Android launchers are somewhat of a niche category in the mobile app sphere, with many users of the Google OS not even aware that they exist.
The best Android launchers provide little more than a way to change the look of your home screen, and they’re a dime a dozen. However, some features set certain launchers apart from their peers.
If you’ve been keeping up to date with the latest news on smartphones, you’ll probably know that Google’s Android has overtaken Apple’s iOS as the most popular operating system. The former’s success lies in its massive scope for personalization and customization and its relatively open nature.
There are a lot of Android launchers available on the Google Play Store, but not all of them are worth trying. To help you with that, we have listed some of the best Android launchers to change the look and feel of your phone.
What is the best Android launcher?
Well, it all depends on what you’re looking for. Some people prefer minimalism, while others want a ton of features. There’s a lot you can do with a launcher, so choosing one is a personal decision.
What sets certain Android launchers apart from their peers?
The best Android launcher is used to customize the home screen of a device. It is a software program that provides users with a graphical user interface through which they can organize and manage applications, widgets, and other items on their phones.
These launchers can give your phone a total makeover no matter what skin/version of Android you’re running. Some of the best features include changing icons and themes and adding new features like smart folders, search assistants, etc.
Here are some of the best Android launchers that will transform your phone.
Poco Launcher 2.0
Poco Launcher is a minimalistic and user-friendly Android launcher app that helps you stay on top of your tasks. It replaces your stock launcher, which is cluttered with ads & unnecessary features, with a clean and easy-to-use interface.
It is considered one of the best Android launchers that also includes user-friendly features like the ability to pin apps to the home screen & app drawer and in-app gestures to open the recent apps. Moreover, it is lightweight, fast, clean, and sticks to Google’s original Material Design guidelines.
Smart Launcher 6
Smart Launcher 6 is one of the most intuitive, powerful, and fastest Android launchers. It automatically sorts your apps into categories and features a speedy search engine that helps you quickly find what you need.
You can easily activate your favorite applications and contacts by just swiping on an icon or using the search bar. It is fully customizable and allows to define a lot of gestures and shortcuts to execute actions rapidly.
AIO Launcher
AIO Launcher is a minimalist Android home screen that provides quick access to weather, notifications, messages, and other useful information. With the paid upgrade, you can include your social accounts, check cryptocurrency rates, and even record and share audio.
It allows you to see the most important information at a glance and control the most frequently used functions quickly.
AIO Launcher displays this information on the home page of your phone:
- Weather – includes current weather and the forecast for the next ten days.
- Notifications – standard android notifications.
- Dialogs – your messenger conversations.
Nova Launcher
Nova Launcher is one of the best Android launchers apps that looks, feels, and works as the default Android interface. It’s highly customizable, so you can have it work exactly the way you want it to.
You can use custom gestures to launch apps and actions and create folders in your app drawer. It also allows users to customize their desktop grid and apply custom icons.
Nova Launcher can breathe new life into your old device with themes, icon packs, gesture controls, and more. If you’re looking to switch out your bland stock launcher for a customizable alternative, you should give it a try.
Apex Launcher
With Apex Launcher, you can customize your phone interface and create a personalized experience. It offers free icon packs and themes for your Android device and the ability to redefine your stylish launcher and create gestures that provide efficient access to your apps.
Personalize lock screens with options like patterns or passwords, and many more features boost your productivity. These include an app lock that securely hides your apps and utility features like gestures for quick access to the functions you need.
Total Launcher
Total launcher is one of the best Android launchers available on the market. It allows you to fully customize your device’s home screen, giving you complete control over how your device looks and feels.
Of course, it is still fast, light, and easy to use, making it the perfect launcher for any Android device.
Niagara Launcher
Are you looking for the best Android launcher that declutters your home screen and is super easy to use? Look no further than Niagara Launcher. It has an adaptive list that can adjust to your needs, a wave alphabet for efficient app navigation, and embedded notifications so you can respond to messages right from your home screen.
The launcher is also ad-free, lightweight, and lightning-fast, making it perfect for those who want a decluttered and focused home screen with features like an adaptive list, embedded notifications, and a wave alphabet. You’ll be able to navigate your phone quickly and efficiently – no matter how big your screen is.
Action Launcher
Action Launcher is the perfect blend of fast, smooth, and stock Android launchers. It also comes with Material You-style color extraction from your wallpaper (or pick your own!) plus all the customizations and time-saving innovations you can think of.
Some of its standout features include a quick theme for Material You-style theming of your home screen to match your wallpaper, a fully customizable search box, and widget stacks that let you swipe through multiple widgets without clutter.
Lawnchair 2
Looking for a launcher that packs in multiple features in a go? Look no further than Lawnchair 2. This Android launcher comes loaded with excellent features like Drawer Categories, integration with Android Recents, and contextual data in At a Glance.
With support for adaptive Icons and a flexible desktop, dock, and drawer, you can customize your experience to perfectly suit your needs. And if that’s not enough, Lawnchair 2 also features automatic dark mode, notification dots, and integration with Google feed and home feeder.
Indistractable Launcher
The Indistractable launcher is the perfect solution for anyone who wants to declutter their home screen and focus on what’s important. With a minimalist design and personalized options, you can customize your launcher to suit your needs and keep distractions to a minimum.
The auto-switch between light and dark themes based on time of day is a great way to save battery, and the quick access to the clock and calendar makes it easy to stay on top of your schedule. Moreover, the inbuilt tasks feature is perfect for keeping track of your to-do list, and the hide and rename apps options let you customize your device even further.
Launcher iOS 15
With the release of Launcher iOS 15, Android has never looked so good. You can organize your apps in an app library, like on the real iPhone. View app libraries in dark mode or light mode, choose a style folder to customize your folders and get weather forecasts for upcoming days with a new widget.
What’s more, you can also customize the notification widget for your apps and turn it on in the settings to see unread messages. App Libraries are a new way to organize your apps; you drag and drop an app to create a folder. There’s also a dark mode and style folder, which can be customized.
Conclusion
Android users are spoiled for choice when customizing their smartphones, but one of the most popular modes is the phone launcher for the home screen. These launchers customize your home experience by placing shortcuts and widgets on your main screen. They can even add new theme engines or make custom buttons to launch apps faster.
Some Android launchers offer you more than just customization to make your Android phone looks cool. We have listed the top Android launchers that are worth a try.