What are the launchers. The main features of the application

The application management system on many devices (both based on Android and other operating systems) is notable for its low functionality and inconvenience to use - there is no way to quickly delete applications, move them to the device’s memory, and run without pauses and freezes.

For simple and effective interaction with all applications on your device, you need a launcher - a special program that can interact with the file of any application, launching, deleting, interrupting or moving it.

How to choose the best and most suitable launcher for Android - this is described in this material.

The choice

An important role in choosing such an application is played by many factors.

First of all, this is the degree of load on the operating system and the hardware component of the device.

Launcher, which will run longer than the applications themselves due to the fact that the phone "does not pull" to install it is impractical.

The same can be said about applications that take up too much device volume - they not only start slowly, but also work unstably.

Also, when choosing such software, it is important to pay attention to its functionality and ease of use.

The table below shows the comparative characteristics of all the programs presented in the material, so making the choice between them will be even easier.

Table 1. Comparative characteristics of the main launchers for Android

Title	License	Platform	Influence on the graphical shell of the operating system	Work stability	Functional
Nova launcher	Paid / Free	Android	Optional	High	Wide
Go launcher ex	Free	Android	Very significant	High	Wide
Buzz launcher	Free	Android	Significant	High	Sufficient
Action launcher	Free	Latest Android versions	Not significant or significant as desired	Ample	Wide
Microsoft launcher	Free	Android, Microsoft	Very significant	Ample	Sufficient
C launcher	Free	Android	Almost completely absent	High	Very wide
Solo launcher	Free	Cross-platform	Almost completely absent	Very high even on weak devices	Sufficient
Smart launcher	Free /	Android	Very significant	Normal	Wide
Next launcher	Free /	Android	Not significant	Normal	Wide
APUS Launcher	Free	Android	Significant	High	Sufficient

Given these characteristics, you can make the best and most informed choice.

Nova launcher

Functional and quite easy to use, functional launcher that provides the user with complete control over the contents of his device.

It has wide functionality and combines all the innovations available in similar programs from other developers.

It is characterized by sufficient stability and a very wide range of settings and space for costomization.

In general, the application is suitable for those who like to customize the functionality of the programs "for themselves", as well as those who are used to the traditional shell design from this developer.

The presence of the most interesting innovations and "chips" that are available in the software of other developers;
Also an advantage is the wide scope for costomization;
A wide range of fine-tuning functionality.

New programs always focus on the latest versions of operating systems; many programs do not reach users with older versions of Android at all. This launcher, working only on new versions of the operating system, was no exception;
It can "fly out";
Not too convenient controls.

Here's what users who are still saying were able to start using the program:

“A good functional application usually works properly. However, recently it has sometimes begun to “fly out” for no reason, and in addition, it is not too convenient to open it. ”

Microsoft launcher

This launcher was originally designed to work on mobile devices with the appropriate operating system.

And although this type of operating system has not yet become quite popular and in demand, some of the programs developed for it have been rewritten and got their second life since their use began.

The software works stably, has sufficient standard functionality for working with files, the same as that of the applications described above.

Integrated with Microsoft services, which is convenient for program lovers from this developer. For example, you can view data from Outlook, Office, etc.

Such a convenient integration system is the main advantage of this application;
Another plus is simple addiction when switching from Microsoft to Android;
Stable enough work.

Microsoft's traditional tile design, which most users find uncomfortable;
Despite the fact that the impact of this launcher on the standard Android shell is quite significant;
Crashes some applications.

Users who have been running this application for some time, say the following:

“A stable, functional launcher with a wide range of settings. But the latest update did not fix almost any errors in his work. "

C launcher

A simple launcher with a nice design, not overloaded with unnecessary details.

It is distributed free of charge and works stably even on not too powerful devices.

A distinctive feature of it is the ability to track user actions on the phone in order to subsequently give him contextual prompts. This is quite convenient and greatly simplifies and speeds up the operation of the phone.

Low load on the hardware and battery;
Not a lot of occupied memory;
The presence of contextual hints;
Very wide functionality.

