You can customize your Android phone the way you want. This flexibility in terms of customization can give your device a new look and give you more control over different elements.
The best way to customize Android phone is by launchers. The launcher will not only change the appearance of your smartphone, but also customize its behavior. It can change icons, page transitions, widgets, improve usability, and more.
But with so much to choose from, which one is right for you? Here is our guide to the best Android launchers for every type of user.
Best All-In-One Launcher: Nova Launcher
Nova is a highly customizable driver that uses minimal system resources due to its small application size. It allows you to customize the home screen, app drawer, folders, search, icons, and more.
You can even install different icon packs to use with Nova. Here are some of the most beautiful icon packs available for Android.
Nova supports dark mode, which you can schedule based on your device’s current settings or activate at a specific time of your choosing. However, it lets you change the animation that appears when you open an app, and you can also change how your files and folders appear on the home screen.
System font styles and sizes can be customized, and the app also has a backup feature that saves your custom settings for easy setup in the future.
Nova provides all major features for free. However, there are some limitations in the free version, such as hiding apps, drawer groups, and gestures. You can upgrade to the main version of the Play Store to get the advanced features.
Download: Nova Launcher (Free version available)
Best for one-handed use: Niagara Launcher
Niagara is a simple launcher focused on accessibility. It has a different interface compared to traditional Android launchers. Its appearance is clean and only shows your favorite apps on the home screen.
The launcher is ideal for enabling you to use your phone with one hand. With its sidebar, you can easily access each app with one hand, as each app can be accessed with your thumb.
Niagara is designed in a way that enhances accessibility. For example, it changes how your notifications appear. You don’t need to expand the notification bar to view notifications as it simply appears as a popup on the screen.
Niagara is free for all its basic features. To get advanced features like custom widgets and popup widgets, you need to purchase the pro version of the app.
Download: Niagara Launcher (Free, in-app purchases available)
Best for appearance: hyperion player
Many people are looking for new launchers to improve the visual appearance of their phones. For this purpose, hyperion is among the best options. It allows you to customize the colors of each Home screen element, such as the search bar, app drawer, widgets, folders, dock, and icons, to create a custom theme.
You can use different third-party icon packs and change icon shapes. It also allows you to change the home screen and app drawer grids to add as many icons as you want on the screen. You can change the animations when launching apps and customize their speed. With that, you can add third-party integrations like Google Feed.
Hyperion has some limitations in its free version. You can upgrade to the premium version to get access to gestures, dynamic lock, and other advanced features.
Download: Hyperion Player (Free, in-app purchases available)
Most information packed: AIO Launcher
If you want to stay on top of what’s happening around you without having to constantly tap in and out of apps, a mobile operator can help. All-in-One (AIO) gives you all the information on your phone’s home screen.
Displays the weather in your location and device information such as battery percentage and device storage. You don’t need to search for recent mail from the notification bar or the email app, as it shows them both on the home screen. AIO also displays Twitter feeds and news to keep you updated. Moreover, you can also monitor the exchange rate of your favorite currencies right from your home screen.
AIO is free and has a premium version for advanced features like Android widget support, widgets, themes, and more.
Download: AIO Launcher (Free, in-app purchases available)
Best Mini Launcher: Pre Launcher
If you want to give your device a minimalist look to stay focused, you can try a simple launcher.
It is a simple launcher that provides a clean interface for your device to banish distractions. You can choose your favorite apps to appear on the home screen, and all the other apps will remain in a separate list that you can access by swiping right.
You can change the background with solid colors and apply third-party icon packs or default black and white icons to get a stylish look. It also supports notification filter so that unnecessary notifications are snooped. It used to be a free launcher, but you will need the pro version to get some advanced features like hidden apps.
Download: Pre Launcher (Free, in-app purchases available)
Best Open Source Launcher: Olauncher
Olauncher is open source, with all its features available for free. If security and privacy are your main priorities, open source is the way to go.
Olauncher is a much simpler launcher but still gives you plenty of options for customization. You can get a new daily wallpaper to update the look of your phone, it gives you to keep your favorite and most used apps on the home screen, although it supports dark and light modes as well.
You can set up custom gestures, such as double tap, for different actions. Moreover, there are no app icons in Olauncher, which makes it fire up quickly and cleanly.
Download: Olauncher (Free)
If you prefer Microsoft over Google: Microsoft Launcher
Finally, if you are a Microsoft user or prefer Microsoft over Google, Microsoft Launcher is a must have for you. It is a feature-packed launcher for Android.
You can customize your home screen, wallpapers, icon, fonts and much more. It also lets you create custom themes. You can also use gestures that allow you to perform certain actions with a swipe or double tap, and it has a feed feature that shows you news, cards, and custom widgets.
Microsoft Launcher is free, and you can still use the launcher if you don’t have a Microsoft account. If you wish, you can go ahead and turn your Android phone into a Microsoft phone.
Download: Microsoft Launcher (Free)
Customize your Android phone with these launchers
To customize your Android device, you don’t need to change everything. Simply select the operator of your choice, and it will do all the heavy lifting for you.
The list we shared contains all kinds of launchers. Whatever you need, you must find the perfect launcher for you here. But if you’re working with an old or low-cost phone, you may be able to get better performance by choosing a lightweight launcher that’s guaranteed to run smoothly on low-cost devices.
