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Customization is integral to the allure of the Android operating system. While iOS only allows users to rearrange icons on the lock screen, Android users can change not only those icons but also many other aspects, thanks to launcher apps. Finding a good launcher app is not easy with the multitude of choices on the Play Store, but fear not – Mytour has addressed this issue in the following article.
Unveiling the Top Android Launcher Apps for an Enhanced Experience
Top 6 Launcher Apps for Android
1. Smart Launcher 5
Smart Launcher stands out as the most comprehensive launcher app in this list. With several years in the market, it truly reached new heights with the release of Smart Launcher 5. The home screen features a non-grid Widget positioning system and a module page system, but the real star of the program is the App drawer. Smart Launcher 5 automatically organizes your apps into various categories. Investing in Smart Launcher Pro allows you to add your custom categories and arrange drawer tabs in various ways, from most used to installation time and icon color.
From the App drawer categorizing apps to the richest icon customization options on the market, Smart Launcher 5 includes many features that you might fall in love with. Its gestures are also impressive, especially the double-tap gestures for the App dock toolbar, performing better than the swipe gestures used by Nova and Action.
* Advantages:
- Easy setup with a simple layout
- Convenient tabbed App drawer
- Excellent lock screen app gestures
* Disadvantages:
- Unable to place icons at the top of the home screen
- Advanced system may cause confusion
2. Nova Launcher
Nova Launcher has been present in the market perhaps longer than the time many people have been using the Android operating system. The reason for this dominance is quite simple. Nova's blend of customization, convenience, and finesse is unparalleled. Nova gives users a Pixel-esque look on their phones, more Pixel than a Pixel phone itself or more TouchWiz than a Galaxy, and it's done swiftly and effortlessly. This launcher app also allows you to set up a unique, stable, and robust home screen in a simple or extravagant way, as you desire.
In reality, Nova's strongest points hidden beneath that simple exterior are Subgrid Positioning and an excellent backup system. Nova Settings have been overhauled to make it easy for you to discover features that you may not have known were there all along, and the app gets even better over time.
* Advantages:
- Easy import of layouts from other launchers
- Myriad customization options
- Excellent support and stability
- Buy Prime once and use for a lifetime
* Disadvantages:
- Too many options, causing confusion.
- Theme changes may take a while
3. Action Launcher
The mantra of both Action Launcher and its users is speed - Quicktheme, Quickdrawer, Quickpage, Quickbar. Ensuring it's the fastest and best launcher app for everyone, Action Launcher has continuously innovated and created to become one of the most customizable launcher apps on the market.
From powerful gesture controls to useful Covers and Shutters features for hiding folders and widgets beneath app icons, Action Launcher allows you to customize your home screen with utmost ease. Action Launcher swiftly supports all features from the latest or most Android versions possible. The developer of Action Launcher, Chris Lacy, works diligently, passionately, and quickly to address Android issues affecting third-party launcher apps, such as problems with Android 10 gesture controls.
* Advantages:
- Customize almost everything
- Excellent gesture options
- Strong support
* Disadvantages
- Not as flexible as Nova in the theme aspect
- Advanced system may cause confusion
4. Microsoft Launcher
If you think that if Microsoft brings a Launcher app to Android, it will mimic Windows 10 or the look of the old Windows Phone, you're mistaken. Microsoft Launcher is not only a fully Android-based experience but also a constantly updated top-quality launcher app. It's one of the few choices alongside Nova Launcher that provides edge-to-edge Widgets and Subgrid Positioning feature.
The experience of Microsoft Launcher revolves around a clean home screen and a smart page on the left containing your Microsoft account, your daily phone usage, and any widgets you want to add. Even if you're not a big fan of the Microsoft ecosystem, you might still appreciate the smart widget page that you can scroll up and down to choose from instead of the conventional spreading widgets across 3 to 4 pages.
* Advantages:
- Scrollable widget page
- Good business integration
- Dynamic development team
* Disadvantages
- Installation needs to be curated
- Somewhat unusual two-tiered dock
5. Lawnchair 2
People absolutely adore the Pixel Launcher developed by Google and used for Google Pixel phones, except Pixel Launcher lacks any real options for the home screen, dock, or app drawer. Lawnchair 2 is what users wish Pixel Launcher would become: a comprehensive launcher app with a neat Google interface but the ability to do everything users desired in 2020: automatic themes, edge-to-edge widgets, customizable icons and grid sizes, hidden folders, and an app drawer categorizing apps by category.
Lawnchair has been in the market for a while, but the initial version lagged for many months before Lawnquet 2 finally exited beta at the end of 2019. It's entirely worth the wait, but remember unless you're a beta community member, don't expect updates to come as swiftly as with Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher 5.
* Advantages:
- Easy customization
- Excellent community support
- Open-source
* Disadvantages:
- Slow updates
- Category settings and color picker tools are in the developmental stage
- Unable to import from other launcher apps
6. Niagara Launcher
Niagara is still in the Early Access stage, yet it possesses features to become a super-fast launcher app for devices with low memory. Theme building is simple as it has a single layout. You can place one or multiple widgets at the top of the screen, have a quick access list for favorite apps, and access the entire app list in alphabetical order on the right side of the screen.
The feature set is still somewhat limited, but more options will be added soon, such as double-tap gestures to turn off the screen. However, if all you want is to quickly find apps, Niagara Launcher will be an excellent choice.
* Advantages:
- Swift
- User-friendly interface
* Disadvantages:
- Very limited layout options
- Gestures sometimes overlap
- Still in the Early Access stage
These are the top-rated launcher apps highly praised by users and with impressive downloads from the Play Store. So, which one is your pick? Install, experience, and surely you'll find the app that suits your taste.