A very large, compared to other software in this top, the number of ad units that sometimes interfere with the normal operation of the device;
Illogical grouping of labels;
Logs on very weak devices.

Users who have already seen the app leave such reviews:

It works stably on any, even outdated, devices, and by this indicator is the leader among all the programs listed above.

It has a minimal impact on the program shell and almost does not have its own icons - for this reason fans of the Android menu may like it.

Has some beautiful animations. Equipped with gesture control functions. It does not significantly affect the internal settings of the phone and the operation of other applications.

Its advantages include:

Lightness, speed and stability;
Almost complete absence of influence on the standard device interface;
The absence of visual signs of the presence of a launcher.

Relatively narrowed functionality. But such a narrowing was a necessary measure to achieve the low weight of the software and its speed. Nevertheless, the functionality allows you to perform all the basic functions;
Not too significant impact on the menu;
Sometimes it does not save widget updates.

Users speak about the launcher

One of the main advantages of the Android operating system is its openness and mutability. The user of the Android smartphone can change the interface of the operating system as you wish. Moreover, the user can completely replace the interface with another, for this you need to install a launcher for Android. If you planned just such a radical change in the interface, then our selection of the best launchers for Android will come in handy.

Apex launcher

Apex Launcher is one of the most popular launchers for Android. This launcher offers the user an interface close to the original Android. At the same time, the user has a large number of options for managing the operating system. For example, the user can add or remove the desktop, change the animation, configure the display of folders, disable unnecessary elements of the operating system, etc.

In addition to the classic appearance and a large number of settings, Apex Launcher has a high speed. If your Android device slows down when turning over desktops or searching for the necessary program in the menu, then this launcher will probably be able to solve this problem.

The Apex Launcher application is distributed in two versions: free and paid. Moreover, the free version differs from the paid one in the absence of just a few functions.

GO Launcher EX

GO Launcher EX is an advanced launcher with a nice interface from Go Dev. This company is one of the leaders in the Google Play store in terms of both revenue and downloads. Such successes were achieved mainly thanks to the launcher.

The main advantages of this launcher for Android are high performance, smooth scrolling, a context menu for icons on the desktop, support for resizable windows. GO Launcher EX also supports themes, which allows you to customize a completely unique look for your Android device.

An important factor is the support of the Russian language and the free launcher. Thanks to this GO Launcher EX is available to everyone.

Smart launcher 2

Smart Launcher 2 is a truly unique launcher for Android. The main feature of this launcher is its interface. It does not look like the Android interface, nor anything else. The interface organizes your applications, dividing them into groups such as games, the Internet, communication, work, etc. Thanks to this approach to organizing shortcuts, the user can quickly find and launch any application installed.

Also, the Launcher Smart Launcher 2 adds its own lock screen. On this lock screen there are a number of icons for quick launch of applications.

Like many other launchers, Smart Launcher 2 supports themes. This makes it easy to choose the appropriate interface design style.

Other popular launchers

Launchers are used to organize and interact with Android applications. Which usually consist of a series of home screens where we can organize application shortcuts, widgets and so on. Each phone comes with a launcher, but not all of them are convenient, an infinite number of third-party launchers from the Google Play Store come to the rescue.

Let's take a look at the list of the best launchers for Android in 2018! I would add Google Pixel Launcher to this list if it had support for at least several smartphones.

Action launcher

Action launcher is one of the most popular launchers for Android, and its slogan is FAST.

Action Launcher is defined as a smartphone management tool that quickly accomplishes what you need so that you can focus on what's really important, such as spending hours on games and VKontakte.

Key Features:

Quick menu: for quick access to all your applications and widgets
Quick theme: depending on the chosen theme and installed desktop image, the launcher adjusts his appearance, including the overall design, colors, background, folders, Google search bar, menu and much more
The original concept of using widgets in Android
Full tablet support

One of the best things about Android is that you can customize not only how it looks, but how it behaves. One way to do this is to download a new launcher, an application that will change the interface of your phone and allow you to customize it to your taste.

