you’ll get more features, more options, and you won’t have to put up with ads. Prices vary quite a lot, but most launchers come in at under £5, so you won’t be making a huge investment.
- Pros: No ads, more features, more customisation options.
- Cons: Not everyone wants to pay for apps, and if you’re a newbie you might want to try free versions first.
- Best For: Those that know exactly what they’re looking for, ideally you should opt for a premium app that has a free trial period or a free version as well as a premium version.
What Do I Need to Think About When Choosing a Launcher?
There are a few concerns that you’ll need to keep in mind when you’re looking through the hundreds of launchers that you find in the Play Store: What Are My Priorities? We all use our phones differently, and we’re not all looking for the same thing. There are plenty of features included in launchers nowadays, so think long and hard about which of these features you actually need and will use.