Plus, such applications allow you to have the same interface that you are used to, even if you bought a new phone - just restore the backup settings from the cloud storage. Now this is especially true when almost every manufacturer installs their own shell, which is not always intuitive and fast.

I do not think it is possible to determine the best launcher that will suit everyone. You use your phone in a different way than me, and I use your phone in a different way than my colleagues or friends. Everyone has their own ideal launcher, but if you have not found your beloved, then here are the best of them, which, I think, will satisfy almost any Android user.

Nova

Nova Launcher is a long-known application. It has gesture control support: if you want to open the list of applications, just swipe up, make two tapas on the screen to turn it off. In short, the application works best with gestures and folders!

The set includes icon packs and themes of which there are about a thousand (search on Google Play), application interface settings, unread message counter, additional scroll effects and much more. Another feature is constant updates with the addition of new functionality and bug fixes.

It is worth noting the ability to backup settings to the cloud with their further restoration on a new phone or when resetting to factory settings.

Apex

Apex Launcher has been known for a long time and remains one of the most popular launchers. Like the Action Launcher application, it is designed to flexibly customize the interface with several additional functions, for example, you can hide the search form from Google, the status bar and even the docking station, in which up to seven icons can be displayed instead of four! If you have a child, then the desktop lock feature will be useful to prevent accidental changes.

You can select transition animations, change layout, custom icons for shortcuts and folders. Up to 9 home screens are supported, with flexible settings for each of them. Convenient gesture control, screen lock, optimization for use on smartphones and tablets. It is possible to display unread messages and missed calls on the icons. And that's not all the features that Apex Launcher offers.

Microsoft

Microsoft Launcher is an updated version of the Garage Arrow project and we reviewed the key changes that have occurred with this update. Now the application supports integration with many Microsoft services, including calendar and email.

If your computer is updated to the latest version of Windows 10, you can pair your phone and computer, after which you can quickly and easily “Continue to PC”. This means that you can take a photo and immediately see it on your computer or edit the document in Office, and then continue editing it already on the computer.

There are packages of gestures, icons, advanced settings. For example, swiping up will not open the list of applications, but will show only your favorite applications, as well as quick settings, such as Wi-Fi, airplane mode, Bluetooth, etc.

Daily change of wallpapers - automatically receive new wallpapers from Bing or specify your own selection of wallpapers to change.

It is important to note that Microsoft does not want Android to look the same as Windows 10 Mobile. For example, you will not find square “tiles” here, if you are looking for something like that, then pay attention to the following application.

It’s a little strange, but with this launcher it seems that you use the iPhone on an Android smartphone, so everything is convenient and beautiful.

One

An excellent replacement for the standard Android interface will be One Launcher. When it was created, the developer (one BJ) was inspired by the latest versions of iOS - Apple's mobile operating system. Thanks to this, the launcher turned out to be aesthetically beautiful and very convenient.

Like Apple’s devices, application icons are located on the home display, rather than hiding in a separate menu. You can combine several applications in folders or leave everything as it is. The latter option is ideal for those who use only a small number of programs.

The developers paid special attention to ensuring that their offspring consumed little RAM at maximum performance. Their work immediately becomes noticeable when you switch from this launcher to some other. Or check the amount of free RAM. In addition, One Launcher is absolutely free and supports all versions of Android, starting from 2.3.3.

Smart

Smart Launcher is not just an add-on to the stock launcher, and it immediately catches the eye. The home display is presented in the form of a circle with six icons that provide quick access to the most important applications. You also have access to the widget area or you can go to a unique menu. What makes it so unique? Intelligent sorting system. When you install a new utility, the launcher automatically places it in the desired category, which greatly simplifies access to it.

A convenient search bar is always at hand, so you can easily find the applications you need. An important part is the lock screen with support for notifications and a variety of themes. To completely change the device’s interface, download special themes for Smart Launcher 3 on Google Play. In addition, do not forget about the option to hide any utilities or set a password to run them.

Hola

The developers of Hola Launcher started their project with one single question: “What functions do people first need?” After thinking carefully about it, they got to work and created Hola Launcher - an easy and simple alternative for those who want to achieve the best result with the least amount of cost .

After taking a few minutes to study what this launcher offers, you will come in real amazement. After all, it takes only 4 MB. And the extremely low RAM consumption makes it very fast and responsive. The application is built around one concept - simplicity. The interface is minimalistic, easy to navigate and allows you to get to the most frequently used functions with just a few touches.

In addition to the usual set of features like custom themes, wallpapers, folders, etc., Hola offers users access to several very useful programs. Hola Shina is a special menu that opens with a swipe from the bottom of the monitor. In it you will find frequently used applications and settings. Hola Boost is a small movable circle that frees up the RAM of your smartphone immediately after clicking on it. Also in service is the Hola Box, which can easily hide any utility on the home display if you do not want to show it to other people.

Launcher 8

Launcher 8 is unique in that it does not look like an Android app. In fact, the only task of this application is to make the interface of your device look like Windows Phone. And he copes with this task perfectly. It copies not only the appearance, but also many actions. As a result, when working with the shell, you get the feeling that you are not working under Android at all.

It supports emulation of “live tiles” and a scroll bar when navigating through the application menu, which appears when you move your finger left or right on the screen.

There are customizable themes that allow you to customize the appearance of the launcher, but most of them are very different from what we are used to seeing on Android. If you do not want your smartphone to look like a phone with Windows Phone 8, then there is little point in installing this application.

Action

Action Launcher has long been a favorite program of many users. In addition to standard features, there are some original features that make the program unique. For example, Quick Theme allows you to customize the colors of your interface.

The Shutters function provides access to widgets, almost without installing them on the main screen. There is also a set of elements in the style of Android Oreo. There are icon customization, quick update of small items and much more.

GO

An excellent choice for those who want to try a custom home screen design. In addition, GO Launcher is one of the most downloaded utilities on Google Play. The program combines functionality with an excellent custom design.

Launcher created on an innovative 3D engine, designed from scratch. It is he who makes the program extremely fast, responsive and universal. In addition to the engine, you switch between 25 display animation options and get more than 10,000 unique themes. With such a staggering amount of customization options, you can easily get confused if it weren't for DIY Themer.

GO Launcher also has an excellent tool that allows you to hide or block a specific program to further protect you from prying eyes. Well, the built-in widgets for optimizing the smartphone increase the productivity of the device, making the multi-window mode faster and more enjoyable to use.

Next 3D Shell

The developers of the Next Launcher 3D Shell program are the same people who worked on creating GO Launcher. 3D animation is supported, there are many transition effects and unique settings. Using the scroll bar, you can quickly change home screens and choose the one that you like best at the moment. According to most users, this is one of the most expensive launchers. True, you can try all the features of the program for free.

ADW 2

The biggest plus of ADW Launcher 2.0 is its customization: you can customize themes, gestures, folder styles, home screens, a list of applications, and even create your own custom widgets. You can go on ad infinitum, if you are a lover of settings, then you should definitely download this launcher and test it well. It contains just an insane amount of settings!

You can create an unlimited number of your own widgets and place them anywhere, even on the top panel (where the search panel is) or on the bottom (where you now have 4 icons).

As always, it is possible to edit each individual icon of any application that you have. In the latest update, a new set of effects appeared when switching to another screen, as well as the ability to change the color palette of the system to any color (black, red, orange, etc.). In general, in this application you can do everything you can imagine.

Evie

Evie Launcher comes with icon packs and widgets. It is possible to hide any applications, quickly launch programs, add unique shortcuts to your home screen with your own signatures. You can create wallpapers yourself, change the size of the icons.

The program is fast, easy to use, has some original features. Uses the application menu in the style of Pixel Launcher, which can be moved from the bottom of the screen. The application is free.

Lightning Launcher has a small size and very flexible settings. With this tool you can change almost all the elements of the main screen. Perhaps the most unique feature is scripting support, for example, you can use JavaScript.

You may be frightened by the abundance of settings and options, but there is nothing to be afraid of. Yes, there are tons of settings, but it's easy to figure them out. But what opportunities! Almost all functions and elements are configured, whether it’s how applications are placed, folders, widgets, home screens, icon sets, fonts, alignment and even renaming standard elements (not all).

If there is no desire to understand, there are dozens (if not hundreds) of more classic skins at your service, which offer a couple of basic settings.

Lawnchair Launcher is an open source project that basically mimics the Pixel Launcher. Many functions are the same, although there are several original features. It is constantly updated and improved. Notifications and the context menu are made in the style of Android Oreo.

You can choose different styles of panels and windows, icon sizes and much more. It is no exaggeration to say that Lawnchair has incorporated all the best that is in the shells of Pixel and Nova Launcher. All this is complemented by the high performance and aesthetics of the Pixel shell and seasoned with customization elements from other launchers, well known in the Android world.

One of the most attractive design styles is the dark theme. It applies to the appearance of the tray, the home screen widget, and the context menu. The possibilities for changing the design style here are not as deep as, for example, in Substratum, but still not bad.

There is integration with Google Now (when installing an additional free plug-in). Even in beta, it works better than many old launchers. If you are looking for the very best Google Pixel equivalent, consider that you have already found it.

EverythingMe

The main highlight of EverythingMe is the so-called Prediction Bar, which is a series of icons located at the bottom of the screen (there are four in total) that dynamically change depending on the user's location, time of day, and the results of analysis of previous application launches.

Based on the results of this analysis, Prediction Bar will first of all offer the user the applications that he will most likely need in the near future. For example, in the morning, EverythingMe will tell you the latest news and remind you of what is planned for today. And on a weekday, the launcher will offer applications that you most often deal with at work.

At the first start, the launcher will automatically try to decompose already installed applications into appropriate folders, such as “Games”, “Music”, “Social Networks” and “News”. You can create new Smart Folders at any time by grouping applications as you wish.

Most launchers deal with what you are doing at a given moment in time: what you view, what you listen. EverythingMe has a slightly different approach. Instead of focusing on current activities, he is trying to predict what you will do.

Many have long ago already had cool phones, similar to the iPhone, but few have thought what kind of charms developers offer for the Android platform. Today we will consider the top 10 best launchers for Android for the past 2016. Each of them offers many options and opportunities, because these are unique additional programs that are difficult to do without in such a modern world of technology.

10 With Launcher: Smart Solution For Your Phone

A smart decision - that's what its creators called it. This program is able to learn your smartphone from A to Z. It allows you to view hidden features and settings that are available only to the developers of your phone. You can track all the actions on your Android in a matter of seconds. After that, he will be able to give you additional contextual prompts while using the device, and even offer download applications without which your phone will not be able to get along at your pace of life.

He selects all applications depending on your location - for example, if you are in a supermarket, he will offer you programs for calculating the cost, if you are outdoors, he will give you programs for checking the air temperature and wind direction, and not only that! Also in this launcher there is a phone cleaning function, themes for customization and the ability to create themes for your desktop yourself. True, this is a good application for those who really need modern programs?

9 Solo Launcher: easy and effective for all versions of Android

In this launcher you will not find many iconic ones, but here there are nice small animations that are lighter than most other analogues. With their help, you can normalize the operation of related widgets and animations that are installed on the platform. It also has built-in functions for controlling gestures - swipe up, controlling the “home” button, which relatively does not change the work of general functions, but simplifies the work as a whole. At first glance, they are invisible, but this is their strength and advantage.

8 Buzz Launcher: radical design update

The developers took care of ingenuity - they are the creator of a unique launcher that is able to change the look of your phone beyond recognition. The founders have created a number of such innovations that have already won the love of users. There are professional programs, as well as amateur versions. The owner of Android can easily create his own theme, update the existing design, start developing application design and more.

To do this, you do not need to learn programming languages, but just download your favorite version of the launcher. To fully enjoy all the features of the program, you should additionally install the Buzz extension, which will give out many additional functions for use inside the system. They are used by application developers, theme creators, etc.

7 Smart Launcher: the ability to "ring" your smartphone

This program is truly unique - together with the familiar square icons, your phone will become round in terms of menus and pages. Rectangular boxes are now in the past - these are vertical cascades that have become boring to everyone, this is an inconvenient set of functions. And now the launcher combines all the related applications together, which is convenient and functional. Also, together with the application manager and task manager, he will be able to remove the built-in and installed programs by deleting just one icon on the desktop. No more rummaging through the root folders, just install the application once, and it will faithfully serve you all the time while it is on the Android system.

6 Next Launcher: a cool assistant with 3D effects

One of the most popular launchers that are equipped with three-dimensional visualization. Of all the known launchers of this kind, this is perhaps the best. It is difficult to describe the enthusiasm in two sentences, but if you like unusual additions, we recommend that you yourself verify the correctness of our thoughts. We will not advise bad, we choose the best of the best for you. Yes, there are paid features in the list of add-ons, but their cost is ridiculous - just cents for a great full edition. The hi-tech design is available in the Premium version, but it's worth it. Having received a free launcher, you can already upgrade your phone, and then saturate it with the latest from a paid application.

5 APUS Launcher with an extraordinary design

Today it is the most popular and high-quality launcher that is on almost every second Android. All users noted the presence of the wonderful Pinko theme, which is suitable for both boys and girls. There is a wide range of themes, a huge selection of designs, great additions from the APUS chip area, and that's not all. A separate plus is the animation and its implementation - the developers did not skimp on the time and effort spent - this must be seen with your own eyes!

4 Hola Launcher: smart and simple, and most importantly - colorful

The launcher has become popular due to its economical features. He "eats" little energy, and accordingly, consumes less battery power. Android should have a little more than 1 megabyte of memory, and in return you get a lot of positive emotions. Update the theme, create your own, change the icons on the desktop. It is difficult to get ahead or surpass it, since the Hola file itself weighs very little - this is the most economical launcher in the history of the existence and creation of applications. It almost does not consume RAM, does not occupy the main or internal memory of the device.

3 Apex Launcher: created for customization fanatics

Custom launcher has become a leader among custom versions of other analogues. Of all the downloads available in the store, he scored more than 1,000,000 likes from those who already use it. The most unique - it does not have built-in purchases, paid add-ons and applications. The limitless possibilities of it are free! If you wish, you can configure gestures, effects, change the functions of controlling the screen, the main buttons, work directly with the wish list.

You will also be interested in introducing animation when moving from one page to another, you will like the list of effects that can be configured between transitions from a window to neighboring applications. There is a separate paid version - there are even more features and effects, but a free launcher will be enough for you in the next few days to study it and try it on your Android.

2 Nova Launcher: for everyone, for everyone

Of course, since this launcher got to second place, it should be somewhat different from previous cool applications. Well, it has features and advantages. It fits all versions of the Android system, for any smartphone! This is its main advantage, even if you have a broken, old phone, which plays music from the 80s, downloaded via a cord. More than five million people have already downloaded the launcher and appreciated it. In terms of functionality - affordable and simple. Even an inveterate Soviet man of advanced years will understand it.

Fans noted that there was a new built-in function "normalization of buttons according to individual requests." The developers commented on this innovation - they had to create complex huge algorithms so that the buttons gave out maximum functions, but took up minimum space on the screen. Well, we believe in you, and your fans accurately appreciated this fact. Different icons could take up more or less space, which created chaos on the desktop. But now - everything is decided. The limitations have gone beyond the limits, and now your smartphone will have a beautiful lightweight design that is no different from the permanent one you are used to.

1 GO Launcher EX: simple and stylish

Here is our winner, who has already appeared on the phones of more than hundreds of millions of people! Such a stir was created by users who wanted an easy and simple, but full-featured launcher at a free cost. We will not talk about its capabilities, we will leave it a secret so that you yourself can enjoy the download hit. But we note that it was worked out perfectly, there are no comments and shortcomings. Great animation, three-dimensional effects and some advertising. Well, what do you want from the free application? One video can be watched, and then enjoy all the delights of the launcher.